When you are getting ready for a party and one of your munchkins broke the lock. And you don’t have any idea what to do? You can’t call a locksmith in such a short period. Also, you can’t leave the door without being locked with the ongoing crimes daily. That’s the moment the creativity comes out of us. You keep scratching your mind and thinking about various DIYs. Here is some best ways to lock a door without using a lock when you don’t have a lock available at the moment.
Ways To Lock A Door Without Using A Lock
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1. Doorstop
Initially, they are used to stop a door from closing. In this case, it can be used as a tool to lock doors. Like when you put it behind the door inside the opening space at the bottom of the door. It will prevent strangers to broke in. Try to use the rubber one as it will prevent slipping.
Yet, it does not apply to the doors that open forward. Also, it is not 100% safe as it can be open with a little more force. The doorstop will break. So it is suggested to use other preventive measures for your safety.
The doorstop acts as an alternative lock because it is placed at the top of the entrance rather than the bottom. In place of a specific door-stop, you can use any wedge-shaped piece of wood. Even a stick or piece of wood sitting around your yard can be whittled.
An old shoe, a shoe tree, a cutlery blade, or any wedge-shaped domestic appliance are also viable possibilities. If you don’t have a doorstop you can make your own by using cardboard, rubber, or anything that can get a fold. It is very simple to make and cost-effective.
Step1- You need to put the doorstop behind the door at the bottom.
Step2- Fix it tightly so that it won’t move easily.
2. Chair Behind The Door
A strong chair can be used to lock the door. You can put the chair behind the door and fit the head of the chair in the handle. It will create pressure and will hard to open the door. The backrest of the chair can also prevent downward-opening lever-style door locks.
The door can also be opened by turning the handle above. Then this technique isn’t as beneficial. In this case, tying the handle to the chair with a chain or wire could be a smart way to keep it from sliding downward or upwards. This is only helpful in the lever locks not, in doorknobs.
Step1- Put a solid rock chair behind the gate.
Step2- Choose a sturdier chair.
3. A Belt Or A Rope
The doors can be secured by tying them with a rope. The other side of the rope with a heavy object like a sofa or a refrigerator.
Tying is most effective in lever-style handles as it will block the movement of the handle either downward or upward. It can also be a smart way for an outward opening door.
Step1- Take a strong rope.
Step2- Tie the one end of the rope to the handle.
Step3- Tie another end of the rope to the heavy object.
Step4- Make sure you tie it properly.
However, the effectiveness of your temporal lock is determined by your knot-tying ability. No matter how solid your anchor is, if your ties come loose, the door will still open. To keep the rope in place on heavy chains, use a big padlock or winch lock.
3. Portable Door Lock
You might be thinking, what is a portable door lock? It’s all in the name. Portable- you can use it and remove it according to your need. It’s kind of a metal piece that is much more convenient for travellers and renters. You can always get a high quality portable door lock under your budget.
It’s in the budget and, there are times when you are on a trip and stay at a cheap hotel that doesn’t provide door locks.
You can also use them to add security to your doors. It is useful for both knob style and lever-style doors. The portable door lock is not helpful on the doors which tend to open outward.
Step1- You can easily buy a portable lock from the market.
Step2- Fix the claw into the plate.
Step3- Insert the metal piece into the plate.
Addalock, BurglarBar, and TSL are examples of these locks (Travel Security Lock). These replacement locks are small and light enough to fit in your pocket or purse. You can also choose from the best pocket locks available in the market for your preferences.
They are, nevertheless, robust enough to keep undesirable guests out of your space. Furthermore, if they are attempted to be broken, the wobbling pieces will inform you, allowing you to face the burglar or dial 911.
There are various types of portable door locks-
a. Addalock- This is attached to the handle of the door to make it stable and not able to move. You can carry it in your bag, anywhere you want. This is very easy to use. No need for screws or any installation process.
b. Traveller’s security lock- This is the most reliable lock for travellers. It is installed between the door and door frame.
c. The door bull- This is the same as the above. The force between the door and door frame makes it more impossible to break in.
With any of these options keep in mind that they are only applicable on inward opening doors.
4. Security Bar
As far you are concerned taking preventive measures to lock your door without a lock security bar is quite helpful.
This is made of good quality steel. It also comes with a feature alarm security. It’s much more useful in sliding doors. They are affordable and very effective to increase the security of your home. So you should choose a good security bar under your budget.
Step1- You can easily get the security bar from the market.
Step2- Slide the security bar under your gate easily.
5. Fork
In an emergency, a fork can also lock an inwardly opening door partially. Twist the spike so that the points of the spikes fit into the door latch. The remainder of the fork may comfortably stay inside the space between the door and the doorframe when the door is locked.
Pull off the arm of the fork after opening the door and removing the fork. Close the door by inserting the fork’s head into the door latch as previously, making sure the bent spikes are securely attached to the door latch.
This method does not apply to strong breakthroughs like a kick-in or shoulder press. You may reuse a lock with household items for short crisis scenarios like a bathroom door or a cupboard door. Make sure you have a fork that you don’t mind losing.
A metallic fork is preferable to the plastic fork used in the experiment. Close the door and insert the fork into the opening to see how big it is. Some forks fit perfectly, while others overhang excessively. Bend a couple of prongs if they’re too long.
Step1- Take an old fork.
Step2- Close the door half.
Step3- Fix the fork on the space between the gate and hole.
6. Door Jammers
It’s a quite smart tool to use this DIY to lock your door. This tool consists of a long stick that holds the door nob.
The doorknob gets stuck on its end and won’t rotate when someone tries to break in. The other puts pressure on the floor that helps in resisting opening the door.
They are effective as they can be adjusted according to the height of your doorknob. Choose the best door jammer out there in the market
Step1- Adjust the height according to your door.
Step2- Stuck the doorknob to its one end.
Step3- Fix another end to the ground.
7. Door Barricades
Door barriers consist of two parts: a base and a brace that can be inserted into or withdrawn from the base. Insert bolts through the base then into the floor to create a floor barrier. When the brace is removed, the door should always be able to unlock over the top of the base and be utilized freely.
Easily insert the brace whenever you want to lock the door, and it will block the door from moving inwards. For people who can remodel their homes, using a floor barricade is a good solution, but it is not an option for tenants or vacationers. They are very easy to install and can be used on single doors and double doors. You can use them at school, home, bathroom doors. But we say you should prefer a good double door lock for your commercial double doors.
8. Remove Door Handle
In case you have lost your key and there is no other way to lock the door. If you remove the door handle, there is no other way left to unlock the door. But it suggested that using other tools with this would be more helpful. It is not much safe when used alone.
Also, it is very time-consuming. The door system can unlock by using several tools by the burglars. Again I would suggest you use it in an emergency only. You’ll need a barrier to strengthen the door if you’re removing the complete door lock.
Also, this only functions if you already have the necessary tools to open your lock. You want to take it apart without completely damaging it. That way, when the locksmith arrives, the lock can still be salvaged. Remove the inside screws and nails as well as the ones on the gate surface as you unscrew the lock.
Step1- Take a screwdriver.
Step2- Open the lock with the help of the screwdriver.
Step3- Remove the lock properly.
9. Strike Plate Lock
This is a small tool to lock the door. It is a small plate that goes inside the doorknob where the door latch will lock. It will not harm the door when being fixed up. It is more durable and, you can use it with or without a lock. You can also use it as extra security. Strike plates are of various types-
a. Full lip strike
b. Extended lip strike
c. T-strike
d. Deadbolt strike
10. Household Items
This is the most common type to lock your door. You don’t have to buy anything or make a run to the market. If you have any heavy objects at your home then, You can lock them with a penny, or you can put them against the door to block the entrance. You can use the sofa, refrigerator, couch, bed heavy tables.
You can also use the dumbells and bricks against the door. Although it’s not a smart way to lock your house still, you can consider it with other tools. Also, keep in mind that you can use this technique only from the inside. If you have to go and want to lock the door from outside then, it won’t be much helpful.
Step1- You can use any strong household item.
Step2- Put it behind the door.
Step3- Take the strongest tools to use as a lock.
11. Tie Multiple Doors Handles Together
You may have so many doors in your home. There might be an emergency where all your locks are damaged when you have to run an errand. Take a long rope and tie it to all the door levers. It is also one of the ways to prevent break-ins. Make sure that you are using a strong rope. It will block the movement of all the doors of your home.
Step1- Take a strong rope.
Step2- Tie all the handles hand knobs together.
Step3- Tie them tightly so none of them will open.
12. Use A Sock
It might sound childish to use a sock to lock your home. Temporarily you can use this as a tool to lock your door. You can fold a sock as a wedge and fix it under the gate. It will prevent the burglar to enter as the door will get stuck because of the sock.
You can also use this as in your kitchen door. When you need some privacy in your bedroom, your lock has been broken you can use a sock for a short period. You can also use this at your bathroom door. But I won’t suggest you use it on your main door. It’s a bit risky. It can be easily removed by force.
Step1- Take an old sock.
Step2- Try to fix it below the gate.
Step3- Make sure to stick it well so that no one will remove it easily.
13. Add A Keyless Lock
Our science technology has grown rapidly. With innovations daily there has a new technology came out the keyless lock. They are quite reliable locks and can stand against strong kick-ins. They are very easy to install and you can lock and unlock them within seconds.
They can be used on inside or outside doors. They are also cost-effective. In case you ever lost your key? You don’t have to worry about anything. You can go keyless with a swing!
Step1- Buy a keyless lock.
Step2- Install it with the help of the manual that came with it.
Step3- Use a screwdriver and other tools carefully.
14. Use A Towel
Everyone has stayed in a cheap hotel for once. Cheap hotel rooms are not provided with much security. Most of the hotels won’t give you the proper safety of your luggage. To avoid any mishap you can use the towels the room service provides.
You can jam the handle with the towel and insert another towel at the bottom as a doorstop. You should use some other tools also for your security like portable locks as discussed earlier.
Step1- Take the towel.
Step2- Try to stick the handle with the help of the towel.
Step3- Put the towel inside the gap at the bottom of the door.
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Reasons To Lock A Door That Does Not Have A Lock
There are moments when you have to go and run an errand and have to lock your door without a lock. Let’s discuss those possibilities when can this be applicable-
1) Your child broke the lock- Children can be a headache sometimes. Everyone adores them but, they are just so innocent that they don’t even know what problem they are creating for adults.
An accident can happen where they can damage a door lock unintentionally. You don’t have to worry because you can fix this for a period with the hacks discussed above.
2) Doorknob got stuck- There can be moments when a doorknob can get stuck and won’t move at all. There’s no reason to panic because you can use the hacks until a locksmith fixes the issue.
3) Lost key- Humans do tend to forget about things. You keep things at places and forget about it later. You might think you have kept it there later you don’t find it over there.
Just like this, you can lose your key and not be able to lock your door. Again no worries, you can use these hacks for some time. Ensure that you put the best magnetic door lock on your lockless doors.
Is It Safe To Leave Your Door Unlocked?
Whenever you are going to lock your door without a lock, always remember there is a lot at risk. As we all know, crimes are increasing. Burglars are using new techniques to break into your home.
So, I would suggest that it’s not a great idea to lock your door without a lock. These hacks are not trustworthy and especially when you have to use them for a long time.
Let’s discuss some reasons why they are not safe-
1) Burglars can easily break in: These DIYs may be creative but not strong. Burglars can easily break in with some force using a kick or their shoulder. Sometimes they can be powerful. These hacks can’t stand against the force.
2) Natural calamities: Nature is indeed beautiful. They can be a disaster sometimes. In those times, these locks are not much of a savior. Like a tornado, or tsunami the water can easily get in your house as these locks are not enough strong to hold the water.
3) Toddlers can remove the sock: Children are notorious. In case you lock a door using a sock in an emergency. A child can easily remove the sock with his hands which can be a lot of risk. It’s a question of their safety. I would never suggest you use them for kids’ safety.
Final Talk
At last, you may have got the information regarding all these hacks. These all can be used as an alternative for you in emergencies. We all at a times are kind of broke and can’t afford a permanent solution. In those times, you can use these hacks temporarily. These might not be the safest option but can be a savior. These are most helpful for travelers and renters. They don’t have to spend money whenever they move to a new place.
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