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Original poster

Why don't people have locks on their bathroom doors?

156 replies

Frazzels · 20/04/2019 20:29

I've never understood this but a lot of people I know don't have locks on their bathroom doors, probably more don't than do. I've always had a lock on mine, it's much easier than knocking if the door is closed or worrying someone will forget to knock and walk in

OP posts:
Frlrlrubert · 20/04/2019 22:00

Not to derail but...

In my uni days we'd all grown up in 'door shut = bathroom occupied' households, though we did also have a lock.

One morning we'd had an overnight guest. Housemate no.1 see door shut, so waits outside, joined by housemate no.2, etc. Eventually there's a 4 person queue.

Guest must be in the, wtf is he doing? All too polite to knock.

Then he comes out of the room he'd slept in and says 'is this the queue for the loo'. Everyone in the house is in the queue. He'd shut the door the night before!

ZigZagIntoTheBlue · 20/04/2019 22:01

I don't as we moved in and installed the doors when we only had a 6 week old baby and i could only see as far ahead as toddler tantrums and the risk of dc locking themselves in there.
Basically if the door is shut someone is in there 🤷‍♀️

Deadringer · 20/04/2019 22:02

I always lock the door, even if I am alone in the house. I wouldn't relax otherwise.

DrCristinaYang · 20/04/2019 22:02

My bathroom has a lock, but I live in my apartment alone and usually always leave the door open when I'm in toilet/bath etc.
I don't even lock the door if I have guests over.

Bunnybigears · 20/04/2019 22:05

There wasnt one on the bathroom door when we moved in and it has just never occurred to us to out one on. If the door is shut then someone is in there.

Aquilla · 20/04/2019 22:05

This brings back memories of school holidays at my dad's house with the utility room, toilet and bathroom in a row with ajoining doors. Years of anxiety, constantly worrying about my much younger half siblings (or worse!) bursting in Sad.
TWO unsecured doors to worry about, people!!

StoneofDestiny · 20/04/2019 22:06

No door? Glass door? Blimey. Locks on all ours, they can be opened with a coin though

Ditto.

VanGoghsDog · 20/04/2019 22:12

I have no lock, but I do have a bin and a loo brush.
I live alone so obvs no-one will come in.

DoesItGetAnyBetter · 20/04/2019 22:19

I always lock the door when going to the loo. Unfortunately they are the locks that can be unlocked from the outside. Therefore I am still interrupted by one or other of DC wanting juice/snack/different program on CBeebies/sit on my lap/arm hurts/leg hurts/there is a spider on the wall in the lounge........etc etc.

FromDespairToHere · 20/04/2019 22:19

Never had one. Me and DD (19) live here and barely ever shut the door tbh. If it's shut a cat immediately needs to come in anyway. When her or my partners are here you say "anyone in the loo?" if the door is shut.

For monitoring purposes I have a bathroom bin but I don't have a loo brush.

InfiniteCurve · 20/04/2019 22:22

No locks,there are other clues - shut door,light switch (outside room) on,able to ask if in doubt..And if someone gets it wrong you just shriek "I'm in here !!"
Easy.

BiscuitDrama · 20/04/2019 22:28

Those who operate on a ‘door shut = occupied’, that must mean you can’t shut a poo smell in there? I like to open the window and close the door if there’s a smell.

Sparklingbrook · 20/04/2019 22:28

I don't like the thought of asking (or shrieking Shock), way to put visitors off coming. Sad
I am quite surprised how many people leave the bathroom door open, ours is always shut whether there's someone using it or not.

Orangeballon · 20/04/2019 22:35

Having a lock saves embarrassment, I know this from experience when I walked in on a solicitor friend having a pooh while wearing a red fez, it was New Year time.

Charley34 · 20/04/2019 22:36

No locks on any doors if door shut someone in there but main reason is due to my seizures and cardiac arrests I've been found on the floor a lot so no locked doors!!

AppleBru · 20/04/2019 22:54

Don’t really have guests.
Also DD1 has epilepsy and has collapsed in there every time

englishdictionary · 20/04/2019 22:57

If door is shut someone is in the bathroom. Not difficult to grasp, op?

This wouldn't work in my house. If you do a poo you open the window and shit the door behind you. So the door is shut when the bathroom is empty.

Ohyesiam · 20/04/2019 23:00

To all the “if the door is shut it’s occupied “ people. Don’t you open the bathroom window to let out steam/ smells,then need to shut the door to stop the draught?

Sparklingbrook · 20/04/2019 23:02

Yes, I am baffled by the 'door shut= bathroom occupied' people.

reetgood · 20/04/2019 23:12

@ohyesiam we have an extractor fan. And tbh I shower with the door open - it’s the only feasible way when I am supervising small person.

reetgood · 20/04/2019 23:14

I also knock on bathroom door if there’s guests in house who may follow the open window procedure. Although tbh our house is pretty small, it’s fairly obvious if the bathroom is occupied or not.

comedycentral · 20/04/2019 23:14

I hate going to the loo in someones house when they have no lock. It makes me feel really cross for some reason.

Sparklesocks · 20/04/2019 23:15

We do have one, another one with the closed door policy in our house - if it’s shut, there’s someone in there!

Raspberrytruffle · 20/04/2019 23:17

We don't have locks on our bedroom doors, no need as kids are trained to be polite and knock before entering

Sparklingbrook · 20/04/2019 23:17

Presumably people realise that if you stay over at other peoples' houses they may not have the same bathroom door rules as you, if they too have no locks.