If you’ve ever accidentally locked yourself out of a room in your home that has a bathroom-style push-button or twist-privacy lock, you know it can be a pain to open them again. If you have a paper clip however, getting back in is no problem.
These tips from Instructables user DIYHacksAndHowTos will get almost any common indoor locked door open again in a snap, and all it takes is a paper clip. He walks through some common simple locks, including the dreaded privacy lock, and shows you how to open each one. Most of them aren’t designed for security, just a little privacy or discouragement, so they’re easy to open. With privacy locks, you just need to get the paper clip in deep enough to touch the pressure plate inside, and the door can be opened by twisting the knob.
Most household privacy locks have tiny keys that come with them, but if you don’t know where those keys are, or your kid pressed the button-lock and then shut his bedroom door on the way out (which I’ve seen happen) this method will come in handy. For an added bonus, he even shows you how to open a pair of toy handcuffs, so keep that trick in the back of your mind for a rainy day.
Reminder: don’t do anything dumb or illegal with the knowledge. I’ve locked myself out of rooms in my home before, so this is genuinely helpful, but don’t go breaking into your roommate’s bedroom or trying to get into someone else’s home this way.
How to Pick Simple Locks/Latches with a Paper Clip [Instructables]
Comments
5 responses to “Open Simple Household Locks With A Paper Clip”
…well this isn’t what I thought it was going to be.
I was much the same. I’ve got an old toolbox I want opened, and thought this was a way to make a bump key style pick. Still, very useful, as we have one of those push button locks and if someone falls in the shower, getting in is easier.
Old toolbox, there a few options.
Pick it, drill the tumblers ( 3.5mm drill bit) out and turn the mechanism with a screw driver, drill the whole lock out (needs a big drill bit).
Or take it to a locksmith?
My ex once locked us out of our unit. I went over to the neighbours house and borrowed a hammer and screwdriver. I bashed the knob/lock off the door with the hammer and opened it with the screwdriver. Went to Bunnings down the road and bought a $30 replacement knob/lock, much cheaper and faster than a locksmith.
There is usually an easier way. Most internal ‘privacy’ locks have a little toggle switch thingy at the bottom. I usually just grab my house keys, click the thingy to the right, and smack the bottom of the ungrateful child that has locked themselves in the toilet.