Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
sweeneytoddsrazor · 20/04/2019 23:20

Dear me we must me so uncouth in this house. Normally we know the toilet is in use because someone loudly announces I'm going for a shit.

Sparklingbrook · 20/04/2019 23:21

Do you live with Jim Royle sweeney? Grin

NoCauseRebel · 20/04/2019 23:22

When growing up my dad had some kind of fit/episode in the bath while the door was locked (with a key) and my mum smashed the lock off with the first thing she found - an axe. Shock to get to him.

He was ok but I would never have a lock on my bathroom door again. I once moved into a house which had a lock on it which locked with a key and I removed the key and put it away so nobody could lock the door.

happyhillock · 20/04/2019 23:23

Don't have lock's on any of the 3 bedroom door's, It's never crossed my mind to put them on, i also grew up with no lock's on the bedroom door's, really don't see the need for them.

Sparklingbrook · 20/04/2019 23:26

No need for locks on bedroom doors is there?

Chippychipsforme · 20/04/2019 23:29

Door shut = bathroom occupied here. We only had a door that shut properly fitted last year.
None of our bedroom doors close properly either.

Hadenoughofitall441 · 20/04/2019 23:30

We do, having 8 people in the house, anyone could walk in at any moment. I don’t fancy world war 3 because some one forgot to knock. Dd is 6 so she’s know she’s not allowed to lock it. DS is 11so has started to. I think it’s not your own house you have to worry about, it’s when your at other peoples houses And they don’t have locks.

FromDespairToHere · 20/04/2019 23:30

V.I.Poo solves the odour issue with keeping the door open. Best invention ever.

Sparklingbrook · 20/04/2019 23:32

When the bathroom steams up I just open the window, and shut the door to stop it slamming.

VanGoghsDog · 20/04/2019 23:39

Why on earth would there be a fuss if someone opened a door when a family member was in the bathroom? Surely you just say sorry and leave.

KaterinaPetrova · 20/04/2019 23:40

One house we lived in had a small bolt on the inside. I never liked the idea of it but it was a rented house and the doors were extremely old and not to be altered.

DD1 was a toddler and accidentally locked herself in. The door was a really heavy, sturdy thing and there was no way we were ever going to manage to break in, particularly without putting DD in danger of getting hurt. Luckily she was a smart little thing and was able to follow out instructions of " Hold the lock bit and Wiggle wiggle wiggle! Wiggle wiggle wiggle!"

After that I never much cared for locks. We disabled the bolt and never mentioned it to the landlord again.

When we moved into our current rental the lock was broken and we have never wanted to repair it. If the door is shut, someone's in.

KeptTheBeachesShipwreckFree · 20/04/2019 23:46

We've just never thought to put a lock on the door. If it's closed, it's in use and if it's open then it's obviously free. The bathroom window is always open on the nightlock and we have an extractor thing in the landing ceiling so smells never linger. The downstairs loo is next to the back door so any smells from there just go outside (though no-one poos in there anyway. It's kind of an unwritten rule that if you need a no. 2 you go upstairs).

Drum2018 · 20/04/2019 23:46

I hate using a loo without a lock when in other people's houses. I just can't understand the lack of a lock. Even if you have kids there are locks which can be opened from outside or put a bolt up high. I end up announcing that I'm going to the loo or singing while in there, but still fear someone walking in.

Sparklingbrook · 20/04/2019 23:49

Call me old fashioned but I would just rather use the bathroom with the door locked. Safe in the knowledge there will be no misunderstandings or embarassment for anyone.
Plus I don't like making any visitors feel uncomfortable.

VanGoghsDog · 20/04/2019 23:50

Why is the thought of someone coming in when you're on the loo, and probably leaving rapidly, so scary for people?

I mean, they can only see your knees!

KeptTheBeachesShipwreckFree · 20/04/2019 23:54

If one of our adult visitors started loudly singing when they were on the bog we'd think they were nutters tbh

Our toilet/bathroom rooms are v small so if someone was to start wiggling the handle whilst you're on the throne you'd just grab it and shout, "Use the other one, I'm in here!" and no-one would see anything.

m0therofdragons · 20/04/2019 23:55

Just realised I've lived here for 18 months and I've no idea if the bathrooms have locks or not. En-suite I don't think does but our bedroom has a hilarious giant bolt. Main bathroom? No clue as I don't even shut the door. I have 3 dc so one usually comes in at some point. Downstairs doesn't have a lock but I do mean to put one on there. We usually just shout "I'm in here" as someone approaches. It's such a non issue.

RyvitaBrevis · 20/04/2019 23:56

I have two adult relatives who were trapped for some time in a bathroom on different occasions (in different houses, both times caused by the lock breaking). I'm not opposed to locks but it's made me less keen to put one in.

Sparklingbrook · 21/04/2019 00:03

Why is the thought of someone coming in when you're on the loo, and probably leaving rapidly, so scary for people?

I don't want anyone coming into the bathroom while I am on the loo, bathing, showering, drying myself, or doing whatever other stuff I do in the bathroom TBH.

VanGoghsDog · 21/04/2019 00:10

Yes, but to live in fear of it is somewhat extreme, isn't it?

sadeyedladyofthelowlandsea · 21/04/2019 00:19

We don't even shut the door, because me & DCs are minging. For this reason, the toilet is known as the throne room because as you ascend the spiral stairs, you are often greeted by the site of one of us going about our business Grin Obviously, if there are visitors, we do manage to shut the door at least (toilet is tiny, like a cubicle, and separate to bathroom)

That said, I violently hated all of my ex in-laws bathrooms, because they combined no lock, massive bathroom, and toilet on the far side of the room, so you had no chance to just stick your foot out to stop the door being opened. One bathroom even had a clear glass window cut into the door so that at every family gathering I'd have to position a DC outside to pretend to be in the queue for the loo whilst I had a wee.

Sparklingbrook · 21/04/2019 00:26

Yes, but to live in fear of it is somewhat extreme, isn't it?

Calling it 'fear' is a bit extreme. There's no 'living in fear' Confused. Just no desire to feel uncomfortable when there's no need. But having a lock on the bathroom door makes everything very simple.

englishdictionary · 21/04/2019 00:48

Why is the thought of someone coming in when you're on the loo, and probably leaving rapidly, so scary for people?

Because taking a shit is like, really private to me.

englishdictionary · 21/04/2019 00:49

Why on earth would there be a fuss if someone opened a door when a family member was in the bathroom? Surely you just say sorry and leave.

No fuss. I just don't want it to happen. When I go to the toilet I like it to just be a me only affair.

Witchend · 21/04/2019 00:51

There wasn't one when we moved in around 10 years ago. As the children were small it seemed more sensible to not give them something possible to lock themselves in.

We have the rule that if the door's closed you don't go in.
It works fine.

Swipe left for the next trending thread