Many of us have lost a key at least once in our lives. You may be in this situation right now. For example:
You come home from work feeling excited to finally get home. However, when you reach into your pocket, you realize your keys aren’t there.
At this point, the shock and frustration sink in. You ask yourself – Where are my keys? How do I find them?
Luckily for you, you have found this article. You will soon learn 5 tips to find lost keys and some odd spots where they may be hiding.
We’ll also discuss what to do in case you can’t find them even after checking all these locations.
5 Tips to Find Lost Keys
The good news is that most lost keys turn up quickly and are actually not too far away from you right now. Use the following tips to find them fast.
Use a Key Finder
If you happen to have a key finder keyring, now is the time to use it. With a simple push of a button on the app, the key finder will make a sound (usually a beep) which can help you find your keys.
You may also be able to look at the last known location on the key finder app to help you know if you are nearby.
Check the Obvious Spots
Before you start tearing your house apart, check the usual spots where you would typically put your keys.
This includes places like by the front door, in your purse or wallet, in a drawer, on a counter, or on a bedside table.
Check Clothing Pockets
Next, check your clothing pockets. Do you put keys in a jacket pocket or jeans and then forget when taking off these clothes?
Check all pockets of clothes in your wardrobe and those lying around the house or in the laundry pile.
Retrace Your Steps
Think about the last time you had your keys and try to retrace your steps. This may help you remember where you left them.
Don’t just do it mentally, literally retrace your steps from the last place you remember having them and do exactly what you did leading to the moment you realized you lost them.
If you accidentally dropped them, retracing your steps can help you find them.
Ask for Help
If you’ve looked everywhere and still can’t find your keys, it may be time to ask for help.
Ask your family or roommates if they’ve seen your keys. You can also put up a lost poster on a noticeboard in a common area of your building or neighbourhood.
Just make sure to only post your phone number and not your home address. Otherwise, anyone who finds your keys and your poster will know the exact property they now have access to!
Odd Places Where Your Keys May Be Hiding
If you’ve done the tips outlined above and still couldn’t find your keys, here’s a list of odd places you should also check. Who knows, your keys may be hiding in one of these unusual places:
- Inside the fridge – Funny as it seems, but finding keys in the fridge is not as uncommon as you think.
- On top of your car or car door – Have you ever heard of people putting their keys on top of their car and then driving off? It happens!
- Under the couch or rug – People often drop keys and accidentally kick them under a chair, rug or sofa.
- In a plant pot – This may have seemed like a good place to put your keys when you were drunk but by morning you forgot.
- Inside shoes – Yes it can happen! Especially if you have a shoe rack outside your door. All you have to do is learn too far over when taking your shoes off and the keys can fall in.
- In the front door keyhole – I don’t really understand how this can happen but I had a neighbour who did this all the time!
What to Do if You Can’t Find Your Keys
If you’ve done your best and still can’t find your keys, you will have to resort to other methods of gaining entry. If you have no spare key to go for then it might be time to call a locksmith.
Reliable locksmiths like Locksmiths Near You can arrive at your location any time of the day or night, any day of the week, ready for any emergency. Once on-site, we can have you back inside in very little time.
If you fear that your lost keys may end up in the wrong hands, you might also want to consider changing your locks or at least rekeying them.
This will give you the peace of mind that anyone who finds your keys won’t be able to access your home.