A frozen lock on a door or car might stop you in your tracks for a few moments, but it doesn’t always mean an emergency call to a commercial locksmith. If you’ve ever found that your key just won’t budge, there are some easy ways of warming up your key to get the lock moving.

The next time you’ve got a frozen lock and are without a bottle of deicer, Larry’s Lock Safe & Security in Cincinnati, OH recommends that you try:

• Matches Or A Lighter: If your lock is frozen, flare up a match or lighter to carefully heat your key. Insert it in the keyhole and wiggle it to warm up the mechanism. Remember to be gentle – metal softens when heated, and you don’t want to bend the key in the lock.

• Hand Sanitizer: If you’re a nonsmoker, the idea of carrying a lighter or matches might not be a welcome one. That’s why Larry’s Lock Safe & Security recommends toting hand sanitizer. Apply some to your key, and the alcohol in the sanitizer will be able to thaw the lock once you insert the key.

• Engine Block: Provided it’s your house lock and not your car lock that’s frozen, you can use your car’s engine block (after you’ve shut the car off!) to heat up your key. Be careful: Even in frigid weather, your car can remain very hot after turning off the engine, so be gentle when using this method of warming up your key.

The professionals at Larry’s Lock Safe & Security have over 250 combined years of experience. They know just about everything there is to know about keypad locks and more. Give the commercial locksmith a call at (513) 791-9163 or visit their website.