What to do if you are stuck inside a locked room? Here's everything you need to know.
1. Use a Credit Card to open a Spring Lock Door: Although it will not work on deadbolts, it will work on spring locks (locks that are crooked and part of the handle). Use a credit card, the one that you don't worry too much about, take such a card - if it breaks, no loss, no foul. A twisted laminated card works best. Insert it firmly between the lock and the door frame, folding it backward, so that the lock goes back into the door, and opens.
If there is no space between the door and the frame, you can force it between the door and the frame above the lock, and then, placing the card towards the door, sharply down, towards the frame, swipe up. A thicker and stronger card will work best.
2. Use a small screwdriver or thin tool on the door from inside: This method works on doors with "privacy handles", which are locked by pressing a button on the door handle. If you are locked on the other side, look for a fine hole on the doorknob. Insert the screwdriver into the hole, a paperclip that has been beaten flat, or a very small butter-knife, into the hole. Insert in as much as you can, and rotate until it gets stuck in a groove and the lock opens.
3. How to open the lock. This can be tricky, so you'll need to read the entire instructions very carefully. To begin, insert the short end of an allen wrench into the bottom edge of the keyhole. Slightly push the locks, in the direction of the turn of the key, to rotate, apply light pressure. Keep the pressure as even as possible, and use an unbuttoned paperclip with a slight curve at the end to open the lock.
4. Remove hinges to open the door from inside: Using a standard-size, flat-headed screwdriver, insert it between the lower knuckle and the pin. With the hammer, push the screwdriver's handle down. Remove the head and pin when they are too loose. If the pins do not come out easily, removing them by using a Phillips head screwdriver will be more successful.
5. Unlocking a locked lock: Pull or push the door while moving the key. In many old doors, when moving the key, you have to pressurize the door, because the warped door would have pushed the lock at an awkward angle. Try pushing in every direction: up, down, towards you, and away from you, making sure you don't fall off when the door opens.
6. Rotate the key in both directions: There is no international standard as to which direction the key should rotate to open the door. Even if you know in which direction the "unlock" is, many times by moving the key more towards "locked", the lock jam might open. If you are able to move the key slightly beyond the fully locked position, then move it in the opposite direction at a fast and smooth pace and you can get rid of the jam.
7. Break the locks with a hammer: Since this is the last method, for this reason - this should be your last attempt. On most occasions, you will probably want to call a locksmith or the non-emergency number of the fire service (fire service). If you have to leave early, constantly hit the bottom until the doorknob or lock breaks through the door and breaks.
Things you will need for a Jammed Lock: A Key, Grease-free lubricant or a graphite pencil
What If you don't have a key-
Flat-slotted screwdriver or butter knife
Credit Card (or other plastic card)
Tension wrench
Paper clip
A hammer
Philips head screwdriver
