Most premises, both residential and commercial, still use traditional keys for locking doors on the property. For keys and locks to remain in good condition, they need to be properly maintained. You may loose your keys, they may break in the lock, or the lock itself may become damaged as a result of poor usage practices.
Here are some basic tips to ensure that you don't end up locked outside your home or business at the most inconveniencing times.
1. Keep them away from moisture
Keys are likely to become corroded when exposed to moisture. This is especially true for keys made of steel. When they corrode, they can easily break off inside the locks of your doors.
Avoid keeping your keys in areas of high moisture, such as hanging them on outside doors where they can become wet.
2. Use a key holder
Key holders come in handy to prevent you from losing individual keys. You can keep all your important keys in one place, which makes them harder to lose. However, don't bundle all essential keys on the same key holder.
Depending on the number of keys you have, bundle them according to importance. Separate all the most essential keys into separate key holders so as to mitigate the risk of losing them.
Another good tip is to use a keychain that attaches to your clothing. Key chains that hook to your trousers or dress reduce the likelihood of you loosing them after a busy day.
3. Have a dedicated spot in your bag or clothing
You should always keep your keys within easy reach. In most cases, people simply misplace their keys as opposed to actually losing them. Misplacement can cause you to panic and have the locks damaged, just to find your keys a few hours later.
To avoid this common problem, have a dedicated spot in your bag or clothing for key placement. This will ensure that your keys are always within easy reach, and you can immediately tell if you lost your keys.
4. Have a spare key in a secure place
In preparation for the inevitable, always keep a spare set of keys at a secure location. For example, you can have a family member or a trusted neighbour keep a spare key for your home in case you need it on short notice.
For businesses, spare keys can be locked in safes that use an alternative locking mechanism such as biometric sensors.
5. Keep an emergency locksmith handy
In some cases, you will need a mobile locksmith to help you gain entry into your premises. It helps to have the contact information of a trusted locksmith handy for such occasions.
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