If your bathroom lock is stuck and now you are unable to get inside then we have a simple step by step guide to resolve all your problems. Let’s see how to unlock a locked bathroom door from outside without damaging the door or facing any major issue.
Methods To Open A Bathroom Door From Outside
It can be very frustrating than getting locked outside of a bathroom. But there are many ways to get out of this trying situation. Here are some simple steps we have jotted for you.
These can help you unlock the bathroom door easily. But fortunately, many of the bathroom doors in the United States contain privacy locks. These are much better than security locks that are very difficult to open.
Since privacy locks are easy to unlock, there won’t be much of a problem. With just the right tools this could be a very easy task. But in case the door gets locked frequently,
try calling a locksmith or renewing your lock. this will ensure that in case of urgencies, you won’t get stuck in a locked bathroom.
Total Time: 20 minutes
1. Using Butter Knife
Step 1: A butter knife is an easy option if your bathroom door is locked. Carefully insert the butter knife in the keyhole. This is exactly as you would insert a key. In the same manner, try inserting the knife.
Step 2: Twist the knife to gently unlock the lock.
Step 3: Twist the doorknob to open as you would normally open it.
2. Using Bobby Pin
A bobby pin is very useful in case the butter knife doesn’t work.
Step 1: Finish the bobby pin by removing the bends in the metal. Try inserting the hairpin as straight as possible. This will ease the process. A flat and straight key will reduce the chances of the bobby pin getting stuck midway. WD40 or lithium grease should be sprayed on the lock.
Step 2: Next insert this flattened hairpin directly into the keyhole. An important point to note here is wiggling the bobby pin while inserting. While doing so, twist the doorknob in the clockwise direction at the same time. This action will help unlock the lock. This push-button mechanism helps in unlocking the door. And our locked bathroom door is unlocked.
Step 3: Bobby pins are frequently effective lock-opening tools. This is majorly due to ease of bending. These bobby pins can be bent into any shape according to convenience and is a major plus point.
3. Using Screwdriver
Step 1: Insert a very tiny screwdriver into the doorknob’s centre hole.
Step 2: Keep on wiggling the screwdriver. You will hear a click sound and your door will be opened.
Step 3: It is not necessary to turn the doorknob while using the screwdriver. An important point here to remember is that screwdrivers with thicker rods won’t operate. Use screwdrivers that can easily fit in the door handle. So, choose a smaller screwdriver that can easily unlock your door.
4. Use Credit Card
Step 1: Insert the card directly above the lock, between the door and the frame.
Step 2: Next step is tilting the card. Do tilt the inserted card in the doorknob direction. This will definitely provide ease in operation.
Step 3: The final step is bending the card towards the doorknob. Bend it in such a way that it fits between the doorknob and the doorframe. Then, try bending the card towards the doorknob.
Lean on the door and wriggle the card back and forth to open it.
Make sure that you use a plastic gift card so that if there are any damages while unlocking, you would not have a lot to lose. A loyalty card is a better option than a credit card, gift card, or identity card since it is easy to replace.
5. Removing Handle
Step 1: If the door handle has visible external screws, use a drill or screwdriver to remove them.
Step 2: Once the screws are removed, insert the screwdriver into the door handle’s lock mechanism. Next, gently twist to release the lock.
Step 3: For door handles without outside screws, insert a flat-head screwdriver into the slot in the neck of the doorknob. Pull the screwdriver for visibility of the screws. Pulling the screwdriver will make it easier for your visibility. To remove the screws, use a drilling machine or a screwdriver according to your convenience.
This approach should be done after attempting the above methods. this takes significantly a large amount of time. Follow the above methods using a bobby pin and a butter knife if you are looking for a quick solution.
6. Buy Lock-Picking Set
Step 1: If your bathroom door constantly fails the lock, try using a lock pick set. This lock picking has multiple size levers.
Step 2: You can choose the desired lever size from the set as per your lock. A few trials and errors would be required to get the correct size.
Step 3: This lock-picking set may be purchased in certain department shops or online.
7. Use Metal Coat Hanger
Step 1: This method works best if you have a latch door. Using a metal hanger is an effective technique to unlock a latched bathroom door.
Step 2: For this method bend the hanger long enough. This hanger will effectively be a hook and a handle.
Step 3: Now, wrap the hook around the latch. Now place it in between the wall and doorframe. Finally, with the free hand, twist the knob. Here remember to push the doorknob in your direction.
Make sure to remember that the door jamb doesn’t obstruct the gap between the main doorframe and the walls. Else this approach fails. Because there wouldn’t be any space to insert the metal hanger.
8. Use Drill Machine
Step 1: Be aware that piercing the lock can cause damage to your door, and use this method only if you have no other option. The aim is to use the drill to damage the pins and turn the lock.
Step 2: Just be cautious not to dig below the shear line. the line at the top of any keyhole is called the shear line. It is the section of the lock that is in the same plane as the threshold between the pin and the cylinder.
Step 3: Start by just a tiny drilling bit. Make sure to keep the lock and the drill bit lubricated to prevent friction. After the hole of the desired size is done, use a screwdriver to unlock it.
Tools:
- Screwdriver
- Drilling Machine
- Lock-Picking Set
- A Plastic Card
- Butter Knife
- Bobby Hairpin
Materials: NA
How To Open A Locked Bathroom Door Without A Hole?
Plastic Card Method
A. Hold the doorknob tightly
Using your non-dominant hand tightly grab the doorknob. So, a right-handed person should grab the doorknob with a left hand.
B. Push the Door
Push the door in the opposite direction, so that the gap between the doorframe and the door is wide enough. Take care of your hands while doing so to prevent getting injured
C. Insert the card
Insert your plastic card in the gap created above the doorknob. While inserting, place it at a slightly downward angle. If the door has trim, you may need to remove it to have access to the locking mechanism using a plastic card.
A pocketknife may also be used to pry open a door. But there is a higher danger of harming the paint surrounding the door or cutting oneself. So the plastic card is a safer option.
D. Wiggle the card
Gently wriggle the plastic card downward until you reach the doorknob’s locking mechanism. Consider the metal piece that protrudes from the door into the doorjamb in your thoughts.
It has an angled end. Plastic cards are prone to breaking during this process. Hence choose one that you don’t care about or use frequently. Most retail customer rewards cards are simple to replace if they are broken.
E. Slide the Card
Slide the plastic card against the angled piece of the metal locking mechanism. Then push it back out of the doorjamb using the portion of the plastic card you’re holding as leverage.
1. How To Open A Twisted Lock From Outside?
The hole is used to unlock it. If you don’t have any keys, a little thin screwdriver, a hairpin, or anything a couple of inches long. Just make sure that these objects won’t bend and will fit in the hole would suffice.
Simply insert a long, narrow item into the opening. You should feel a little lever directly opposite you that you may use to unlock the door. We discovered that removing the pen refill from the exterior case of those disposable pens works well for this.
2. How To Unlock A Bathroom Door With A Knife?
We can also pick up a lock with a knife. To unlock using a knife start by pushing your knife as far as you can. Do it until you feel the tip of the knife strike the rear of the lock.
Then start by slowly spinning the knife in a clockwise direction as you turn a key. Apply very gentle force while twisting the knife. This spin will impart a binding force to the pins. So, it allows us to raise and set them. That’s why the pins will remain in their height that the right key would elevate them.
Begin by gently rocking the knife up and down. Repeat this for 10-15 seconds. If the lock does not open, resume the procedure by removing the rotating force on the lock. and letting any of the pins you have placed drop. Apply the rotating force once more and try again.
Just make sure to experiment a little with the force applied. Start by applying very light pressure and then gradually increase the pressure. But make sure to be gentle as the force applied can sometimes be dangerous.
3. How To Open A Push Button Lock From Outside?
There is a small pinhole on the exterior of the privacy doors. This small pinhole is located in the middle of the knob. The release button is placed just behind the pinhole inside the knob. We can also unlock the door using this push/release button.
To unlock the locked door, try using a paper clip or a wire of a smaller diameter.
Insert this paper clip into the keyhole. Then press the release button. This pops out of the lock button and then unlocks the door. Some doorknobs with push buttons have a pin-like key specifically designed for this purpose. Ask your manufacturer for this key so that it helps if ever your door gets locked.
What makes this trick work is pulling the wire straight in the backward direction from the pinhole. The release button has a medium-sized diameter which is easy to locate. The release button is placed in the centre of the doorknob
This is located exactly in the centre of the doorknob. If you slant the wire in any way, you’ll most likely miss the button. If you don’t succeed the first time, try multiple times. First-timers may find this a little difficult.
Final Talk
It can be irritating if your bathroom door gets locked frequently. We hope that these methods can help in times of crisis or emergencies. All these methods are DIYs (Do It Yourself) so you won’t have to worry about calling a locksmith. For future reference, you should install the best pocket door lock for your bathroom in order to avoid any hassle. Also, most of the tools used are found in our homes, so there is no other extra cost. Let us know which one of these methods worked for you and which didn’t! Moreover, you can install a good double door lock on your dual bathroom doors.
Leave a Reply