Unlocking a bathroom door can be quite a frustrating and even a nerve-racking process, especially in case of an urgent need for the toilet. If it is a defective lock or a missing key, it does not matter, being locked out of a bathroom is a pest. Unlocking of a bathroom door is a simple exercise that can be done easily by anyone if the appropriate tools and methods are used. Below is a technique of how to unlock a bathroom door.
Step 1: Check for Alternative Entry Points
If you encounter a closed bathroom door, the first step is to find where else to enter. Can a bathroom window open? Is there a door that leads to another room that you can use? If there are no other portals, move to the next level.
Step 2: Assess the Type of Lock on the Door
The most common locks for the doors of the bathrooms are two types – door knob locks and deadbolts. Door Knobs locks on the inside knob have a button or a turn lock and on the outside of the door deadbolts have a separate key slot. As for a doorknob lock, you can proceed with step three. If you already have a deadbolt, go to step five.
Step 3: Use a Credit Card
The credit card or a flat similar object are among the most popular methods of unlocking a door with doorknob lock. Get a credit card or a thin plastic card and put it in between the door and the door frame, right above the door handle. Move the card and exert little force to force the latch open. This technique is a trial and error process but for simple door knob locks, it mostly works.
Step 4: Try a Bent Hanger
If the credit card does not help, use a bent hanger. Straighten a wire hanger and bend one end at 90 degrees. Slide the bent end into the gap above a doorknob and attempt to catch the latch or to push the button to open the door. This may be a bit tricky, but if you are patient and persistent, the door should eventually open.
Step 5: Use a Screwdriver
To do this for deadbolts, you will need a screwdriver. Find the screw inside the doorknob and take it out. After you have unscrewed the screw then you should be able to pull the door knob off leaving the latch exposed. With the screwdriver, push the latch back and the door will open.
Step 6: Call a Professional Locksmith
If none of the ways mentioned above helps, you should contact a professional locksmith. Locksmiths can assist on how to unlock a bathroom door. They also assist you in changing the lock if needed.
Preventive Measures to Avoid Getting Locked Out
Some preventive measures can prevent bathroom doors from being locked from inside. Here are a few tips to avoid getting locked out of your bathroom:
- Keep a spare key in a secure and accessible location.
- Put a key in a lockbox outside.
- Leave an extra key with a trusted neighbor or family member.
- You may think of replacing your bathroom lock with a smart lock which can be unlocked through a smartphone app remotely.
- Always make sure of servicing and proper working of your bathroom locks to avoid such situations of getting locked in.
Being locked out of a washroom is a familiar situation, and following the steps outlined above will help you on how to unlock a bathroom door. Bear in mind to look at alternative entry points always and use basic tools and approaches before you contact a specialist locksmith. You can also prevent yourself from the lockout problem by following some preventive measures. Using these simple steps, you can now have peace of mind in-case of any spontaneous bathroom lockouts. Thus, next time you are locked out of the bathroom you need not worry about anything, these steps are all you need to know and you should be inside the locked place in no time.
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