How to Add a Medicine Cabinet Lock

Fitting a medicine cabinet lock can stop younger children from accessing harmful tablets and substances that you keep inside the medicine cabinet. Here is a way to fit a lock safely and securely to protect the children from potential dangers.

Step 1 – Assess the Cabinet

Fitting a lock largely depends on the shape, size and material of your medicine cabinet. If it is plastic you may have trouble getting a lock to stay put. Plastic can crack and fracture, so you might need to look at replacing it with a more solid cabinet. If your existing cabinet is made of wood or another material which is easy to fit a lock into, you can proceed with the project.

Step 2 – Choose the Lock

There are many different styles and types of lock available, so choose a medicine cabinet lock which you know will be secure. You have the options of padlocks, combination locks, keyless locks and many other interior door locks which you could use as a medicine cabinet lock. If you buy a hasp and staple separately from the medicine cabinet lock, you must check that the lock will fit through the ring of the hasp so you can move it loosely around and hook it in and out easily.

Step 3 – Mark the Screw Holes

You can fit the hasp in two ways: You can situate it on a corner or on a straight side of the cabinet. Only you can decide which way is the best way to hang the hasp and staple, according to the style and size of the cabinet you have. Mark the place where the screws will go to hold the hasp. Drill pilot holes in the cabinet, but try not to drill all the way into the cabinet. The thickness of your cabinet material will be a deciding factor in how far you drill.

Step 4 – Fit the Hasp and Staple

Set the hasp where you marked the holes and apply the screws to fix it in place. Tighten the screws and then test the match between the hasp and staple to make sure they are in perfect unison. If you are happy with the fitting and positioning, you can test out the padlock or combination lock.

Step 5 – Attach the Medicine Cabinet Lock

Open the padlock or combination lock and hook it into the ring of the hasp. Set the combination lock to a number you will remember. Close it and make sure it fits comfortably. If the padlock requires a key, test it to make sure it will open the lock before you place it in the ring and close it. If you are happy with the fitting, you are set to go. If your medicine cabinet lock needs some adjustment, make any corrections to get it right.