How to Install a Refrigerator Lock

There are countless reasons why some people may want to add a refrigerator lock to their fridge and/or freezer. Some of them may include a curious child, keeping a teenager out of the alcoholic beverages, or keeping that bottomless pit of a roommate out of your food in the middle of the night. Whatever your reason for adding a lock to your fridge, this project can easily be completed by almost anyone.

Some fridge locks require installers to drill holes into the fridge itself. Avoid these types of locks—it's very dangerous to create holes in any part of the fridge. Holes drilled through essential cooling components can destroy a fridge, and drilling into an electrical component can cause serious bodily harm. Make sure to buy fridge locks with the adhesive applying components. Then follow the steps below to install.

Step 1 - Clean The Fridge

Clean the front and side of the fridge where the lock will be. Apply some rubbing alcohol to a clean rag and scrub off any dirt or grime that may have built up onto the fridge’s surface. Fridges with a large amount of filth may require more scrubbing. Products like the Clorox magic eraser can help remove this extreme grime. This step is necessary because dirt can prevent good adhesion, causing your new lock to fall off.

Step 2 - Apply the Lock Hinges

After allowing the rubbing alcohol to completely dry, apply the fridge lock hinges, preferably at the top of the fridge. Most fridge lock hinges come with adhesive, so all you need to do is place one on the side of the fridge and one on the fridge door, where they interlock. Make sure to apply as much pressure as possible to ensure the lock sets firmly. Allow the hinge adhesive to settle for about an hour, then give the new addition a few firm tugs to ensure it's firmly in place.

Step 3 - Choose and Apply the Lockset

The type of lock you choose will determine how safe your fridge becomes. Padlocks with code entry are reasonably safe, but you need to make sure you scramble the code after every entry so other house tenants don't figure it out. The safest locks require keys to open. Unless your child is a lock picking mastermind, your key-locked fridge will be safe as long as the key stays protected, either in a safe location or right on your key ring.