Here's What That Little Hole In A Doorknob Is For

It might seem counterintuitive, but not every door lock is designed to be impenetrable to people breaking in from the other side. If you see a little hole on your doorknob, that's exactly what it's for — and it can be a lifesaver in emergencies or accidents.

Typically, these privacy lock doorknobs are on interior doors rather than exterior ones. They're not designed to provide security from intruders. Instead, the locks are designed to make your bathroom feel more private for whoever is using it at the time. These knobs can only be secured from the inside, and unlike exterior doors, they can be unlocked from the outside without a key or any special hardware. Push-button and turn-button locks are especially likely to have a little hole on the other end, while other types of privacy locks may have different emergency unlock mechanisms.

Maybe your child locked themselves inside, you locked yourself out, or you need to evacuate in a hurry. Whatever the scenario, knowing how to use that little hole to unlock a privacy lock doorknob in a pinch will save you stress and time.

Many privacy doorknobs come with an emergency key that perfectly fits into the little hole. It's a small, thin piece of metal that also happens to be very easy to lose. Or perhaps you weren't the original buyer of that doorknob and don't know where it is. In that case, you can also buy replacements, like Alico's Interior Emergency Key Packs for Bedrooms and Bathrooms. It's one of those emergency supplies that every house should have, and it's helpful to leave one somewhere easily accessible like on the top of the doorframe. If you're in a hurry or want to know what to do if you lose your door key, you can also use a very small flat-head screwdriver or pretty much anything else that's narrow enough to fit into the hole on the knob: a small hex wrench, a paper clip, a bent clothes hanger, a skewer, or a knitting needle.

Simply insert your tool of choice straight into the hole. The mechanism can be sensitive, so avoid inserting your tool at an angle. If it's a turn-button doorknob, slowly twist the tool; try both clockwise and counterclockwise to see which works. If it's a push-button doorknob, just press the tool forward. You should be able to feel when the tool catches and fits into the groove. Then turn the doorknob and rejoice.