Q&A for How to Pick a Lock With Household Items

In an emergency, it usually will be better to kick down the door instead. The door can be replaced, but lives can't.

Using the third method, with the bobby pins, would probably be your best bet.

In some cases, the front of the knob can be taken off to reveal a key hole. Otherwise, call a locksmith.

Picking a lock using real lock picks does not break a lock. However, using foreign objects as shown above has the potential to ruin them. Even if you are able to pick the lock, often times you might pick them in the wrong direction. In this case, you will need a plug spinner to spin past the shear line. If you have none, you must start all over again. Some locks just don't seem to want to pick in the direction of unlock. With these locks, you have to pick the opposite direction then spin it the other direction with a plug spinner.

It depends. A lot of school combination locks have keyholes for administrators, but other combination locks don't. Try looking behind the lock if you can't see a keyhole on the bottom or center.

Call an emergency number like 911. Call a locksmith if it can wait a few minutes. Just call 911 if it's urgent, call a locksmith, or try to get a key. If there is an option to smash a window and reach in, this could be done but you need to take great care to avoid cutting yourself.

If it is a privacy doorknob, then the little keys that come with canned sardines, meat et cetera work perfectly.

Raking a lock is especially useful on pin tumbler locks, although some prefer the feeling method in which each pin is lifted one at a time. No one way is better than the other, it is just a matter of preference.

Find an irregular item that is short and straight, then use the techniques demonstrated above. Otherwise, use the actual key.

No, none of these are foolproof. If you cannot open the lock with any of these methods, call a locksmith.

If none of these items seem to work, it is probably time to call the locksmith.

Try and take out the metal out. If you can't, take the doorknob off and replace it.

It depends on what you have in your bag. If you happen to have paperclips or hair clips, then you are in luck!

Consider breaking the lock. Or cut it off with a knife. If none of this works, call a locksmith.

You can try to burn it or use tweezers. If that doesn't work, you'll have to call a locksmith or replace the lock.

Yes, as long as you fire at the keyhole. But be careful, as the shot can ricochet and hit you or others.

Yes, you can use a toothpick and pencil to open privacy and entry locks. However, there is a chance they will break, as they are wooden objects.

To pick a safe lock, start by inserting a small metal nail file all the way into the keyhole. If you don't have a nail file, you can try using a small flat-head screwdriver. With the file in the keyhole as far as it can go, jiggle it up and down to release the pins and stop once you hear a click.

If you're trying to pick a lock, and it's your 1st time trying, you should try practicing on the locks you feel might be the easiest to do. Also, you may want to try the bobby pin method if it's your first time. For example, a toothpick or cotton swap would easily break in a security lock. But a bobby pin wouldn't.