Are your car door locks frozen? Get going again in jiffy by using this simple hack
Winter is the season that many detest, especially due to the numerous inconveniences the humidity and cold temperatures bring (and which can even cause damage inside and outside the home). Amongst these inconveniences, the most annoying are undoubtedly the problems winter poses in the early mornings.
If you don't have a garage for your car, the ice and frost that settles on it overnight can basically immobilize the vehicle, causing you long delays in getting to work while you battle with the elements.
And what can you do when even the door locks on the car are frozen?
Well, fortunately, there is a simple and very quick hack that will allow you to defrost the locks on your car in an instant - keep reading:
A simple and quick hack to unfreeze car locks
The simplest, quickest and cheapest way to defrost the lock on your car door is to use a flame. Whether it's a lighter or a box of matches, make sure you're carrying one of these when you go out to your car on a winter's morning.
Heat up the key to the lock with the lighter or a match before inserting it into the lock, repeating the operation if necessary; you will be amazed at how quickly you can get into your "frozen" car!
This simple hack can also come in handy if you are away from home and your front door lock is frozen when you get back.
Other ways to defrost a car lock
Lighters and matches are not the only "tools" you can use to defrost a frozen solid car lock; you can also try the following methods:
- Denatured alcohol is usually recommended for defrosting windshields, but it can also be incredibly useful for frozen locks; put some on the key before inserting it - the alcohol will lower the freezing point, allowing the key to turn and unlock the door; protect plastic parts, which could be dried out by the alcohol;
- Since it contains alcohol, hand sanitizer can also help and most of us now carry a bottle of this in our bags or pockets. Put some on the key before inserting it into the lock, repeating the operation if necessary;
- If you are close enough to home and have an extension cord, try using the hair dryer (set to hot) on the lock - it will defrost it in an instant.
Avoid using boiling water, which could damage any plastic parts and, if your car is modern model, could short-circuit the electrical components in the lock's cylinder.
How do you defrost your car's door locks in the winter?