Door stop spring leaves people baffled as they realise how to use it

Social media users have been left baffled after discovering the proper way to use a spring door stop.

The inexpensive tools are a staple feature in many homes and other properties like hotels thanks to their discreet shape.

Most recognisable for having a coiled spring, the door stop is fixed against a wall, out of sight from the doorway itself.

Unlike other door stops, they are fixed on the baseboard above ground level and seem to be the point of confusion for generations of Britons.

It turns out that hundreds of people were unaware that the spring can in fact be used to hold a door open, rather than just act as a barrier between the wall.

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Taking to TikTok to share the revelation, a user named @artful_odds demonstrated exactly how to go "from doorstopper to doorkeeper".

They said: "If you have one of these behind your door and you need it to stay open, simply place it underneath. You're welcome."In the video, the social media star simply pushed down on the spring with their foot before wedging it underneath the open door.

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The result was an open door with no door stop in the way and more importantly, no risk of the door slamming shut on its own thanks to the spring being fixed to the wall.

It appears the TikTok user wasn't alone in discovering the household hack as the handy tip garnered more than 81,000 likes and 1465 comments.

Dumbfounded viewers took to the social media site to share their shock at the hack, with one person claiming that they "always though it was to prevent the door from hitting the wall".

Fellow TikTok users proclaimed that they "honestly didn't know this" and were "mind blown" by the discovery.

Others shared alternative uses for baseboard door stops with many revealing that their pets "love" playing with the spring.

A user named Capybara said: "If you have one of these behind your door...don't get a cat". A second person opined: "My cat loved that thing."