help locked OUT of bedroom.
March 15, 2015 9:13 PM Subscribe
I somehow have locked myself out of my boedroom. The lock locks from the inside and the screws are also inside. It's a turn handle not a round doorknob. My phone is in there too. I have a screwdrier but not sure what to do
Does the lock have a small hole or slot in the outside knob/grip? If so, odds are you can insert a narrow screwdriver and turn to flip the lock from outside -- bedroom locks are often intended more for privacy than security.
posted by Alterscape at 9:16 PM on March 15, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Alterscape at 9:16 PM on March 15, 2015 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: ok besides calling a locksmith? For one thing I don't have my phone, and it's past mid night here.
posted by zutalors! at 9:17 PM on March 15, 2015
posted by zutalors! at 9:17 PM on March 15, 2015
Response by poster: It has a hole, but I'm not sure I have a screwdriver that would get far enough in there
posted by zutalors! at 9:20 PM on March 15, 2015
posted by zutalors! at 9:20 PM on March 15, 2015
You might want to use a straightened paperclip. Here's a pictoral guide on what to do for the two different types of bedroom/bathroom doors.
posted by eschatfische at 9:21 PM on March 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by eschatfische at 9:21 PM on March 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
If you have any inexpensive ballpoint pens lying around you can disassemble one and use the ink/plastic part to fit through the hole in the doorknob. While pushing the plastic bit straight in through the hole, turn the knob.
posted by homesickness at 9:25 PM on March 15, 2015
posted by homesickness at 9:25 PM on March 15, 2015
Response by poster: Looking for paperclips - any other deas?
posted by zutalors! at 9:25 PM on March 15, 2015
posted by zutalors! at 9:25 PM on March 15, 2015
If the handle has a hole in it, this is easy peasy. We had these kind of doors growing up, and living in a family that puts basically 0 value on privacy, I know all the tricks.
Things that work:
-straightened paperclip
-straightened bobby pin
-q-tip with the fluff pulled off
-toothpick
-innards of a pen (the ink tube)
You'll surely find something around your house that'll work. Anything narrow, rigid, and at least 2" long will do you fine.
What you want to do is stick it in the hole and just kind of gently jab. You should be able to feel something like a little plate (should run perpendicular to your tool entry) with a bit of give. Once your tool finds purchase on the plate, give it a nice, firm push. That oughta pop the lock on the inside.
posted by phunniemee at 9:25 PM on March 15, 2015 [3 favorites]
Things that work:
-straightened paperclip
-straightened bobby pin
-q-tip with the fluff pulled off
-toothpick
-innards of a pen (the ink tube)
You'll surely find something around your house that'll work. Anything narrow, rigid, and at least 2" long will do you fine.
What you want to do is stick it in the hole and just kind of gently jab. You should be able to feel something like a little plate (should run perpendicular to your tool entry) with a bit of give. Once your tool finds purchase on the plate, give it a nice, firm push. That oughta pop the lock on the inside.
posted by phunniemee at 9:25 PM on March 15, 2015 [3 favorites]
Try using another key that will at least fit somewhat, and jiggle it around in the lock.
posted by invisible ink at 9:32 PM on March 15, 2015
posted by invisible ink at 9:32 PM on March 15, 2015
Things that work:
-straightened paperclip
-straightened bobby pin
-q-tip with the fluff pulled off
-toothpick
-innards of a pen (the ink tube)
So will all sorts of stuff in the kitchen and bathroom -- go and dig around in the utensil drawers, the junk drawer, etc for anything that like a wire that can be poked into the hole. Some locks are easy, others you need to aim the wire just right.
posted by Dip Flash at 9:32 PM on March 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
-straightened paperclip
-straightened bobby pin
-q-tip with the fluff pulled off
-toothpick
-innards of a pen (the ink tube)
So will all sorts of stuff in the kitchen and bathroom -- go and dig around in the utensil drawers, the junk drawer, etc for anything that like a wire that can be poked into the hole. Some locks are easy, others you need to aim the wire just right.
posted by Dip Flash at 9:32 PM on March 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: yea none of those are working...
posted by zutalors! at 9:35 PM on March 15, 2015
posted by zutalors! at 9:35 PM on March 15, 2015
Best answer: Agreed on small things that you can poke into the hole and jiggle around. If one thing doesn't work, try another--some locks are fussier than others.
I'll also note that if it's the kind of lock where you push-turn the handle to lock it, you can quite probably get it open with a credit card slipped between the door and the jamb--kind of angle away from you, along the bar of the lock, for a better word, and work at jabbing the edge of the card under the end of the lock bar . Several doors of my childhood had this style of lock, and my siblings and I learnt very quickly how to pop them open.
posted by MeghanC at 9:36 PM on March 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'll also note that if it's the kind of lock where you push-turn the handle to lock it, you can quite probably get it open with a credit card slipped between the door and the jamb--kind of angle away from you, along the bar of the lock, for a better word, and work at jabbing the edge of the card under the end of the lock bar . Several doors of my childhood had this style of lock, and my siblings and I learnt very quickly how to pop them open.
posted by MeghanC at 9:36 PM on March 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
Check the top of the door jamb. Sometimes there's a key up there. I'm not kidding.
posted by WalkerWestridge at 9:36 PM on March 15, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by WalkerWestridge at 9:36 PM on March 15, 2015 [5 favorites]
Response by poster: It's not the kind of door that needs a key
posted by zutalors! at 9:38 PM on March 15, 2015
posted by zutalors! at 9:38 PM on March 15, 2015
yea none of those are working...
Can you be more specific? Are they not working because they don't physically fit in the handle or is it that you can't trigger the internal mechanism?
posted by phunniemee at 9:38 PM on March 15, 2015
Can you be more specific? Are they not working because they don't physically fit in the handle or is it that you can't trigger the internal mechanism?
posted by phunniemee at 9:38 PM on March 15, 2015
Sometimes those things have a catch in them and you have to insert something, catch onto an edge, and then turn it. Do you have a key ring you can somewhat straighten? A metal coat hanger? Make a somewhat curved instrument stick it in, spin it around and see if you catch onto something that you can turn/move.
posted by Crystalinne at 9:39 PM on March 15, 2015
posted by Crystalinne at 9:39 PM on March 15, 2015
Response by poster: phunniemee...couldn't trigger internal mechanism.
posted by zutalors! at 9:40 PM on March 15, 2015
posted by zutalors! at 9:40 PM on March 15, 2015
To add to what I wrote, in my experience interior door locks with the small hole get opened by poking the wire in and pushing what is basically a button inside. Sometimes that takes quite a firm push -- the lock is not opened just by putting the wire into the hole.
posted by Dip Flash at 9:40 PM on March 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Dip Flash at 9:40 PM on March 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
Is this a button lock? If so, for the future make sure you have a doorstop on the inside. My bathroom door would slam against the wall, lock itself, then slam shut with the wind until we put in a door stop on the hinge.
posted by Crystalinne at 9:42 PM on March 15, 2015
posted by Crystalinne at 9:42 PM on March 15, 2015
Best answer: Yay! I was just coming in to mention that I got myself back into my house using asavage's advice from this question a few years ago. Credit card!
posted by purpleclover at 9:43 PM on March 15, 2015
posted by purpleclover at 9:43 PM on March 15, 2015
a nail (about 8-penny, 1 1/2 inch or longer)works wonderfully!
posted by mumstheword at 9:43 PM on March 15, 2015
posted by mumstheword at 9:43 PM on March 15, 2015
Response by poster: there's a little thing in the door that you turn. The only reason I ever lock it is that one of my cats knows how to turn it and let himself in, setting me up for chaotic sleep. Seriously thinking about exchanging themfor round doorknobs.
posted by zutalors! at 9:44 PM on March 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by zutalors! at 9:44 PM on March 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Also excuse my typos I was already for bed and had taken Ambien before this cirisis arose.
posted by zutalors! at 9:44 PM on March 15, 2015 [16 favorites]
posted by zutalors! at 9:44 PM on March 15, 2015 [16 favorites]
I didn't mean a key like a front door key. It's a little flat peice of metal that you pop into the hole and turn or sometimes just push in. It unlocks the door.
posted by WalkerWestridge at 10:06 PM on March 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by WalkerWestridge at 10:06 PM on March 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Eponysterical.
(Glad to see you got it resolved. Hope you slept well!)
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 3:24 AM on March 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
(Glad to see you got it resolved. Hope you slept well!)
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 3:24 AM on March 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
If you just want to keep the cat out, just put a gate hook on the inside of the door/jam. Glad you got in!
posted by HuronBob at 3:46 AM on March 16, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by HuronBob at 3:46 AM on March 16, 2015 [3 favorites]
What WalkerWestridge said above, twice. That little hole has a purpose ...
You're back in the room, so your immediate problem is solved. But you really should get the proper "key" for that knob. Study that hole, then go to the hardware store and ask for help finding a replacement metal thing that goes in that hole. If they have multiple choices, buy them both! It's just a few bucks.
posted by intermod at 7:40 AM on March 16, 2015 [3 favorites]
You're back in the room, so your immediate problem is solved. But you really should get the proper "key" for that knob. Study that hole, then go to the hardware store and ask for help finding a replacement metal thing that goes in that hole. If they have multiple choices, buy them both! It's just a few bucks.
posted by intermod at 7:40 AM on March 16, 2015 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: thanks for all the help, I marked it resolved. I'll look into the key thing - no cost issue, but I posted this late at night and needed some immediate help, not a locksmith or trip to hardware store.
posted by zutalors! at 8:48 AM on March 16, 2015
posted by zutalors! at 8:48 AM on March 16, 2015
For lots of these interior privacy locks (e.g. the ones in my 1990's house) the "key" is jut a small flathead screwdriver. Insert it in the hole and turn.
posted by w0mbat at 11:32 AM on March 16, 2015
posted by w0mbat at 11:32 AM on March 16, 2015
For those who may see this sometime in the future - a drillbit can also be used to "pop" the lock. Find a bit that's small enough to fit through the hole in the knob and push.
posted by Colonel Sun at 12:56 PM on March 16, 2015
posted by Colonel Sun at 12:56 PM on March 16, 2015
We always used an icepick but maybe folks don't have icepicks anymore.
posted by a humble nudibranch at 3:00 PM on March 16, 2015
posted by a humble nudibranch at 3:00 PM on March 16, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 9:15 PM on March 15, 2015