Melting Ice from a Frozen Car Lock

Melting ice from a frozen car lock may be achieved in several ways. Using hot water is not recommended. It only works in rare cases, because car locks have tight seals and water can hardly reach inside to melt the ice. Moreover, hot water can freeze, and the situation gets even worse. Forcing the key into the lock is another bad option. It can result in a broken key or a broken lock. The best solution to open a frozen lock is to use a commercial lock de-icer. If you do not have any de-icers or you have one, but it's locked in your car, there are also other options at hand.

Step 1 – Check All Locks

Check all the door locks of your car, and identify the one that is least frozen. Most likely it is the one that has been in the sunlight, or the one facing east or south. In wintertime it is best if you avoid parking your car in the shade. The morning sun may help with opening door locks, even if they are frozen.

Step 2 – Use Your Thumb

Press your thumb against the door lock. Keep it there for a few minutes. The skin’s warmth might heat the lock just enough so that you can open it. Try to open the lock, but do not force the key if it is still frozen.

Step 3 – Use a Lighter

Hold the key by the end. Use the lighter or a match to heat it. Move the flame back and forth to heat as much of the key as possible, without burning your fingers. In case your car key has plastic on it, make sure the flame does not come in contact with the plastic, as this can easily melt.

Insert the heated key into the lock. Try to open it without forcing. The ice might not melt with one attempt only, so reheat the key a few times.

Step 4 – Use Hand Sanitizer

If none of the above mentioned tips work, pour some hand sanitizer on the key. Try to insert as much hand sanitizer into the lock as possible. Hand sanitizers contain alcohol, which could melt the ice. Alcohol does burn, but only in high concentrations and the concentration of the alcohol in the hand sanitizer is not high enough to burn. However, it is recommended that you proceed with care, if you want to heat the car key after applying hand sanitizer.

Step 5 – Use Deicer

A commercial deicer may be used to melt the ice, and help you start your vehicle. During wintertime, you should keep deicers in your car and home, and in winter jackets, so that you have these at hand at all times.

Step 6 – Check the Doors

Pull the door handle firmly, to see if it opens. If the door is frozen as well, you should not force it open, and you should avoid using tools, which could possibly scratch your car. Firmly push against the door’s margins with the palms of your hands, until the ice around the door cracks. Remove the ice around the door and open it.