How to Maintain Car Locks

05/08/2015 Back To Blog

It is a fact that car door locks are at greater risk of damage compared to their house counterparts. This is because they have practically no shielding from the elements most of the time. They are exposed to great amounts of dust and dirt on the streets every day. For these reasons, they require proper regular maintenance. It should be provided two times a year for best results. Find out how to do a great job and enjoy fabulous results.

Careful Cleaning

You have to get rid of dust and dirt which prevent the lock from working optimally. This is the primary task in every maintenance routine.

Make a cleaning tool and prepare cleaning materials - For this, you will need thin microfiber cloth and the thinnest screw driver which you can find. Then you need to wrap the cloth around the pointy parts of the tool. In case there is grease inside the device, you will need a little bit of mild solvent such as white minerals. Otherwise, lemon juice will do a fine job.

Clean the door lockset with precision - Stick the cleaning tool inside the keyhole and move it up and down and to the sides so that you can loosen up any dirt and remove rust. Then dip the tool in a little bit of the chosen cleaning material and use the same cleaning technique. After this, you should change the wet cloth over the screw driver with a dry piece and repeat step one again.
 

Lubrication Maintenance

In order to avoid car lock change due to freezing and damage, you should lubricate the device properly.   

Pick appropriate lubricant - Dry graphite lubricant is preferred for its non-sticky texture and for its ability to prevent freezing. It can really help to avoid frost damage and the required lock repair in this case. It is best to opt for a product which has a thin nozzle applicator.

Apply the material carefully - You need to spray the lubricant directly into the keyhole. Some of it will inevitably come out. If dirt keeps running out, you should keep spraying until it stops. Place the key inside and turn it to spread the material properly.

Wipe any excess lubricant - You should use dry soft microfiber cloth to remove any lubricant left around the lock. You should leave a thin layer on the face of the device, however, to help prevent freezing when the weather gets cold. This will also help you to avoid key damage and key repair.
Now you know how to keep your auto lock in top condition.