Interestingly, not all door locks are crafted to be completely secure against entry from the opposite side. If you notice a small hole on your doorknob, that’s its purpose — and it can be crucial during emergencies or mishaps.
These privacy lock doorknobs are generally found on interior doors rather than exterior ones. They’re not intended to guard against intruders. Instead, they offer privacy for spaces like bathrooms. These knobs lock from the inside, and unlike exterior doors, they can be unlocked from the outside without needing a key or special hardware. Push-button and turn-button locks are particularly prone to having a small hole on the opposite side, whereas other privacy locks might feature different emergency unlocking methods.
Whether your child has locked themselves in, you’ve locked yourself out, or there’s a need for urgent evacuation, understanding how to utilize that small hole to unlock a privacy lock doorknob swiftly can save you time and stress.
How to Use the Hole to Unlock a Door
Many privacy doorknobs come equipped with an emergency key designed to fit perfectly into the small hole. This key is a slender piece of metal that is unfortunately easy to misplace. If you weren’t the original purchaser of the doorknob, you might not have it. In such cases, you can purchase replacements like Alico’s Interior Emergency Key Packs for Bedrooms and Bathrooms. This is an essential emergency item for every home, and it’s practical to store one in an easily accessible spot, like the top of the doorframe. If you’re in a bind or looking for alternatives in case you lose your door key, a very small flat-head screwdriver or any other narrow object like a small hex wrench, a paper clip, a bent clothes hanger, a skewer, or a knitting needle can be used.
To unlock, simply insert your chosen tool straight into the hole. The mechanism can be sensitive, so ensure you avoid inserting at an angle. For a turn-button doorknob, gently twist the tool, trying both clockwise and counterclockwise directions. For a push-button doorknob, press the tool forward. You’ll feel when the tool engages and fits into the groove. Then, turn the doorknob and celebrate your success.
