10 Ways To Ensure You Never Get Locked Out Again

10 Ways To Ensure You Never Get Locked Out Again

It takes just a couple of seconds of careless thinking or rushing around to end up being locked out. Most of us have experienced the dread that is felt moments after the door has shut, which leads to not only stress but also a huge waste of time in an already hectic day. 

Whether you’re prone to getting locked out of your home, office or car, here are ten ways to ensure you never get locked out again. 

1. Keep Handy Phone Contacts 

Getting locked out is as stressful as it is time consuming, so making sure you’re prepared for such an incident is one of the best ways to keep as relaxed as possible. Storing handy and useful contacts on your phone such as your landlord, your locksmith or even just a friend who you know will be available to come help you, will save you valuable time.

2. Find A Locksmith Before You Need One 

It’s always a good idea to have a locksmith on hand before you find yourself in an emergency situation. Find and make contact with a good locksmith once you’ve moved into a new area, so you can be safe in the knowledge that you have a trusty phone number to call if ever you need it.

3. Use A Key Safe 

Key safes are one of the most convenient ways to ensure you always have a secure place to keep spare keys. They can be employed for both personal and professional use, while being especially beneficial for storing rental property keys. For those who are concerned about losing the safe key, electronic lock key safes are available – requiring just a unique numerical code in order to open. Key safes are super cheap investments considering the amount of time and money they save in the long run. 

4. Always Carry A Spare Key 

It makes sense to get replacement keys made to ensure you always have a spare on hand. Keeping your spare key separate from your usual collection minimises the chances of you losing both sets, so you can use your spare key if ever you get locked out of your home or car. It’s a good idea to create spares of other keys that are notorious for getting lost around the house, too, such as desk, window, cabinet and locker keys. 

5. Make Checking For Keys A Habit 

Research shows that it takes 21 days to form a habit, so get started now! Getting into a routine of checking you have your house, car and work keys before you open the door will make it less likely for you to forget them in the future – even when you’re rushing out the door in a hurry. Try getting into the habit of checking for other valuable items you often leave at home as well such as your mobile, glasses and credit cards. 

6. Replace Faulty Locks 

While it’s easy to assume the reason for getting locked out is due to not having your key on hand, many people get locked out of their homes or offices due to the lock being broken or damaged. The issue may not be with the key at all - the lock itself could have deteriorated over time. Getting a replacement lock before the problem worsens is an easy and budget-friendly option.  

7. Give A Spare Key To Someone You Trust 

Having a trusted neighbour or family member hold a spare key is always a good idea if they’re someone you entirely trust. This is not only handy when you’ve been locked out, but for emergency situations too – it’s good to know that someone else can enter the property safely and quickly, should they ever need to. 

8. Consider Fitting Smart Locks 

Though they can be a more expensive solution, smart locks are a secure way of keeping your home safe without the need for a key. There are multiple different types of smart locks available but common versions operate by combinations, fingerprints or eye scanners. Though they can come with a higher price tag, smart locks mean you never need to worry about forgetting or losing your key. 

9. Keep a Key Somewhere Safe

If there’s somewhere else outside of your home where you can safely store a spare key, this can be a helpful way of ensuring you don’t get locked out. Try a safe space in your garage or shed, or in a non-visible place in a bird feeder or birdhouse. 

10. Keep Calm and Collected

Try to remain cool, calm and collected when getting ready to leave the house, car or place of work, as failing to do so will increase the chances of you forgetting your keys. When we’re stressed, both our memory and task performance levels are adjusted, meaning we’re more likely to become forgetful when carrying out functions under high levels of anxiety. The same goes if you do ever find yourself locked out, try to keep optimistic and relaxed – and remember the above tips for next time. 

Leave a Comment