We may earn revenue from the product useable on this Thomas Nelson Page and participate in affiliate programs . Learn More ›
Locks are the best method for secure a door . But if a lock run out , the door does n’t have a lock , or you do n’t hope the lock chamber situation in an flat or hotel , you’re able to take stride to ensure that the threshold and the home are secured . Even if the exterior threshold has a lock , special protection can aid fort a slide door to the yard , and locking your bedroom doorway can keep your college roommate from wandering in .
While the respectable pickle is often to install , rekey , repair , orreplace a lock , we also know of some clever DIY political hack for how to lock a door without a lock . The following are nimble , temporary solutions that can serve you get a estimable night ’s sleep without worry about your safety .
Photo: belchonock / Depositphotos
1. Use a Doorstop
Doorstops are typically used to prevent door from close . But when you place a doorstopper against an inward opening room access , it physically preclude someone from opening it , even if they can become the door knob . It ’s a round-eyed , effective method to serve insure a home when thedoor lock or door latch is broken . For extra surety , wait for adoorstop with an alarmsuch as a siren or barking dog sound . A nonslip bottom is crucial to assist resist pressure sensation , especially for travel - size doorstops .
A doorstop will not run on outbound - open up doors , however . And with enough force play , an intruder could manage to get around a doorstopper . Consider securing an outbound - opening door with an extra method acting on this list for increase security .
2. Make a Barricade Using the Back of a Chair
Installing a quality door lockis important , but if you need to barricade a door using items you have around the house , look no further than your dining elbow room : Sturdy chair can be a full choice for keeping a threshold closed because you could angle them so that the top of the chairwoman wedges under the door grip while the chair ’s foot last out firmly plant against the ground . This make pressure between the door and the floor along the back and legs of the chair , preventing the threshold from hatchway .
The back of the chair also can block lever - style room access address from give down . If the threshold handle also can start the threshold with an up turn , then this method is n’t as useful . In this character , splice a belt or roofy to the lever handle from the president as outlined next to prevent it from open up downward or up .
3. Tie a Belt or Rope
Lever - panache threshold handles run to be easier to interlock thandoor knobsbecause a belt or rope can help restrain the physical motion of the handle . Just attach one end of the belt or rope to the handle and the other to a fixed target . Consider using two tethers to completely forestall motility when the handle can give both upward and downwardly .
A bang or piece of roach also is a near alternative forsecuring an outward - open doorbecause the lead can be attached to a hard indoor object like a refrigerator or couch . For French doors , wrap both grip with the tether , blocking them from afford .
4. Insert a Portable Door Lock
These helpful devices are with child for renters and traveller who can not install more lasting solutions . As the name suggests , anAddalock portable doorway lockis designed so you’re able to use and remove it as necessary . Most consist of a metallic element piece , sometimes look up to as a claw , that match over the bolt or latch on the existing door pommel , and a lock that jibe into the chela to prevent the doorway from opening . These lock are less effective on outward-bound - open up door .
5. Install a Security Bar
For better protection against substantial military force , like intrudersattempting to kick a door inor break it down with their articulatio humeri , security bars can assist . security system bar or barricades dwell of a twosome of heavy - tariff bracket that DIYers can fasten to the paries or door human body , calculate on the product . A duncish metal or wood bar then sits in the brackets , obstruct the intact breadth of the door .
you may elevate this security bar up and out of the brackets when you need to use the door , and can quickly order it back in the bracket afterward with very small travail . surety bars are not effective at securing outward - opening room access .
6. Stick a Fork in It
In a hint , you’re able to grab a unsubdivided fork to temporarily lock a door that opens inwardly . To secure the door , bend the tines of the fork so that the gratuity of the tines outfit into the doorway door latch and the residual of the fork can well remain in the gap between the doorway and the doorway frame when the door is close . get to the door and murder the crotch , then break off the grip of the fork .
direct the head of the crotch back into the threshold door latch as before , take in certain that the bent tines are firmly gazump to the threshold latch , then shut the door . With the door closed , slide the handle of the fork through the tines , creating a horizontal barrier that prevents the door from opening inwards .
7. Prop Up a Door Jammer
A doorway jammer is a unproblematic alternative to DIY solution for lock in a doorway without a lock , and an especially sound resolution forsecuring apartment threshold . These tool typically dwell of a peak - adjustable security bar with a rounded end designed to fit snugly under a door boss or room access handle . The other ending has a padded base that is made to sit down flat on the floor and resist slide , creating a organization that puts pressure on the floor if someone attempts to open up the door inwards . For recommendation on the solution for your position , refer to ourtested scout to the best doorway security bars .
8. Install a Floor Barricade
Floor barricades are made up of two pieces : a base and a brace that can agree into or be remove from the foundation . Install a floor barricade by introduce screws through the base and into the floor . verify when opening the threshold that it will reset the top of the fundament before install , so you may expend the door when the gallus is removed . When you want to procure the door , just introduce the brace and it will prevent the threshold from opening inward . Using afloor barricadeis a good choice tohelp forbid a break - infor people who can install it in their homes , but it is n’t an choice for renters and travelers .
9. Remove the Door Handle
While this is n’t the best option to keep the door unassailable , removing the room access knob or handle entirely presents a challenge for anyone trying to earn access to the home ( or an interior elbow room ) . Without a grip , an intruder ca n’t open up the room access in the traditional sense , though anyone interested in using this method acting should keep in judgment that with enough effort and one or more makeshift tools , a savvy person can turn the threshold mechanics even without a grip . It might be better to pair this choice with another temporary room access lock , such as a doorstop , or even a barricade .
10. Mount a Strike Plate Lock
Astrike shell lockis a diminished gimmick that a DIYer can mount to the room access frame . It works similarly to a standarddoor chainexcept that the ten-strike crustal plate lock has a metal loop-the-loop that slips over the door handle to prevent the room access from opening . This method acting is more secure than relying on a set of roll in the hay on the back of a door to keep the door secured against falling out - ins . Also , user can install a strike home base lock using the existing strike plateful make out holes to prevent further damage to the door frame . Or put it high and out of small fry ’ reach to secure a wandering toddler .
11. Install Security Film and a Glass-Break Sensor
Not all doors are made with solid Mrs. Henry Wood or metal , so it ’s important to consider how to prevent someone from only shattering the glass to reach the door knob or lock . One of the effective ways toincrease the security department of your front doorwith an adjoining glass gore or a glass door is to apply asecurity filmto the door . The film will reinforce the glass and view as the shards together if shatter .
However , with enough time and effort , a potential interloper might still be capable to go bad through the plastic film , so pair this apparatus with aglass - rift sensorthat will detect when the glass is broken and then fathom an alarm system . This sudden alarm paired with the unexpected protection of security film will typically dissuade would - be thieves and trespassers .
12. Block a Sliding Door with a Broom Handle or Bar
Sliding doors are often installed at the back or side of the family , where they open into the chiliad . Even if you utilise surety movie and a shabu - gap sensor , these beat are only efficacious if the door has a operative lock chamber . If the lock on your sliding door isn’t functioning or might not be robust enough to give up determined assailants , then you should wedge asecurity barinto the room access frame or track .
Alternatively , you could place a sturdy menage object like a broom hold or a long wooden dowel to block the slither door and foreclose it from opening , thereby securing the back door even without a reliable lock .
This Is the twelvemonth for a Kitchen Renovation
Photo: robcruse / Getty Images
Whether you ’re selling or staying , everyone can get something out of a kitchen update . Learn why we consider this renovation the Most Valuable Project of 2025 and how to stay on budget .
Photo: iStock
Photo: iStock
Photo: iStock
Photo: iStock
Photo: Massimo Merlini / Getty Images
Photo: Amazon
Photo: Amazon
Photo: Jose Luis Pelaez / Getty Images
Photo: iStock
Photo: Amazon
Photo: Amazon