4 Steps to Open a Door with a Credit Card

If you forget your key again and need to get into your house, you may be able to do so with your credit card. Remember that this method only works on doors with a simple knob lock with a spring-latch or a slanted-latch. Wiggle a card into the gap between the door and the door frame to open it. If this doesn’t work, look for an other option.

Being locked out of your house is one of those things that nobody wants to be faced with. Whether the key has broken or you have simply forgotten the key again, you don’t want to be standing outside your house in the cold wishing you could get into your home. It’s in these moments that you start to wish that you could get back into your house without your key.
This blog will look at whether you can use your credit card to get into your house in these situations and what the best methods are for opening your door with your credit card.

Approach #1 – Practicing the Fundamental Technique

1 – Place the card between the door and the frame’s vertical crack.

Slide the card down next to the doorknob into the gap between the doorknob and the door frame. At a ninety-degree angle to the door, push it in as far as it will go.
Tip: With your other hand, push the door back as far as it will go to see the placement of the door frame.

2 – Tilt the card in the direction of the doorknob.

Tilt the side of your credit card that faces you towards the doorknob until it almost touches it. You’ll be able to press the credit card farther into the space between the door and the doorframe.

3 – Bend the card in the opposite direction.

Bending the card backwards will cause it to slip under the angled end of the slant-latch and back into the door. Open the door quickly and lock it on the opposite side.

4 – Lean on the door and wiggle the card back and forth to open it.

If your door did not easily pop open, try leaning against the door while bending your card back and forth a few times. This will add more pressure to the latch and should open it.

Approach #2 – Finding Alternative Solutions

1 – Look for any windows that aren’t locked.

Walk around your house and try to open all of the windows on the ground level. If you discover one that is unlocked, remove the screen and open the window as wide as possible. Then, to go inside, climb through.

• Climbing through a window is a risky business. Only attempt this if you’re certain you’ll be able to climb inside securely.
• If you have a back or side door, make sure to check it as well. It’s possible that you or someone in your household neglected to lock it.

2 – Make a call to your roommates.

Whether you live with pals or a significant other, check to see if they’re nearby by calling or texting them. If that’s the case, see if one of them would mind stopping by to let you in. While you may have to wait a few minutes on your front porch steps, you won’t risk damage your property or have to pay hefty service fees.

• If you live somewhere where this is possible, consider heading to a nearby coffee shop to pass the time.

3 – Make a call to your landlord.

If your landlord lives on-site, this is a terrific alternative. If they’re home, give them a ring and politely ask if they mind letting you in. Even if they don’t reside on site, they might work nearby and be willing to help you out.

4- As a last option, hire a locksmith.

It could be time to call a locksmith if you don’t have any roommates and your landlord isn’t available to help. They can come to your house and change the locks so you can get in. While this may efficiently cure the problem, it may be costly, so only use it if you have no other options.

• Keep in mind that changing the locks and/or breaking the door may result in a fee from your landlord.

Tips

• Make a couple duplicates of your key and keep one on you at all times, as well as hiding one near your home, to avoid having to deal with this again.
• Some doors may be opened with little effort by simply putting a card into the door frame at the same height as the handle without tilting or bending.

Warnings

Prepare to present proof that you have the authority to open the door, or you may find yourself trapped behind a closed door that even a credit card can’t unlock!

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