Open a Door Silently
Template:StubWant to know how to open a door silently? Whether you are sneaking up on a friend or entering the room of a sleeping person, you're in the right place!
Contents
Steps
- Make sure that no one is very near the door on the opposite side. People who are very near a door are more likely to hear it when it is opening.
- Do it very slowly. Patience is the key. It may seem to take forever, but slower is better, and you're less likely to make lots of noise if you were to bang the door into anything.
- Take light, slow steps as you are opening the door. That way, no one will hear the squeak of the floorboards and/or tile as you enter the room.
- Use WD-40, or some other sort of oiling product on the hinges so the door does not squeak as you open it.
- Be careful when turning the doorknob because some doorknobs can be very noisy as you turn and let go. If it is noisy, turn very slowly and let go slowly, only releasing when it is back in its original position.
- Turn the doorknob so that the least rotation is needed. If the hinges are on the right, rotate the doorknob clockwise. If the hinges are on the left, rotate the doorknob counterclockwise. This holds true whether the door opens toward you or away from you.
- After you turn the doorknob, press the door upward and then toward the hinges in rapid succession as you open the door. This will help to reduce the noise the door makes as it separates from the jamb.
Tips
- Before you open the door, peek under the bottom to see if the light is on or off in the next room. If it's off, make sure the light is off in the room you're entering from.
- Be careful of other factors that may create loud noises. You may spend so much time opening the door silently just to have your shoes give it all away.
- Open the door very, very slowly in case there is something in front of the door on the other side. Slightly tapping the object is quieter than hitting it at full speed.
Warnings
- Be careful of anyone/anything on the other side of the door. They may not know that the door is opening.
- Don't abuse your door opening techniques. These techniques should not be used if you are entering a place you should not be in.
