If you accidentally lock your keys in the car and don't have your wedge and metal rod handy, you can often unlock the car from the outside using nothing but your shoelace.


This trick doesn't work on every car, but it does work on many, and the older your car, the more likely it is to work. All you need to do is create a slip knot with your shoelace, place the lace at the top right corner of the door, and wiggle it down into the inside of the car. After placing the slip knot over the lock button, you should be able to pull on one side of the shoelace to tighten the knot, pull it up, and unlock the car.


As always, we don't recommend using this to break into a car that isn't yours—obviously, that's illegal (and kind of mean). But, if you lock yourself out of your own car, it's a nice last-ditch effort before you need to call for help. Check out the video above to see it in action, or hit the link below to see the step-by-step process. WikiHow's infographic is also really well done, too.

How to Unlock Your Car with a Shoelace | The Secret Yumiverse