Changes

The automatic closing action is caused by a special spring-loaded hinge in the center (vertically speaking) of the door. The hinges at the top and bottom are normal hinges which swing freely. Therefore, detaching the center hinge from the door is all that is needed.

First, you will need a standard screwdriver (check which kind is required; probably Phillips) as well as a hammer, crowbar, or other strong object which you can use to hold the hinge open. The hinge is held to the door with three standard screws; WHILE PUSHING FIRMLY AGAINST THE HINGE PLATE with the hammer/what-have-you to hold it open, carefully remove the screws from the hinge plate, being careful to keep your fingers far away. After removing the screws, slowly and carefully remove the hammer. At this point one of two things may happen: the hinge may simply close when you stop holding it open, OR it may remain stuck open if it is tightly wedged into the rectangular hole cut for it in the door. In the latter case, simply use the hammer to give the door a good firm tap a few inches above the hinge plate, while keeping your fingers far, far away. This should be enough to pop the hinge plate free, which will probably snap shut quite violently.

Keep the screws in a safe place; when the time comes to reattach the hinge plate to the door, you can do so with the same tools. Getting the hinge open is the tricky part: making sure you have a strong screwdriver, insert the blade of the screwdriver in the small gap between the hinge plates at the top of the hinge. You can then use the screwdriver as a lever to pry the hinge plates open a bit. Once you have the plates separated far enough using the screwdriver, you can use the hammer or other strong object to push the hinge plate open the rest of the way, and push it into the hole in the door. DO NOT USE YOUR FINGERS for any part of this operation! Once you have the hinge plate inserted in the door, it is a simple matter of reinstalling the screws while continuing to hold the hinge open with a hammer.