A Proper Way To Prop the Door Open
The hack in question applies to spring-loaded doorstops mounted to baseboards — those bendy, metallic coils with a rubber or silicone cap. As it turns out, these tiny mechanisms can help prop the door open when you’re bringing groceries into the house or letting in a cool breeze — here’s how to do it.
Begin by bending the doorstop down until the rubber cap touches the floor (you can do this with your foot to avoid squatting). Push the door as close to the wall as possible and wedge the stopper underneath it, using the rubber cap to hold it in place. The tension from the spring, plus the friction of the rubber cap, should keep your door propped open. When it’s time to shut the door, bend the doorstop down further to release. Here’s a video of this hack in action if you’re a visual learner.
More from our network
House Outlook is part of Inbox Studio, which publishes content that uplifts, informs, and inspires.
This is a great trick that’s more convenient than having someone hold the door open or jamming a makeshift wedge underneath it. If all of the doorstop components are in good condition, the door should stay open for as long as you need it to.
Other Door-Propping Solutions
The main drawback to this hack is that it works only when a spring doorstop is attached to an adjacent baseboard. This means you’re out of luck if the stopper is installed on the floor, hinges, or back of the door. If this describes your situation, it may be in your best interest to buy magnetic doorstops. These two-in-one products are sleek, easy to install without any drilling, and stop doors from slamming just as well as they hold doors open.
