It’s hard to open a locked bathroom door if you’re not the one who locked it. To begin, you should determine whether there are any tricks that might be able to assist you in unlocking your locked bathroom door.
For example, if the lock is just on the outside of the door, there might be something nearby (like a nail or screw) that can jimmy it open. The next step would be to figure out how to use some creative techniques if there is nothing like that nearby.
Now the question is how can you apply tricks to open your bathroom door? Don’t worry, below are the top 20 ideas of how to open a locked bathroom door easily.
Bathroom Door Lock Types
There are different types of bathroom door locks available on the market today. But the type of lock you choose will depend on your personal preferences and the level of security you require. If you are looking for a basic level of security for your bathroom door, a simple keyed entry knob or lever handle lock may be sufficient. These locks can be easily installed and do not require any special tools or knowledge.
Whereas, if you are looking for a more secure option, a deadbolt lock may be a better choice. Deadbolts are more difficult to pick and provide a higher level of security. However, they can be more difficult to install and may require the use of special tools.
If you are unsure of which type of lock is right for you, it will be good to consult with a professional locksmith. They will be able to assess your needs and recommend the best type of lock for your situation.
20 Ways On How To Open A Locked Bathroom Door
1) Use your wits
The most obvious approach is to use your wits. First, you must identify the type of lock used on the door. If it’s a simple keyed deadbolt, simply locate the latch and slide it up to open the door. But if there’s no visible latch or handle, chances are that you will have to get creative.
2) Butter knife
You can use a butter knife to press on the latch and lift the lock if it has a keyhole. Be aware that this may take a bit of time, you will have to be patient. But eventually, the latch should open in one way or another. So a butter knife is one of the best tools to open your locked bathroom door.
3) Credit card
Another useful tool is a credit card. Take your credit or debit card and slowly slide it between the door and frame, gently applying pressure to the latch. This will cause the springs to push up the latch and open the door in one go.
Using this technique is very similar to using a hammer and chisel to open a door. Not only credit cards, but can also use any plastic card, gift card, identification card, or smaller type of card that you can use. It works like a charm. A credit card is one of the best tools to open your locked bathroom door easily.
4) Flathead screwdriver
If the lock has a keyhole and no visible latch, your best bet is to use a flathead screwdriver. The trick here is to use a piece of cardboard to keep the screwdriver from scratching up the door. Turn the flathead so that it’s parallel to the door, and slide it into the keyhole. Keep pushing until the latch disengages and opens the door.
If you don’t have a flathead screwdriver, you can use an exterior screw or eyeglass screwdriver, these all are effective tools to open a locked bathroom door. Moreover, if you have any sharp objects that you can use as a screwdriver, they will also work.
5) Bobby pin
The bobby pin technique is easy and cheap. Thread a folded-up paper clip through a bobby pin and insert it into the keyhole. Twist the lock back and forth until the pins in the lock are lifted high enough to disengage. A Bobby pin is another best tool to open your bathroom door. Using a bobby pin is the same as using a chisel and hammer to open the door. In the absence of a bobby pin, you can also use a flat plastic card or any other sharp object.
6) Lock-picking set
If you have some knowledge about lock-picking, it will help you a lot to open the door in no time. For example, if the lock has a rotating cylinder, you should look at the keyhole and try to find out where the ‘shear line’ is. You can rotate the key slowly back to its original position at this point where the lock pin will stop it from rotating.
Don’t worry if you can’t find the ‘shear line’ right away, you will learn it after some practice. So a lock-picking set is one of the most effective tools to open your locked bathroom door.
7) Coin:
This is a simple but extremely useful trick that you can easily try on your own. Take a coin, one side should be a little bit thicker than the other. Place the thick side of the coin by the edge of the lock. You should be able to easily slide the door open if the lock is not too strong. You can also try using a paperclip in place of a coin. It might not work on all the locks, but it’s worth a try.
8) Metal coat hanger
You can also open door locks in this creative way, which is also very easy. Just slide the hanger between the edge of the door and frame, then slowly bend it outwards to push up the latch. But you should remember that this method does not always work with all bathroom doors. It is possible that it will damage your bathroom door. So if you are not willing to risk your door, you can also use other methods to unlock the bathroom door lock.
Alternatively, you can just place a cloth hanger on the door and pull it up, or you can try pushing it through the lock.
9) Hairdryer
If you don’t have a coat hanger, you may be able to use a hairdryer. Blow warm air around the area where the latch is and it should slide up enough for you to push the door open. A hairdryer is another effective tool to open your bathroom door. Using a hairdryer to unlock the bathroom door lock is quite easy and effortless, but it can damage your bathroom door.
10) Push Hole
If you have a push-hole in your bathroom door, that will make things simpler for you. If there is one in the middle of the bottom edge, then just push the faceplate upwards and the latch should be disengaged. You can also try to use a paper clip or pin to open it. The best way is to take out the faceplate, push the latch, and slide it back in. A push hole is another best tool to open your locked door.
11) Turning Tab
Two tabs on the edge of your door can be pushed inward to open it easily. A turning tab is one of the simplest tools to open your locked door. This method will work on most bathroom doors since it’s very common. But this method might not work on all the doors, just try and check if it will be helpful to you.
12) Tension wrench and a paperclip
If there are two turning tabs, the second one is probably the tension wrench. Take a paperclip and bend it to make a small hook, then push the hook into the gap between the door and frame. Slowly rotate it clockwise until you can see another hole on top of it. I believe that this method will not work on all the bathroom doors, but you can try it out and see if it will work on your door.
13) Accessible tool
You can use a standard house key or any other tool that is accessible to you. Also, you can use a flathead screwdriver, which will have a slot on the shaft, which will assist you in pushing up the latch. This is one of the most popular ways to open your bathroom-locked door. You do not need to damage your bathroom door or break the lock in this case.
14) Hair Straight
You can open your locked bathroom door with the help of straight hair. You can try using a hair straight as a tension wrench. You need to stick it into the gap between the inside and outside of the door and turn it clockwise until you feel resistance. And then push down on it to pull up the latch or slide the door open. While using hair straight, be careful, these can break easily.
15) Bathroom lock unlock switch
You may have a bathroom lock unlock switch on your door. If it’s an electronic lock, just press the button to open the door, or if the switch is manual, use a flathead screwdriver or key to push it.
Using a bathroom lock unlock switch, you can easily open your bathroom door without damaging it. Think in mind if your lock and unlock switch is not working properly, you can check it and fix it before you need to open your bathroom door. Otherwise, you can call a locksmith to fix it.
16) Small hammers
You can try using a small hammer to open your door. Push the tip of it under the latch, then slide the door. This method is easy and effortless but you may break your bathroom door while doing that.
17) Short piece of wire:
You can use a short piece of wire to open your bathroom door. Move the wire under the edge of the door along the crack between the two where they meet at 90 degrees. Slowly push it into position so that you can slide out one end. Using this way is also very easy and effortless to open your bathroom door, but you need to be careful.
18) Car key
Car keys are the best tool to open your bathroom door if you have a broken lock or damaged latch. You can also try using a sharp key or any other kind of key to open a bathroom door. Keep in mind that using a car key will damage your door and lock, so if you don’t want to do that, find another method from this list.
19) Kick the Door
You can kick the door to open it but be careful while doing that. You don’t want to damage your door or unlock it with this method. You need to kick the door from the right place and at a perfect angle, with strong force. Although it’s not the most recommendable way to open your bathroom door. But if you have no way, you can try it.
20) Substitute key
The last and final method to open the locked door is by using a substitute key. A substitute bathroom door key will help you to escape from the bathroom without breaking or damaging anything. So if you are not willing to break your door, then try out this method.
In almost every hardware store, you can get a duplicate key for the bathroom for a relatively low price. If you have a duplicate key, then that’s it, but if you don’t have one then it’s time to call an emergency plumber.
FAQs
No, a screwdriver is not the best option to open the bathroom door lock. If you try to open the locked door by using a screwdriver, it will damage your door or latch and you can’t use it anymore. You need to find another way from this list to open your bathroom door without damaging it.
There are many reasons why you may have problems opening your bathroom door. You can check out the locks and latches if they are properly working or not. Also, find another way from this list for opening your bathroom door or call a professional to help you in that matter.
The Bottom Line
The 20 ways we’ve shared for opening a bathroom door have given you some ideas. You may find that one of the tips listed is your best option, or you might need to combine two or more methods in order to successfully open your locked bathroom door.
We all know that opening a locked bathroom door can be frustrating, but it doesn’t have to be. There are many reasons why you may have problems opening your bathroom door and we’re here to help with that.
You can find the best way to open your bathroom door on this list or call an emergency plumber if none of these methods work for you. Remember, there are many reasons why you might not be able to open your lock so don’t forget to check them before trying out any other method!
