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Original poster

How to get out of a room if the door handle breaks off?

37 replies

Borelis · 26/03/2019 22:23

How to get out of a room if the door handle breaks off?

Do you need to have tools with you? If so, what tools?

OP posts:
TableforJane · 26/03/2019 22:27

Kick it! At least, that’s what I did. Landlord had to replace the door and frame 🙈

SneakyGremlins · 26/03/2019 22:29

Has this happened to you OP? Grin does it open inwards or outwards?

TheGirlOnTheLanding · 26/03/2019 22:29

Think it depends on the door handle - ours fell off and we did a temporary fix with a matchstick in the handle.

Kedgeree · 26/03/2019 22:30

If you're my neighbour you stick your head out of the roof light and shout across to me to come over and let you out...

Onesmallstepforaman · 26/03/2019 22:30

If the handle has a shaft that goes through the door, you may be able to grip this by hand to turn the latch part. This may need the pressure taken off the latch by pushing or pulling the door . Alternatively, you might be able to push the shaft through and inserting a wide bladed knife, turn it that way. Hope you're not shut in!

Scrowy · 26/03/2019 22:31

It depends on what type of handle it is, how it is broken and which way the door opens surely?

In these circumstances I've been able to open a door with both a biro and a hair clip in separate events.

Lindy2 · 26/03/2019 22:34

You phone someone for help and they come along with a screwdriver and get the door open for you. That's what I did anyway. Grin

BoglingToAswad · 26/03/2019 22:37

This happened once at uni while staying in halls. My friend called maintenance to tell them we were stuck and their response was "Have you tried turning the handle?" She actually tried turning the handle that was in my hand, not attached to the door! Grin

Kicking it should work though.

EdtheBear · 26/03/2019 23:50

Most handles work the same way. Square bar with handle either end.
I'd try putting the handle back on to pull back the catch, while using fingers or something else to pull the edge of the door.

safariboot · 26/03/2019 23:53

There's usually a square shaft that goes through the latch mechanism and the handles fit on the ends of it. If that shaft is present, push it back in if needed, then push the handle back onto it and turn.

If the handle is lost or snapped you can grip the shaft with an adjustable wrench or something - but you probably don't have one in the room.

Justgivemesomepeace · 26/03/2019 23:53

Bang and shout until the kids wake up, get them to ring grandad to come with his tools and get you out.

StarlightLady · 27/03/2019 05:16

OP, are you still in there? Is it a bathroom? You’ll be wanting a wee!

brizzlemint · 27/03/2019 05:43

That's a scary thought, what if you are home alone and there is nobody to call for help?

HeronLanyon · 27/03/2019 06:07

Use all/any metal things you can find to eg unscrew lock fittings or handle fittings to allow you - possibly - better access to business end of latch. If I’m alone in a house/flat I never lock a bathroom door and rarely close it fully if it is a certain type of handle.
Was once locked in badly (and with no window). Every time I put the light on the fan meant I couldn’t hear friends trying help on other side of door. Fire service about to be called when I managed to force something. Broke every tweezer/scissor/nail file doing it. If had been on own I’d have been in real trouble I think.

donajimena · 27/03/2019 06:15

It happened to some friends of mine. They had to wait until their 11year old daughter woke up the next day. Luckily they could exit the patio doors to use the garden for a wee.
I don't shut doors when I'm alone in the house because I am so scared of this happening.

DerbyRacer · 27/03/2019 07:55

I am scared to close doors now. It would be awful to be locked in a room.

Lou573 · 27/03/2019 08:08

Depends if it opens out or in, if it opens towards you it would be very difficult to kick it in. If you have some sort of narrow tool with you you might be able to pop it off the hinges by knocking out the pin.

anniehm · 27/03/2019 08:09

Screwdriver, pliers

Roomba · 27/03/2019 08:19

This happened to me, plus the shaft that goes through the hole in the door fell out on the other side. I had to bang and shout for 40 minutes until DS1 woke up (he is a very heavy sleeper so worried I'd never get out!). Then he put the shaft back through and I managed to turn it and get out. I was bursting for the loo and about to take emergency action when he finally heard me and came down to help.

BertieBotts · 27/03/2019 08:19

If you are home alone but have a mobile and are absolutely stuck? Call landlord, if no luck/house owned, locksmith? Via directory enquiries.

But first I'd try: kick the door/use something heavy to smash the door - if it's an internal door, it is probably made of hollow board. If it is a solid wooden door it might be easier to try and break the frame where the latch is.

Look for something hard and flat to use as a screwdriver and unscrew door handle.

Shout out of a window to attract attention? Climb out of a window. Always leave a spare key with a neighbour.

We had this once, the bit that held the square in was plastic and had worn away so turning the handle did nothing. Actually all of the doors in my mum's house are like that. So beware if you are in a late 90s/early 2000s cheap/HA new build.

DogHairEverywhere · 27/03/2019 09:55

Possible scenarios to explain why OP has not returned

  1. she's still trapped in the room, but without a charger and her phone has died.
  2. she was hoping to trap a mad axe murderer in a room by removing the handle, but the axe murderer saw this thread and has used the ideas to escape and has dispatched the op.
  3. the op has managed to open the door and has gone about her day. Any others?
Seeline · 27/03/2019 09:59

I managed to insert a teaspoon into the hole where the door handle had broken off and turn the mechanism that way when it happened at work! Office was a room in a converted old house and everything was on its last legs as we were about to move into brand new Council office. My colleagues were very impressed Grin

whyamisostupid · 27/03/2019 11:56

I am scared to close doors now. It would be awful to be locked in a room

its terrible especially with no windows

BlindyPeakers · 27/03/2019 12:42

This happened to me and I managed to slide a stiff bit of plastic between the door and the frame and get the sticky out bit that stops the door from opening (the latch?) to retract and open the door that way. Only works if the latch isn't too stiff though.

DianaPrincessOfThemyscira · 27/03/2019 13:02

Face facts OP, you live there now. Make yourself comfortable.