Long story short, my door handle fell off today while the door was closed. Luckily I was outside the room. I've attached a photo. Any ideas how to get it open? I've tried the old credit card trick but that's not working for me. Any help would be much appreciated as this is my bathroom door...
Thanks, LockedOut
Put something in the square hole that catches (need not be a perfectly fitting square, but round won't work) and turn the latch mechanism.
Put a slotted screwdriver into the square hole snugly, corner to corner, and turn either clockwise or counter clockwise.
Note the OP didn't say the handle is missing, merely detached.
You can open the door with the handle, even without re-attaching it, simply by putting the central spindle back in the square hole. It will work just fine, even though it will be wobbly.
Your only real issue would be from the other side… where you'd be relying on someone else doing that for you.
Insert closed scissors, diagonally, inside the hole.
Open the scissors as much as possible, to get a perfect fit.
Turn.
I would be using a flat-blade screwdriver across the diagonal.
Done that often and even with "stiff" locks it works.
Buy a large plastic pop/softdrink bottle and cut it into a sheet. Pass it down the interior of the door. It is tricky but the sheet is bendy and will push your lock back, once you get the hang of it.
I had to get a locksmith out, who just pulled a 2 litre "coca-cola" bottle, and cut the bottom and cap off so it was a sheet of thin bendy plastic.
Then push the plastic between the frame and door. It is bendy enough to go round and through but strong enough to engage the lock's latch on the sloped edge of plastic, and it just pushes the tongue back.
