Locks are the quiet workhorses of home security. They sit between your home and the outside world every single day, and a little care keeps them turning smoothly for years rather than seizing up at the worst possible moment. The good news is that lock maintenance is simple, quick, and mostly about doing a few small things right and avoiding one big mistake.

Here is how to keep your locks in good shape, starting with the question our locksmiths get asked more than any other.

What is the best way to lubricate a lock?

Lubrication is the single most important part of lock maintenance, and it is also where most people go wrong. So let us start with the mistake to avoid.

Do not use WD-40 or other oil sprays on your locks. It is tempting, and the lock will feel better for a day or two, but oil-based sprays attract dust and grit and slowly gum up the pins inside the cylinder. Over time the lock stiffens and can seize entirely. As a one-off cleaner to flush out an already gummy lock it has a place, but only if you then flush it and re-lubricate with a proper dry lubricant.

For actual lubrication, use a dry lubricant. Here is which type suits which lock.

How to apply it: use it sparingly. A small puff of graphite or a quick spritz of dry spray into the keyway and onto the bolt is plenty. Insert your key and work it in and out a dozen times to spread the lubricant through the mechanism, then wipe the key and the face of the lock. Once or twice a year is enough for most locks, and every three to six months for exposed or coastal ones.

More ways to keep your locks in good shape

Lubrication does most of the work, but a few simple habits keep the whole system healthy.

• Keep your locks and keys clean. Dirt and grime make a key harder to insert and turn. Wipe the lock face and the key with a damp cloth and dry them off. If the keyway itself is dirty, flush it with a dry lubricant and work the key in and out rather than poking cotton buds inside, which can leave fibres behind.
• Do not force a sticking key. A key that is getting harder to turn is telling you something. Forcing it risks snapping the key in the lock. Clean and lubricate first, and if it is still stiff, get it looked at before it fails completely.
• Avoid slamming doors. The repeated impact can knock the lock mechanism out of alignment or damage the door frame, leading to trouble locking and unlocking. Closing doors gently genuinely extends the life of a lock.
• Make sure the door is hung correctly. A dropped or misaligned door puts constant strain on the bolt and strike plate and wears the lock out early. If the door drags or the bolt does not line up cleanly, the hinges or alignment may need adjusting.
• Tighten loose hardware. Handles, strike plates and screws work loose over time. A periodic check and a turn of the screwdriver keeps everything seated and reduces wear.
• Protect your exterior locks from the weather. Melbourne’s swings from wet winters to hot summers, and salt air in bayside suburbs, are hard on outdoor locks. A silicone spray a couple of times a year helps keep rust and corrosion at bay.

For a sense of what a locksmith visit costs if you would rather have it done professionally, our Melbourne guide breaks it down:

👉 How Much Does a Locksmith Cost in Melbourne?

When maintenance is not enough

Maintenance extends a lock’s life, but it cannot revive one that is worn out. Here is the honest rule of thumb: if a lock stays stiff even after you have cleaned and lubricated it, the key or the internal cylinder is probably worn, and lubricant is only masking the problem. At that point, forcing more life out of it usually ends in a snapped key or a lockout.

A few signs it is time to repair, rekey or replace rather than maintain:

• The key sticks or catches even after cleaning and lubricating.
• The lock turns roughly, grinds, or the key has to be jiggled to work.
• There is visible rust, damage, or play in the cylinder.
• You have lost a key, moved into a new home, or suspect the lock has been interfered with.

If any of those ring true, rekeying is often the most cost-effective fix, and it is worth knowing the difference between rekeying and replacing:

👉 When to Change or Rekey Your Locks
👉 How to Tell if a Lock Has Been Tampered With

Keeping your locks healthy in Kew and greater Melbourne

Good lock maintenance is not about security alone; it is about getting the most out of the hardware you already have. A dry lubricant, a clean key, gentle doors and a well-hung frame will keep most locks turning smoothly for years.

When a lock is past saving, or you would simply rather leave it to a professional, VicLocks works across Kew and greater Melbourne on lock repairs, rekeying, replacements and broader home security:

👉 Residential Security Services
👉 Emergency Locksmith in Kew

Contact VicLocks today or call 0418 397 297 for advice, a service, or a lock that has finally given up.

Frequently Asked Questions

The post Tips for Maintaining Your Locks appeared first on Vic-Locks Security.

Have you ever found yourself searching the house for your keys, rummaging through drawers and retracing your steps? You are far from alone. Losing your keys is one of those small disasters that can throw out your whole morning.

As locksmiths, a good share of our callouts come down to lost keys, so we wanted to put together a practical list of ways to stop it happening. From smart trackers to simple habits, here are ten that actually work, and at the end, what to do if you have already lost a set.

The top 10 ways to prevent losing your keys

• Establish a dedicated key spot. Designate one place in your home, a hook or tray near the front door, and put your keys there the moment you walk in. Most lost-key panic comes from having no default home for them.
• Use a key tracker. A small Bluetooth tracker attaches to your keyring and lets you ring your keys from your phone, or see where you last had them. It is the single most effective gadget for chronic key-losers. See the comparison below for which one suits your phone.
• Build a leaving routine. Make it a habit to check for your keys before you leave home, the office or a cafe. A quick, consistent pat-down catches a huge proportion of would-be losses.
• Attach a bright or unique keychain. A bold, distinctive keychain makes your keys easier to spot on a bench, in a bag or down the side of the sofa.
• Make them big and bulky. The larger and heavier your keyring, the harder it is to lose and the more obvious it is to feel in a pocket or bag.
• Use smart locks at home. A smart lock lets you enter with a code, phone or fingerprint, reducing your reliance on a physical key altogether. We have covered how they work, and whether a locksmith can help if one fails, here.
• Check the health of your key accessories. Make sure keyrings and split rings are in good condition and not worn, since a failing ring is a quiet, common way to lose a key without noticing.
• Keep a spare key in a secure place. A spare with a trusted neighbour or family member is a lifesaver if you lose your main set. Just do not leave it under the mat, which is the first place an intruder looks.
• Add useful accessories to your keyring. Attaching something you reach for often, like a small torch or a multi-tool, means you handle your keys more deliberately and notice sooner if they are missing.
• Consider wearable keys. Keeping keys on your person, clipped to a belt loop or a lanyard, keeps them with you rather than left on a random surface.

👉 Can a Locksmith Open a Smart Lock?

Which key tracker suits your phone?

If you only take one tip from this list, make it a tracker. The right one depends mostly on the phone you carry, because that determines which finding network you can tap into.

The quick rule: iPhone owners are best with an AirTag, Samsung owners with a SmartTag 2, and mixed households with a Chipolo or Pebblebee that works on both networks. Any of them turns a twenty-minute hunt into a thirty-second one.

What to do if you have already lost your keys

Prevention is ideal, but if the keys are already gone, here is the sensible order of things.

• Retrace and check the obvious spots first, including bags, pockets, and the last places you visited.
• If they are genuinely lost or were stolen, treat your locks as compromised. Whoever has your keys may also know where you live, so the safe move is to have your locks rekeyed or changed so the missing keys no longer work.
• If you are locked out, a mobile locksmith can get you back in, usually without any damage.
• If your keys were stolen, report it and consider whether it affects your home insurance.

Rekeying is usually the most cost-effective fix, since it keeps your existing hardware while making the lost keys useless:

👉 Do I Need to Rekey or Replace My Locks After Moving House?
👉 How Much Does a Locksmith Cost in Melbourne?

Never lose sleep over lost keys again in Kew or greater Melbourne

Whether it is adopting a tracker and a smart lock, or just building the simple habit of a dedicated key spot, the trick is choosing the methods that fit your lifestyle. And if the worst happens, it is not the end of the world.

VicLocks works across Kew and greater Melbourne for lockouts, rekeying, lock changes and smart lock advice, so a lost set of keys is a quick fix rather than a crisis. For broader peace of mind, our residential team can help you tighten up home security overall:

👉 Residential Security Services
👉 Emergency Locksmith in Kew

Contact VicLocks today or call 0418 397 297, whether you want advice on prevention or you are standing outside a locked door right now.

Frequently Asked Questions

The post How to prevent losing your keys appeared first on Vic-Locks Security.

The busiest day of the year for a locksmith

There is a misconception that most locksmiths’ jobs involve emergency callouts—helping residents get back in after losing their keys or locking themselves out. The truth is that’s a small part of our job.

After decades in the industry, we can confirm that this job is anything but predictable. As a locksmith in Melbourne, we must be proficient in problem-solving, electronics, automotive, woodworking, and general handyman skills. Every day is different, and in addition to emergency locksmith services, we’re busy with commercial services, like shops, factories, and large offices. 

But is there one day, in particular, that we’re busier than the rest of the year? Sort of. 

We’ll explain…

What is the busiest day of the year for a locksmith?

We’ll cheat a little and say we don’t have a day of the year that we’re busiest. But the period in the run-up to Christmas is typically our busiest time of year. 

It’s driven by several factors, including an increase in break-ins, package thefts, and lockouts from homes and vehicles. 

As you’d expect, during a significant holiday period, many of us are distracted by the rush of events. This leads to an increase in lost or misplaced keys. There is also a rise in home burglaries around this period which creates a higher need for our locksmith services to change locks and enhance security measures​.

The chaotic combination of increased social gatherings, travel, and package deliveries makes the holiday season a peak time for locksmith services​ like ours. 

Therefore, we can reveal that the Christmas period is our busiest time of year, as we’re tending to emergency callouts for those who have lost or misplaced their keys, repairing damage from burglaries, or installing new security measures to deter them. During that time, we can be busy from sun up to sun down and beyond!

The best time to hire a locksmith is outside of peak periods. Don’t wait until your home or business needs an emergency locksmith. Enhance your security measures now. Contact our Melbourne locksmith, who can help!

The post The busiest day of the year for a locksmith appeared first on Vic-Locks Security.

Home Break In Stats for 2024

We’ll preface this blog post by highlighting that at the time of writing this post, Victoria’s crime statistics were available for the period ending 31st March 2024. The Crime Statistics Agency release stats in March, June, September and December. 

During the pandemic, home break-ins reached a record low. Everyone was at home, making it difficult for intruders. Now we’re clear of the peak of the pandemic and out of lockdown. 

How has that affected the stats? Let’s take a look. 

What is a Home Break In?

A home break-in, aka ‘a burglary’, is when someone unlawfully enters your home intending to commit a crime. In Victoria, it typically involves forced entry through doors, windows, or other access points. The intruder may steal valuable items or cause property damage. 

Home break-ins often result in the loss of valuable possessions, but they also cause emotional distress and a sense of violation. The impact can be long-lasting, affecting how safe you feel in your home. Repercussions may go beyond financial loss

Break-ins can be prevented with robust home security, such as alarms, secure locks, and surveillance systems.

How to reduce the chance of a break-in

We have a great post here, breaking down 5 Top Tips for increasing your home’s security. 

But, here’s a quick list of some recommendations to reduce your chances of a break-in:

1. Install Strong Locks: Ensure all doors and windows have high-quality locks. 
2. Use Security Cameras: Visible cameras can deter potential intruders.
3. Alarm Systems: Invest in a reliable alarm system and ensure it is regularly maintained and activated when you are not at home.
4. Secure Windows: Use window locks
5. Outdoor Lighting: Install motion-sensor lights around your property to deter burglars who prefer to operate in darkness.
6. Don’t Advertise Absences: Avoid announcing your travel plans on social media. Use timers on lights and have a neighbour collect mail to give the appearance that someone is home.
7. Reinforce Doors: Reinforce door frames and hinges to prevent forced entry.

Home break-in stats for 2024:

Note: these stats are specifically for Victoria.

Crime in Victoria has increased since the pandemic. However, it has not reached pre-pandemic levels.

• 25,915 home burglaries across Victoria– 2,653 more than the year before. Of these, 3392 offences were attempts (up 24.8%, +673).
• Despite this increase, the total number of homes broken into remains well below levels seen earlier in the decade. For example, there were 36,273 homes broken into in 2017 – 10,358 more than current levels.However, aggravated residential burglaries did rise over the course of the twelve-month reporting period by 18.4% (6,031, up from 5,093).

To keep your home safe and secure, choose a trusted Locksmith service. Contact our team for a quote.

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