How to Unlock an Interior Door

Do you need to unlock an interior door from the outside to gain access to a locked room? A bedroom or home office door is for privacy and is not designed to provide security. Locks on interior doors have simple knob twists or push buttons on levers that set a spring loaded hold on the outer knobs. These are inadvertently locked when exiting a room at times. Occasionally a small child unwittingly locks a door in the process of closing it. Getting past the door lock from the opposite side is accomplished with a simple tool to spring the lock open.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Small slotted screwdriver or large paper clip

1. Use a small slotted screwdriver to unlock an interior door with a slot--latch. Some interior door locks have spring loads that need a twist to open. This type of knob comes with a key tool that's small and easily misplaced. A slotted head of a screwdriver with a long and slender post fits into a receiver inside the lock that resembles the head of a screw. Catch the screwdriver on the slot and turn clockwise to pop the lock open.

2. Use a large paper clip to open a pressure spring lock. Unfold two of the bends on a large paper clip and straighten into a post.

3. Slip the straightened end of the paper clip into the hole in the knob or lever. Push against the pressure fence inside the lock and turn the handle or knob in either direction. The lock will pop open.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep an unfolded paper clip on the upper ledge of one of the door frames in your house to use as a key whenever necessary.

[ScarlettOHairy]

on 9/25/2009 Great instructions!