How To Get A Frozen Car Door Open

8 Simple Ways to Unlock A Frozen Car Door Lock

frozen car door

Car owners know fully well that winter can bring about a whole host of problems. There are a literally dozens of things that can go wrong with a car during winter, from stalled engines to hazardous performance on the road, and more. Although not quite as dangerous as other problems, having a car door lock freeze on you certainly ranks on the list as one of the more annoying occurrences.

In the event they are already frozen, there are a number of proven remedies for that as well.

Preventing your car door lock from freezing

Place a magnet over the lock

A simple way to prevent your lock from freezing is by placing a magnet over the keyhole. Most magnets will work as long as it is large enough to cover the keyhole completely. All you need to do is place the magnet over the lock when you leave your car. After you get in your car, simply toss the magnet in your pocket or purse for later use.

Apply some WD-40

WD-40 is very effective at keeping your car door lock lubricated and frost-free. Simply spray a little into the lock and it should prevent ice and frost buildup for several days. While you're at it, you may want to spray a little into the lock of your trunk as well.

Unlocking a frozen car door lock

Okay. Let's say you don't have a magnet or WD-40 handy and your car door lock is now frozen…what do you do? There are actually a few quick remedies you can try, one or more of which can be effective enough that you won't need to call a professional locksmith.

Sanitize your key

Hand sanitizers have a high alcohol content, which not only prevents it from freezing, but enables it to thaw ice as well. Squirt a little bit of the gel on your key, make sure it covers both sides well, and it should unlock your stuck door lock after a few turns.

Lube up your key

Petroleum jelly is an effective lubricant that will enable you to turn the key in the lock easily. This may take a bit longer to do than if you use hand sanitizer, but it will work most of the time. Simply coat your key lightly with a small dab of petroleum jelly and turn it in the lock gently in both directions.

Heat up your key

Simply heating up your key with a lighter could be enough to unstick a stuck lock. If the lock is completely frozen, you may have to heat your key more than once. As with all other methods, don't rush it, and turn the key in both directions slowly. You should be able to get the ice melted in a few minutes.

Keep de-icing spray handy

Commercially-available de-icing spray is even more effective than the solutions mentioned above. Of course, having it tucked away in the glove compartment of a frozen car wouldn't do you much good, so make sure to have an extra bottle handy at home or in your office desk as well.

Breath in…and out

In the worst-case scenario wherein, you don't have any of the solutions mentioned above, your breath could be all you need to thaw out your car door lock. Simply cup your hands around the lock and blow into it for a few minutes. It may be necessary to do this more than once, but your lock should thaw after a while.