How to De‐ice a Car Lock

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: October 21, 2021

Winter driving comes with a host of challenges, including the occasional frozen car lock. If you live in a colder climate, there are a variety of de-icing products available that do a good job of getting the ice out of your car lock. If you happen to run out of a de-icing product, you can always use an ad hoc solution, such as hand sanitizer.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Applying Lock De-Icer

1
Squirt lock de-icer into the lock. Open the top of the bottle. Squeeze the bottle to squirt the liquid into the key hole. Wait a few moments for the de-icer to begin working. Unlock and then open your car door.^{[1]
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- The squirt de-icer costs approximately $1.50.
- You can get lock de-icer at automotive and hardware stores
- Squirt de-icer products are typically cheaper than spray cans.
2
Spray lock de-icer into the lock. Remove the cap from the spray can of de-icer. Point the nozzle towards the key hole. Press down on the nozzle to spray the de-icing fluid into the key hole. Wait a few moments for the de-icer to begin working. Unlock and then open your car door.^{[2]
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- Spray de-icer costs approximately $5.50.
- Lock de-icer typically contains a concentration of fifty to seventy percent isopropyl alcohol.
- Spray cans are a little easier to use.^{[3]
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- Spray de-icer contains some propane, whereas squirt de-icer is mostly isopropyl alcohol.
- If there is ice along the edge of the car door, you can spray it with the de-icer.
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3
Use homemade lock de-icer. Fill a spray bottle with one third water and two thirds isopropyl alcohol. Shake the bottle to mix the water and alcohol. Spray the car lock with the homemade de-icer. Wait a few moments and then unlock your car door.^{[4]
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- You can use a concentration of 70% isopropyl alcohol.
- You can also spray the de-icer along the side of the door to remove any ice.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Trying Alternatives

1
Apply hand sanitizer to your key. Hand sanitizer contains alcohol, which is useful for melting away the ice in your keyhole. Squirt a small amount of hand sanitizer onto your key. Then, gently insert the key into the lock and unlock the door.^{[5]
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- If you use hand sanitizer too frequently, you will eventually get sticky locks. It is best to use this solution as a last resort or when you run out of de-icer.
- If your car door gets dirty from using too much hand sanitizer, you will need to get to the interior locking mechanism to clean it. You should get a professional mechanic or automobile locksmith to clean your car door.^{[6]
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2
Heat up your key. Use a lighter to warm up your car key. Hold your key over the flame of the lighter until it warms up. Then, insert the key into the lock. The warm key should help melt away the ice in your car lock.^{[7]
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- You could also use a match.
- Be careful not to burn yourself when heating up the key with your lighter.
3
Pour some hot liquid over the lock. If you are really in a pinch, you could pour your coffee or other hot beverage over the lock. The hot liquid should help melt away the ice. However, this is obviously more of a last resort than an advisable solution, since you will lose your beverage in the process.
- If you pour too many hot liquids into your lock, you’ll need to clean it. Go to a professional mechanic to get your car door cleaned and lubricated.^{[8]
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4
Blow on the lock with a straw. Place one end of a straw on the car lock. Hold the other end of the straw in your mouth. Blow warm air into the straw. The heat from your breath should eventually melt the ice in the car lock.^{[9]
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- In comparison to other techniques, blowing hot air in a straw will likely take the longest.
- You probably won’t get very far blowing hot air without the straw, since the heat will evaporate before it reaches the lock.

Warnings

Remember to point the de-icer at the key hole. You don’t want to spray yourself trying to open the car door.

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Avoid storing the de-icing products in your glove compartment. They need to be accessible in the event that you cannot open your door.

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