0

I have a bathroom door that naturally tends to close itself if left open. I would like to not replace or rehang the door (it is a cheap hollow-core door, but I would like to add … something so that the door stays all the way open when left open, but can still be closed (and only stay closed if the latch is engaged). It would be preferable if the door would swing open when left partially open. Also, since other people are involved, it cannot be something that has to be ‘done’ every time. My current ’solution’ is for me, and only me, to notice the door has swung shut and go over and drape a towel off the towel rack over th door knob 😃

(The room is the first room off th furnace/AC, so if the door is closed, that room gets either very hot or very cold). If it matters, the basement dates from the early 1960s, and the room is a very small half-bath (about 5’x5’).

A closure with a ‘keep open’ setting or a door stop with a magnetic latch will only keep the door open if it is intentionally pushed all the way back, and I basically want the opposite, for the door to be opened unless it is actually latched closed.

Improve this question
7
  • A door that is plumbed, levelled and balance should stay in place, closed open fully or open halfway. Wind/drafts will mess this up. Check if the door is plumb by it's hinge side, and check it's level along the top.
    – crip659
    Jul 8, 2022 at 16:34
  • I agree with crip as it may be perfectly hung and the furnace / AC draft could be pushing it closed. There are spring hinges that can be added to keep a door opened or closed simple replacement can be the solution and turn the tension down so it feels natural. Or adding a slight offset to the top and bottom hinges to hang it out of true so it will swing open can be as simple as pulling the screws putting tooth picks in and replace screws at the bottom the left side of the tooth pick right side at top this slight shift could do it
    – Ed Beal
    Jul 8, 2022 at 17:37
  • Take the door closer idea and install it on the other side of the door, that will keep it open.
    – Gil
    Jul 8, 2022 at 18:31
  • While this isn't for everyone, it works great (silent, reliable, cheap) for me and my cats. Get two small eye-hooks or cup hooks. Open the door fully against the wall. Screw one hook at the top of the door, handle-side. Screw the other into the wall close to the door's hook. Tie a string to the wall hook. Feed the string though the door's hook. Add a small weight to the end of the string, i used a decorative horseshoe. You can flip script and attach to the jamb to keep it closed in the same way.
    – dandavis
    Jul 8, 2022 at 19:08
  • 1
    XY problem. The issue you're trying to fix: "The room is the first room off th furnace/AC, so if the door is closed, that room gets either very hot or very cold" would surely best be resolved by adjusting the flow of conditioned air into the room such that it doesn't matter whether the door is open or shut, rather than having to keep the door open ... ?
    – brhans
    Jul 8, 2022 at 20:56

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
2

This may be a crude suggestion, but it's worked for me: Take one of the hinge pins out, put on a safe surface and very carefully hit it with a hammer to very slightly bend it. The added friction might keep the door open. Go slowly and test often. Use a sharpie to mark which side of the pin to hammer on just a tiny bit more as you test, test, test.

Another approach is to get much longer screws for the top hinge, remove the existing screws and install the new, longer screws (into the wall opening of course), sometimes that can pull the jamb in just enough to make the door behave.

Improve this answer
0

There are virtually dozens of door stoppers types.

Some more fancy than others.

Many you have to step on to activate door stop.

Some use magnet, convenient, no need to do anything to stop the door.

magnet

And very simple one. You do not have to do anything to stop the door. You will have to lift it (with your foot) to close the door.

stopper

Source: Walmart

Improve this answer
3
  • 1
    Good for most doors, but sometimes an inconvenience if you are in hurry to close the bathroom door. It happens.
    – crip659
    Jul 8, 2022 at 17:58
  • @crip659 are you talking about emergency
    – asinine
    Jul 8, 2022 at 18:00
  • 1
    The kind where you wait too long to go.
    – crip659
    Jul 8, 2022 at 18:33

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.