How To Open A Rusted Lock?
We have all faced the issue of struggling to open a lock that is rusted. Whether you are moving into a new house, returning to your house after a long break, or opening a door that has not been opened for quite some time, rusted locks can really be a nuisance! Especially in hot and humid regions, it is common for locks to get rusted, corroded, and jammed. In the case of built-in and standalone locks, rust can make you struggle while opening them.
Just like any metallic object, a lock can get rusted due to prolonged exposure to moisture. Naturally, outdoor locks are more prone to damage as compared to the ones indoors as they are directly exposed to moisture. Humidity and temperature changes make your locks notorious and rusty, resulting in them getting jammed. Irrespective of the type of locks you use, they are vulnerable to rust and corrosion over time.
One encountering rusted locks, people often start to panic and seek professional help right away. This results in a good amount of time spent in reaching out to a professional and getting the lock opened or removed. Instead, you can simply open a rusted lock by using a can of WD-40 Multi-Purpose Product. WD-40 allows you to clear the lock off the rust make it loose enough to be opened or removed easily. This helps you save time in getting the job done and opening the locked door.
Using WD-40 is one of the cheapest and fastest alternatives to opening a rusted lock. The product helps you save time, money, and effort in getting rid of the rust formed within your locks and opening them within a few minutes. Moreover, as its name suggests, WD-40 Multi-Purpose Product has multiple applications apart from opening a rusted lock, such as removing rust from the surface of your car/bike, removing rust stains from carpet, lubricating hinges, and much more.
Here is a simple guide to open a rusted lock with the help of WD-40.
Things you will need
Cloth
Sandpaper
Hammer
Step 1
Wipe The Debris
Before doing anything else, make sure that you wipe the debris off your lock with the help of a cloth. Especially if you are dealing with a lock that has not been touched for a really long time, this would help you clean all the unwanted dust and dirt off its surface.
Step 2
Scrape Off The Exterior Rust
Once you have cleaned the debris, it is advisable to scrape the exterior or excessive rust from the surface of your lock. Use sandpaper to scrape off the rust and prepare the lock to be opened successfully. Instead of heading straight for the interiors, cleaning the exterior first would help you get at least 40% of the work done. In many cases, the external rust plays a role in the lock getting jammed. If you scrape this rust off the surface, the following steps would automatically become easier for you. However, make sure that you are extremely careful while using sandpaper on the lock. It is advisable to keep your hands covered to ensure hygiene.
Step 3
Spray WD-40 Into The Keyhole
Once you are done scraping the exterior rust, you can bring in the magic of WD-40. Take your can of WD-40 and spray it gently into the keyhole. The liquid would mingle with the rust particles and loosen them, making it easier to open the lock. However, always make sure that you do not end up spraying a lot of liquid within the keyhole. It is common for people to assume that spraying more liquid would provide them with better results. That is certainly not the case with WD-40 as the liquid itself is potent enough to get rid of the rust. If you can see the liquid oozing out of the lock, it implies that you have gone overboard.
Step 4
Strike The Lock Lightly With A Hammer
After spraying WD-40 into the keyhole, let the lock sit for a few minutes, this would give the liquid some time to loosen the notorious rust particles and make it easy for the lock to be opened. After letting the lock sit for some time, strike it gently with a hammer. You can also try opening the lock with a key. Now that the interiors have been lubricated and the rust is dealt with, the lock would not resist being opened. When your strike your lock with a hammer, it would shake the remaining bits of rust within the keyhole.
However, never make the mistake of striking the lock too hard with the hammer, especially if you want to keep the lock intact. A harder blow may result in the lock getting damaged or you getting hurt in the process. Especially if you are dealing with older locks, it is always important to be careful and precise.
Step 5
Keep Trying With The Key
The “key” to opening a rusted lock after spraying WD-40 is to keep trying to open it using the key. If the lock does not open effectively, strike it again with the hammer and turn the key yet again. You can rest assured that the lock would open once WD-40 has worked its magic on the rust!
End Notes
These were some of the simplest steps you can follow in order to open a rusted lock using WD-40. If you do it right, it would not take you more than a few minutes to get clean the interior and exterior of your lock off unwanted rust. WD-40 is an affordable and versatile product that makes DIY activities even simpler and more effective.
WD-40 Multi-Purpose Product is available online and at a hardware store near you. Instead of approaching a carpenter or a dedicated service provider, a single spray of WD-40 would help you open a rusted lock effectively. The next time you move into a new house or come home from a long vacation, make sure you have a can of WD-40 with you!
Disclaimer
The uses shown and described for WD-40 Multi-Use Product were provided to WD-40 Company by the users themselves. These uses haven’t been tested by WD-40 Company and do not constitute a recommendation of suggestion for use by WD-40 Company. Common sense should be exercised whenever using WD-40 Company products. Always follow the instructions and take heed of any warnings printed on the packaging.
Related Tutorials
January 5, 2022
December 19, 2021
December 30, 2021
November 29, 2021
Related Products
Need some advice?
Come and discover all our DIY, maintenance, auto, bicycle tutorials!
Language
Contact Us
© 2025 WD-40 Company.
All Rights Reserved