Keep entertainment center doors closed
March 18, 2017 9:45 PM Subscribe
I'd like to find a way to keep the sliding doors of my entertainment center closed, for baby proofing.
We have an entertainment center where the TV sits on top, about 30" high. It has three partitioned cabinets across—each about two feet wide—with two sliding doors that keep two (or one) of the cabinets closed at any given time.
The middle cabinet is basically baby proof, and so we keep the two sides closed, as they're not particularly. But the doors don't latch or anything, so inquisitive babies find little resistance to their explorations.
I'd love to find something akin to a pressure-adjusted shower curtain rod to keep the sides blocked. I don't care overly much what it looks like—I'd just rather it be easily removable. And not adding to baby danger in some way. Seems like there must be something out there to do the job, but I've had a devil of a time finding it.
We have an entertainment center where the TV sits on top, about 30" high. It has three partitioned cabinets across—each about two feet wide—with two sliding doors that keep two (or one) of the cabinets closed at any given time.
The middle cabinet is basically baby proof, and so we keep the two sides closed, as they're not particularly. But the doors don't latch or anything, so inquisitive babies find little resistance to their explorations.
I'd love to find something akin to a pressure-adjusted shower curtain rod to keep the sides blocked. I don't care overly much what it looks like—I'd just rather it be easily removable. And not adding to baby danger in some way. Seems like there must be something out there to do the job, but I've had a devil of a time finding it.
Response by poster: Oh yeah maybe! Just "lock" the outer edge of each door to the side of the console. That might actually be less obtrusive.
posted by Brak at 10:03 PM on March 18, 2017
posted by Brak at 10:03 PM on March 18, 2017
Response by poster: And sorry for the lack of visuals. It's basically this idea, with a different execution. Jeeze, apparently barn doors are all the rage these days, if Google Images is to be believed.
posted by Brak at 10:11 PM on March 18, 2017
posted by Brak at 10:11 PM on March 18, 2017
you can find spring-loaded curtain rods of pretty much any width at your local hardwares store, but I suspect they won't hold up to much orthogonal tugging. (ie: a curious tot could yank it out pretty easily.) Also: Spring loaded, so it can go flying when removed.
I'd probably buy some XL binder clips and clip one in the track inside of each door so they can't slide. It's unlikely a young'n could find the strength or leverage to squeeze one open.
posted by Ookseer at 10:43 PM on March 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'd probably buy some XL binder clips and clip one in the track inside of each door so they can't slide. It's unlikely a young'n could find the strength or leverage to squeeze one open.
posted by Ookseer at 10:43 PM on March 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
Do they have the top track as shown in the photo? In that case I'd just use a couple of 4" vise grips and clamp the track when the doors are shut. They're tricky enough to release that no toddler could do it.
If you can't directly access the track, buy your "tension curtain rod" thingy here and use a hacksaw to adjust it to a smaller size if necessary.
Personally, I'd just cut some wood to size and wedge it between the two doors. Cheap, easy, infinitely customizable.
posted by halogen at 11:08 PM on March 18, 2017
If you can't directly access the track, buy your "tension curtain rod" thingy here and use a hacksaw to adjust it to a smaller size if necessary.
Personally, I'd just cut some wood to size and wedge it between the two doors. Cheap, easy, infinitely customizable.
posted by halogen at 11:08 PM on March 18, 2017
We use stick-on latches similar to the ones linked above, and like them. Probably easier to repeatedly remove and replace than a tension rod. The one drawback is you wouldn't be able to slide either door all the way open, since the latch thingy would bump into the other door.
posted by Metroid Baby at 5:48 AM on March 19, 2017
posted by Metroid Baby at 5:48 AM on March 19, 2017
In the vein of halogen's vice grips I'd use a couple of dollar store 2" c-clamps.
posted by Mitheral at 7:42 AM on March 19, 2017
posted by Mitheral at 7:42 AM on March 19, 2017
Response by poster: but I suspect they won't hold up to much orthogonal tugging
I wondered the same thing. The doors slide past each other too, so it wouldn't be a flush fit on the horizontal.
I'd probably buy some XL binder clips and clip one in the track inside of each door
That might be worth a shot too.
I ordered some of the adhesive latches, so we'll do a side by side and see which one works better!
posted by Brak at 10:38 AM on March 19, 2017
I wondered the same thing. The doors slide past each other too, so it wouldn't be a flush fit on the horizontal.
I'd probably buy some XL binder clips and clip one in the track inside of each door
That might be worth a shot too.
I ordered some of the adhesive latches, so we'll do a side by side and see which one works better!
posted by Brak at 10:38 AM on March 19, 2017
We use these magnetic latches to secure the entertainment center and the liquor cabinet from jordemort-2. I'm not sure they'd work for a sliding door though.
posted by jordemort at 12:28 PM on March 20, 2017
posted by jordemort at 12:28 PM on March 20, 2017
Response by poster: Thanks for all of your responses! Bought some adhesive strap locks via brainmouse's suggestion, and they work like a charm!
posted by Brak at 12:20 PM on March 22, 2017
posted by Brak at 12:20 PM on March 22, 2017
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Also, though, we literally use a tension curtain rod to baby proof a set of drawers. They work.
posted by brainmouse at 9:58 PM on March 18, 2017 [2 favorites]