How to Unlock a Bathroom Door From the Outside
Introduction
You’re trapped in a bathroom, and you need to get out. Sometimes, no matter how much you push or pull, the only thing that happens is the door gets locked tighter. This article shows you how to unlock a bathroom door from the outside using items found around your home — yes…even if there’s a deadbolt lock on it! The best time to do this is when someone else isn’t in the house (e.g., at work/school). Of course, it’s always better to have somebody with you, but failing that, and I’ll show you what to do about that too.
How to Unlock a Bathroom Door From the Outside?
Method One: Use a Butter Knife:
Take Knife: Take a butter knife or the end of a bobby pin.
Squeeze It: Squeeze it into the keyhole (don’t force it). It should go in easily because the humidity inside the bathroom has made the wood expand enough to open this lock. If it is still too small, run the screwdriver over the metal part of the knife until it is bigger. Your lock should now be open. Remove the paperclip, screwdriver and knife and go turn on the shower!
If the knife is too big, file the tip of the knife until it is a slightly smaller size. The knife should be slightly bigger than the keyhole so that you can move it around inside the lock to get the pins in the right position. When you insert the knife, be sure to put the blade in at an angle so that it doesn’t slip out of the keyhole.
Slide the knife into the lock. If you don’t know how to pick a lock, move it up and down while applying pressure to each pin. You will notice the pins being pushed up, which should stop you from applying pressure to one of them. You can use another knife as a tension wrench, by inserting it in the lock next to the picking knife.
Don’t push it all the way through, and if you are doing this right, you will feel the pins stick at certain points and not be able to move any further.
Rotate Counterclockwise: Rotate counterclockwise and take out of a hole, pull toward you, keeping your finger on top of the knob so that when you turn, the knob pushes against your finger and holds the door closed once unlocked! Take out your key and insert it into the lock. Turn the key to the left and feel for the knob to turn as well. Once the knob has turned, remove the key and pull the door open.
Method Two: The Trust Bobby Pin Hack:
This method is for you if you happen to have a trusty bobby pin and a hair clip. First, remove the bobby pin from the hair clip. Then, using one of your trusty hair clip ends, create an indentation on the top crease of your door where it locks into place.
To make sure that the hack works properly, practice by opening and closing your door before trying with force.
First, Try to Jiggle it Out Without Applying Pressure at All:
You should be able to open your bathroom door after just a few seconds of simple jiggling. If jiggling does not work for you in this case (if either lock’s mechanism is too tense), you can use a flat-head screwdriver to give the door jamb an extra little push. Before you leave your office for the day, make sure that all appliances in your office are turned off and then unplugged. This will help save electricity, which can reduce your utility bills each month.
Next, Apply Force to the Lock:
Pushing down with constant force allows you to break through the top part of the lock enough for you to pop the door open and run for freedom. As a precautionary measure, be sure to test it out on your own bathroom door before trying it on an occupied one!
If the pressure you apply to the door doesn’t cut it, then you have a few options. If you can get inside the bathroom stall and are sitting down with your back against the toilet or against the wall, you can use a tool like a pen to push on the bolt from the outside.
Method Three: Stick With Tools:
Finally, for those who have no desire to bring a plumber (and his bill) into the home, there is always the option of using tools.
Whether it’s a pair of pliers or a trusty screwdriver and hammer, every home should have an assortment of basic household items which will be useful in your quest to find a way outside.
The only problem with this method is that you may damage some part of the door or lock when forcing your way out; therefore, if you are renting, this could lead to additional charges and may even get you evicted! So always be careful when attempting this method. One final warning: If you decide on this approach, ensure that nobody is trying to use the bathroom while you’re at it. You could end up locked in with the very person you are trying to escape from!
Method Four: Get a Credit Card:
This is an easy one. In most cases, a credit card will get through any bathroom door lock if you push hard enough. But be careful, because that can mean ruining the lock and replacing it.
In most cases, you’re going to want to go for a door handle. Push your credit card into the crack of the door, and use it to turn the handle. If that doesn’t work, try a screwdriver to force the door open. Then all you have to do is get inside, call the front desk, and tell them someone else is stuck in the bathroom!
It’s a simple matter of putting the edge of your credit card in between the door and the frame, then pushing it towards yourself until you see pieces of metal flying off into space. If you do it right, you’ll be able to slowly open up that locked bathroom door so that people can come in and out at their leisure. You could even use this technique if there were a fire!
Some credit cards are easier to bend than others, but for the most part, even an old expired credit card with some cracks on it should be able to help you escape from a closed room full of tear gas or smoke.
Method Five: Take Off the Door Handle:
This one is straightforward. Two people take hold of a door handle and pull hard. The door should open because the lock has been removed from the inside of the bathroom. You may need to try this several times before it works.
In most cases, every single method on our list will work successfully as long as you just put in enough time and effort into trying them out. Remember that 90% of all locked doors can be opened by using a credit card or something similar like we mentioned earlier in this article, so be prepared for anything when you go hunting for a way to get your friend out of trouble!
Method Six: Use a Lock-Picking Set:
The advantage of picking a lock is that you don’t actually have to remove the door from its hinges. This works best with older doors and those made of metal; old wood doors are generally not worth the effort because they’re usually so flimsy.
This method involves removing any pins or retainers that hold the door closed. The most common types are spring-loaded, but some specialty locks use magnets or even tiny, motorized bolts embedded in the jamb. You can identify them by their telltale ridges on either side of the latch; these will be your main targets for picking tools.
To unlock a spring-loaded pin, insert a small screwdriver into each end until you feel it bottom out against the spring pressure. Then, pull the pins outward. For retainers, press inward on a small piece of metal protruding from the doorjamb until you feel it give way; then, it’ll pull outward with a clicking sound.
Once both latches are disengaged, remove the doorknob by turning it counterclockwise to unscrew it. Next, take your lock-picking set and insert one end of each tool into one of the two holes designated for that purpose on your lockpick gun’s handle. (The other ends should already be secured in place.)
Also, make sure that any pins or tumblers extend beyond their individual slots when folded out so they can push up against the notch in your pick as you manipulate it inside the lock. If you have a small pin or tumbler with no notch, you might find it harder to get a good feel for what’s happening inside the lock.
Finally, experiment with different picks to see which one works best with your picking method.
Precautions While Performing How to Unlock a Bathroom Door From the Outside
- Door handles are extremely high-risk when unlocking a bathroom door from the outside because even the most careful person can slip and fall or make some ruckus, like dropping something. Therefore it is not recommended to use this method.
- It is recommended that you unlock the bathroom door by opening up a nearby window and climbing in through there without attracting too much attention from those inside or outside the house. This will allow you to sneak your way into the bathroom entrance with minimal risk of being caught breaking, which can be very costly to some people if they get caught by police officers on patrol or residents who may live near your target home.
- Try to avoid wearing clothes obscure enough that you won’t be recognized even in the case of getting caught breaking. You may also try to use latent fingerprints on objects inside the bathroom from other people who have recently used it to cover your own fingerprints if you get too close to something.
What Type of Lock is on a Bathroom and Bedroom Door – the “Privacy Lock”?
This “Privacy Lock” is basically a privacy lock, which means it locks from the inside of the room and unlocks from the outside. This type of lock could be either single or double-sided locks as long as they function in this manner. The reason for these types of locks is to prevent any unwanted entry into private rooms such as bedrooms and bathrooms. These are especially important in households with young children who can easily lock themselves in their bedroom or bathroom, causing an emergency if there isn’t someone home with them.
It is also common for homes with older adults to have these types of locks attached to doors as well, so that they will be able to re-enter their home without much trouble should they need to leave unexpectedly (using their keys to exit, but no way to unlock the door from the inside). Again, these locks are fairly common in households and are easy to install.
How Can I Lock My Bedroom Door From The Outside Without a Key?
One of the biggest hassles of moving into a new apartment is getting settled into an unfamiliar bedroom. You’ve been in your new home for less than a day, and you’re already feeling uncomfortable because there’s no lock on the bedroom door. If you’d like to feel secure from intruders during this transition period, here are a few tips that will help you prevent people from walking into your bedroom while they’re in your home:
Locate some duct tape and some string. This should be easy enough to have any office supplies or stationery items around the house. First, draw a vertical line across the door at about chest level using a straight edge ruler to make sure it’s even, then put down two strips of duct tape vertically from the top to the bottom of your door.
The next step is putting together a string lock that will open when you pull it, they will become locked again once you let it go. Tie one end of the string to a sturdy object in your room, such as a chair or desk leg, and tie the other end around the arm of your door so that it’s right near where you placed your tape on the outside of the door. Keep pulling until everything is taut but not so tight that it becomes difficult to move from side to side.
After this point has been achieved, tie another piece of string onto the first one at about knee level and attach another piece at eye level for good measure (be sure to keep the two pieces of string from crossing over each other, or you will not be able to get through your door if the lock is engaged). It would help if you also placed a block or something heavy enough on the floor that, when you shut it, will prevent the door from closing all the way.
Conclusion
I hope this article has been beneficial for learning how to unlock a bathroom door from the outside. Thank you and have a nice day!
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Angela Ervin
Angela is the executive editor of DIY quickly. She began her career as an interior designer before applying her strategic and creative passion to lifestyle and home. She has close to 15 years of experience in creative writing and online content strategy for housekeeping, home decorations as well as other niche efforts. She loves her job and has the privilege of working with an extraordinary team. She lives with her husband, two sons, and daughter in Petersburg. When she's not busy working she spent time with her family.
