DU, I need a minimally invasive way to unlock a door

[Pierre.Suave]

it seems as if my bathroom door has locked itself.

It is the type of lock that from the inside you twist and push the handle to lock it. I tried pushing stuff in there to pry the catch open but no go

[flvegan]

1. What's the "keyhole" on the outside look like?

If it's just an open dot/hole, an awl screwdriver should open it with a simple push.

[Pierre.Suave]

2. just a hole

although it does not appear to have anything inside to push

[flvegan]

3. Have you tried reasoning with it?

Seriously though, you may need to give it several good pokes to make the lock "pop". The twist positions it, the push "catches" the lock. At least that's how it was in my last apartment.

[Pierre.Suave]

4. I am about to try "reasoning" with it...

thank you for the advice, I will take a minute to calm down a bit then go try again

[lizziegrace]

6. Lelapin used to lock doors when she was little

I found that poking an unbent paperclip around in the hole would almost always pop it. Also, dumb question, but are the hinges on the outside? If you're that lucky, you can take it off the hinges.

[Pierre.Suave]

7. I wish I was that lucky

but I am not

[lizziegrace]

9. If it's any consolation

I'm not either.

Good luck...

Any screws on the knob or the plate? Can you remove the assembly?

[Gormy Cuss]

15. If it's got the small hole in the center of the knob, a paper clip will do the trick

lizziegrace is right --it's the tool to use. You may need to try several times but eventually you should get it to catch the mechanism. Use one hand to push the paper clip into hole firmly and try to jiggle the knob with the other. When the clip catches in the mechanism the knob will turn and the door will be open.

[Chan790]

5. Feel around the top of your doorframe or trim...

there might be an emergency access key like this:


Insert and turn. They're supposed to come with every privacy set (that is that sort of door lock) but a lot of people have no idea what they are and throw them away.

[JVS]

11. If one were to go to the store and buy a privacy set, would that key work? About how much would it..

cost?

[Chan790]

18. I'm not sure on either question...

1.) I only knew that much because my general contractor told me what it was when he hung the doors. I don't think they're company-specific though not all holes are the same size. The good news is that it's just a flattened piece of wire. Anything small enough to fit through the hole, long enough and able to turn the tumbler will work (single arm of tweezers, very small flathead screwdriver, coathanger, flattened pen-cartridge, a bent fork, an Allen wrench of right size, luggage key, etc.). Sorry it took me so long to respond...I went searching my house for gerryrigged solutions. As FLVegan pointed out...some of them just require a hard push.

2.) I have no idea. I'm pretty sure if you went to a hardware store that sells keys and explain what it is that you need, they probably could make you one cheaper than it would cost to buy a privacy-set doorknob. They might even stock them.

[undeterred]

8. Get a beagle.

They can usually figure it out.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

10. take it off by the hinges....n/t

[Pierre.Suave]

12. cant

the hinges are on the inside as are the screws for the knob

[Tuesday Afternoon]

13. paper clip? n/t

[Crabby Appleton]

14. A small screwdriver, insert in hole and turn

small screwdriver, such as found in a set like the pic (on right), will unlock bathroom privacy locks.

[Pierre.Suave]

17. I have one of those too

I will try that

[Symarip]

16. Oddly enough, this used to happen to me all the time

If it's one of those door handles with a hole about the size of a medium freckle where a keyhole should be, here's what you do:

Find a ballpoint pen you're not too fond of
Disembowel the pen until all you have left is the pen tube which holds the ink and the attached ballpoint
Jam that fucker around in the keyhole freckle until you knock the latch that holds the spring in place
Open door

[dhpgetsit]

19. Mine is a hole

It can be unlocked by working a piece of coathanger wire into it.

[Ellipsis]

20. If all else fails pry up the trim by the lock and use a credit card to open it.

or pop the hinges if they are exposed.



Or you could just point your speakers at it put on the 1812 Overture and crank it to eleven.

[Pierre.Suave]

21. thanks DU

I got it open with your help and a small screwdriver.

Thanks