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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Help!!! DS locked in bedroom!!!

136 replies

HoofWankingSpangleCunt · 13/07/2019 17:04

Just posting in AIBU for traffic although an alternative thread title could be AIBU To Leave Him In There?

Seriously though I'm starting to panic as all my efforts have had no effect whatsoever.
The door has the handle missing from the outside. There is nothing within the space where levers etc should be but the handle is still screwed onto his side . However that handle is useless.
I've wiggled and waggled, flat screwdrivers, tiny knives . I've watched videos but they all either use specialist tools or have a different door handle design.
Please can anyone help me get him out of his room?
He wasn't supposed to shut the door but hey ho. He has and we're here.
The photo is of the space inside the door from my side, this is where the inner bolt thing of the door handle would go. And the door handle is on the other side of the door, naturally.

Help!!! DS locked in bedroom!!!
OP posts:
StealthPolarBear · 13/07/2019 17:04

How old is he?
Have you tried needle nosed pliers

Divgirl2 · 13/07/2019 17:05

How old is he? And do you need the door to come towards you or away from you?

Do you have a toolbox?

timeforakinderworld · 13/07/2019 17:05

How old is he? Is he calm?

gamerchick · 13/07/2019 17:05

Take handle off a different door, put the middle bit in the hole, slot the handle on and turn.

Cakecrumbsinmybra · 13/07/2019 17:05

Do the other doors have same handles?

TVWife · 13/07/2019 17:06

Borrow a spindle from another door handle and turn it with pliers

TheHandsOfNeilBuchanan · 13/07/2019 17:06

Have you got any other doors with turn handles? If so take one off and use the bar inside

timeforakinderworld · 13/07/2019 17:06

You might have to break the door down or call the fire brigade.

JacksHat · 13/07/2019 17:07

I know it’s not something you’ll want to do, but the fire service will get him out if necessary.

LazyLemur · 13/07/2019 17:07

Stick scissors into the square hole, open them out so that the blades fit diagonal corners of the square and then use them as a giant screwdriver/lever to open the door.

mrsbeeton999 · 13/07/2019 17:07

I’d be tempted to make him stand back and just give it a good kick by the handle
Hi yaaa!

TheWitchwithNoName · 13/07/2019 17:07

Do you have the square metal pole bit that fits into that hole? Can you put that back in and turn, use pilers if you have them to turn.

ChippyMinton · 13/07/2019 17:07

Have other doors got the same style? If so, unscrew one of them and extract the ‘inner bolt thing’ Grin and poke it into the hole. Then either turn it with pliers or get DS to try the handle.

fairislecable · 13/07/2019 17:08

Do you have any other doors with the same handles?

If so you could remove one of those and then use it to open this door.

Ensure the other door doesn’t accidentally get shut whilst doing it.

Nettleweed · 13/07/2019 17:08

Have you tried tweezers?

MyNewBearTotoro · 13/07/2019 17:09

An you use a screwdriver to take the door off it’s hinges?

pingster · 13/07/2019 17:09

Get a plastic bottle cut a strip off and force it round the door so it pushes in the latch. May need to get it round the latch and then pull from both sides to get the latch to go in. That worked for us when my son got stuck in the living room!

Topseyt · 13/07/2019 17:09

I second trying the handle from a different door. Assuming that they are of the same type.

Bobbindobbin · 13/07/2019 17:09

Kick the door if he’s very young. If not phone a local joiner and pay a call out fee

SofiaAmes · 13/07/2019 17:10

Take the door off the hinges.

Lockheart · 13/07/2019 17:10

Assuming you've exhausted all other options, you could a) cut a hole in the door (if you have access to power tools), b) kick or bash the door down, c) call a handyman, or d) call the fire brigade.

Original poster
HoofWankingSpangleCunt · 13/07/2019 17:12

Oh you lot are bloody awesome.

He's fine by the way, resigned to watching YouTube on his Xbox . Poor boy. He's 11 but has Asperger's so it didn't even occur to him that he'd be locked in.
Whoever suggested take a handle off another door, you're all geniuses. Why didn't I think of that ?
Will reply properly to you all once I've replaced the handle and spindle.
Thank you ever do much , everyone of you.

OP posts:
CastleCrasher · 13/07/2019 17:14

If you can't use a handle from another for for whatever reason, those latches usually work by the spindle sorting in to a hole and drawing back the lock. So so a screwdriver or similar object into the hole in the metal lock and pull it back towards the middle of the door.

Our if you can see the barrels of the hinges of the door on your side, use a screwdriver and hammer to pop the pins upwards to take the door off at that side

CastleCrasher · 13/07/2019 17:15

Cross post! Glad you've got it sorted!

WitsEnding · 13/07/2019 17:16

When this happened to DS, we managed to slide a flat screwdriver under the door and he unscrewed the part the lock catch fits into from the doorframe. Old fashioned surface mounted lock.