Always Losing Things? Here's How To Avoid Losing Your Keys

There’s nothing worse than the feelings of dread and frustration that come from losing your keys. Not only is it worrying wondering if and when you’ll find them again, but it’s also an inconvenient situation when you have somewhere you need to be. For those of us who are prone to misplacing things, here are some handy tips on how to avoid losing your keys. 

1. Key Cabinets 

A key cabinet provides a great way to keep your keys safe and secure at all times. Particularly beneficial for those who have multiple keys to look after (e.g: business owners), a key cabinet offers both peace of mind and an organised storage capacity.

Key cabinets make life that much easier by taking away the stress of both losing your keys and finding a safe space to store them when they’re not in use. Key cabinets are available in a range of different styles and systems, so you can pick the one that’s right for you and your lifestyle.

Mechanical locking cabinets, key safes, emergency cabinets and electronic locking key cabinets are just some of the different types available, all designed to keep keys in a safe space that keeps them protected from the wrong hands.  

1. Key Rings 

When it comes to keeping your keys organised, key rings provide the perfect solution. Key rings are available in a variety of different styles and sizes, so will suit you whether you have a few personal keys, or a large number of keys to look after.

As well as keeping your keys safe, key rings also keep all your keys in one place, making them easy to get to when you’re in a rush. Key rings help you to avoid the fumbling about in your bag whenever you reach the front door, and also help reduce wear and tear from the keys when in pockets.

Key rings come in a range of different designs, so you can pick one that’s unique to you. 

1. Designated Spot 

A great tactic for keeping track of your keys is to create a designated spot for them in your home, where you know you will always be able to find them. For most people, this would be by the front door in a home and by a communal office space for those sharing keys in a work environment – but this space can be adapted to wherever is suitable for you and your personal circumstances.

Although this spot should be easily accessible for you to reach them, be sure they’re not visible to other people – remember to always keep your keys safe from unauthorised individuals.  

1. Replacement Keys 

Emergency replacement keys help to act as a reliable back-up plan when your original key goes missing. Apart from door keys, here are some of the other types of keys that we recommend getting a spare of:

• Car keys 
• Office keys 
• Locker keys
• Garage door keys
• Post box keys 
• Window keys 
• Unit and cupboard keys 
• Master keys 
• Roof rack keys 
• Filing cabinet keys 
• Desk keys 
• Key cabinet keys 

1. Key-Finding Gadgets 

Lost keys are a common issue for a lot of people, which is why there are now gadgets available to help you find your keys once they’ve gone missing. Both wireless key trackers via apps and remote-control key finders are now on the market to help identify the place in which your keys are hiding, saving you valuable time and effort searching for them. These gadgets are great for tech-savvy people who want to minimise the time spent looking for their keys once lost, though with the hints and tips above, this should hardly ever happen!  

How To Replace Your Letter Box 

If you need to replace your letter box due to it being damaged or faulty, you’re in the right place. Here’s a quick guide to show you how to replace your letter box.

Things To Remember Before Buying

It’s important to remember that your new letter box needs to be both fire and smoke retardant, so make sure this is the case before purchasing to avoid wasting both your time and money on one that isn’t.

With multiple different colours and designs of letter box hardware available, you can find the right style that’s both practical and suitable for your home or business. 

How Do I Know What Size Letter Box To Buy?

Though it’s not entirely important as to what size your overall letter box is, the internal size does matter. Getting this wrong could result in the letter box’s sleeve failing to properly fit through the space in your door.

For uPVC letter boxes, there are usually 3 general sizes, these being:

• 10inch letter boxes (265mm x 70mm)
• 12inch letter boxes (305mm x 70mm)
• 12inch slimline letter boxes (317mm x 50mm)

Using a tape measure, measure the overall size of the letter box, and then lift up the external flap and measure the actual postage slot of the letter box.

From here, measure the thickness of your door, making sure you measure the height, width and depth of the aperture. These measurements will help you to find the correct sized letter box suitable for your door.

Is It Easy To Replace A Letter Box?

It’s really quick and easy to replace a letter box and you don’t need any previous skills or experience in DIY to complete the task. You also won’t need any specialist tools or equipment on hand, as just a screwdriver and a tape measure are required from start to finish.

Once you’ve measured and purchased your letter box, both removing your previous one and replacing it takes just a matter of minutes to complete. 

How Do I Remove and Refit A Letter Box? 

Step 1: The first step to take is to lift the flap up from the inside of the letter box, and using a screwdriver, carefully remove the two screws placed at either end of the panel.

Step 2: Once both screws have been removed, open the door itself, and remove the letter box by gently pulling it apart from both sides of the door – it should come away from the door very easily.

Step 3: Having measured the size of your new letter box, you’ll be able to quickly check that the inside measurements align with the gap in the door, and that the letter box as a whole covers this gap completely.

With your new replacement letter box, put it back into the hole of the door, gently pushing both parts into the slot from either side of the door so that it’s fixed into place. The screw holes will always be on the inside of the letter box, so remember this if you’re unsure which way the letter box is meant to go. 

Step 4: While holding the letter box in place from the outside door, use your screwdriver to refit the two screws on the inside of the letter box, so that it is securely fitted. Make sure the screws and fixings are aligned correctly and evenly, and be careful not to over-tighten the screws, as this could cause damage. 

This whole process will take just a few minutes to complete, and your letter box will then be replaced and ready for use again.

Be sure to take all health and safety standards into consideration before completing any kind of installation or home improvement and seek further help and advice should you need any assistance with this.