Skip to content
Menu
Where to buyGuidesSDSCommercial orders

Guides

How to keep locks, latches and hinges working, written by the people who make Lock Saver. Start with the how-to; the rest are for when something specific goes wrong.

A hand sprays Lock Saver through its red extension straw into the keyway of a brushed steel lever door handle

Start here

How to Lubricate a Lock, Step by Step

How to lubricate door knobs, levers, deadbolts, padlocks and combination locks, which lubricant to use, and how often to do it.

  1. Sticky Lock? How to Find the Cause and Fix ItA sticky door lock is usually dirt, old lubricant or a worn key. Try the quick fix first, then check the causes in order of likelihood.
  2. Frozen Locks: How to Thaw Them Safely and Stop the FreezeWhy outdoor locks freeze, how to thaw one without damaging it, and how to keep keyways and padlocks working through winter.
  3. Rusty Locks: 4 Ways to Prevent Rust, and How to Free OneWhy locks, padlocks and gate hardware rust, four habits that prevent it, and how to free a rusted lock or know when to replace it.
  4. How to Fix a Squeaky Hinge or a Noisy LockWhy door hinges squeak, how to lubricate the pin properly, when the noise is a sagging door instead, and how to quiet a gritty lock or dragging latch.
  5. Lock Lubrication Myths and the Mistakes They CauseSix common lock lubrication myths, from any spray will do to heating a frozen lock, and what to do instead.
  6. Types of Lock Lubricant, and Where Each One FailsGraphite, PTFE dry lubes, silicone, light oil, grease and water-displacing sprays compared for locks, and where a synthetic like Lock Saver fits.
  7. Silicone vs Oil-Based Lubricants: Which One Is Better?Silicone vs oil-based lubricant for locks and hardware: how each behaves, where each fails, and which to pick for indoor, outdoor and dusty locks.
  8. Seven Jobs for Lock Lubricant Besides LocksHinges, padlocks, chains, cables, sliding doors, bolt threads and tools: where a lock lubricant works well, and the places you should not spray it.
  9. Lock Maintenance for Facilities: A Simple ProgramHow facilities teams can keep locks, latches and exit hardware working: which doors come first, a seasonal pass, what to log and when to call a locksmith.
  10. The Science Behind Lubricants: How They Reduce FrictionHow a lubricant reduces friction: the film between two surfaces, the three lubrication regimes, and why the right type matters.