What’s the Point of Putting Toothpaste on Keys?
Keys are an essential part of our daily lives. We use various locks daily, from house and room doors to cabinet and car locks.
Over time, keys can encounter some issues. They may become difficult to insert into the keyhole, get stuck, or turn with resistance. This usually happens when keys accumulate dirt and rust. In such cases, toothpaste can be used to clean them.
Prepare a bowl of water and add a small amount of toothpaste. Stir the mixture, and then soak the keys in it for about 2–3 minutes. Next, use a toothbrush dipped in this water to scrub the keys directly, removing dirt and rust.
Rinse the keys with clean water and dry them thoroughly.
If you have a pencil, you can rub it against the key’s grooves and surface. This simple trick helps lubricate the key. Due to high moisture levels inside locks, dirt accumulates over time, causing blockages and rust formation. Pencil lead can absorb some of this moisture and acts as a lubricant, making it easier to turn the key in the lock.
For locks that have been in use for a long time, it’s a good idea to lubricate the lock mechanism with oil. This will resolve issues with misaligned pins and stuck keys. Simply apply a few drops of oil and allow it to work its way into the internal structures of the lock. Then, insert the key several times to distribute the oil evenly onto the key pins. If you don’t have specialized lock oil, cooking oil can be used instead. However, avoid using animal fat, as it can damage the lock.
Tip for Retrieving a Broken Key from a Lock
If your key gets stuck in the lock and you force it with excessive strength, it may bend or, worse, break inside the lock.
To remove the broken key fragment, try using a small pair of tweezers to grip and pull it out. Alternatively, you can use pliers to clamp the broken key fragment and extract it.
If the broken key fragment is deep inside the lock, you can use candle wax. Heat one end of the wax with a flame, then quickly insert the melted end into the lock. The melted wax will adhere to the broken key fragment. Wait about five minutes for the wax to cool and harden, then gently pull it out. This method is suitable for flat keys that aren’t too deep inside the lock.