Help! I’ve lost my keys

Losing your keys happens, but that doesn’t mean it ever stops being annoying. So here’s some suggestions to cracking the question ‘where are my keys’, along with some tricks to avoid losing them in the future. And finally, if the worst happens and the keys aren’t recovered, what should you do? 

Your keys are most likely… 

In your pockets? 

When we’re in a rush we forget the most obvious answer so, have you checked your pockets? Or yesterday’s pockets? 

Re-tracing your steps can help you remember if you stuffed them into a coat pocket or forgot to take them out the back of your jeans. Have a good look through any of yesterday or today’s clothing and bags to see if the missing keys are there. 

In the car? 

Keys can fall out of your pocket whilst you’re in the car without you even noticing, so it’s worth a look. 

Look between and under the seats. Even that annoying gap between the seats and the door. The boot and the glovebox are also possibilities. Never overlook any option ‘because you would have noticed’, chances are you didn’t. 

Down the sofa? 

The usual suspect for hiding all things valuable: the sofa cushions. 

Search between and beneath all sofa cushions and down the sides of the arms to see if they’ve slipped down. It’s also worth a look underneath the sofa with a torch in case they were kicked under. 

In the bathroom? 

Whether you’ve thrown them on the side to wash your hands, fix your hair, or brush your teeth, many lost keys are recovered on a bathroom shelf. 

Maybe you’ve accidentally shut them in a cupboard or they got thrown in the washing basket with your worn clothes. Don’t just check the places you can see, have a good rummage through the hidden places in your bathroom. 

How to prevent lost keys 

Stress over - you found your keys. Now how do you make sure you don’t lose them again?

Tags or trackers 

Attaching an electronic tag or fob to your keyring means you can track them through your phone. So you can have some reassurance that they’re in the house, or you can be notified to help find them. 

Designate a safe place 

Instead of investing in expensive tracking, simply designating a safe place to put them when you come into the house means you always know where you left them. This could be a key cupboard, hook or bowl by the door. 

Store a spare 

Keeping a spare with a neighbour, family member,  or trusted friend can be a good idea. When you’re in a rush or locked out, this can be a life-saver. This is a higher security alternative to hiding it under the doormat or a potted plant. 

What to do if I’ve lost my keys?

Assuming you’ve checked all the most likely places, and still the keys are nowhere to be found, here’s the next steps for you to consider: 

Call a locksmith 

Rather than trying to open your door without a key, call a professional in lock repair so you don’t cause permanent damage to your lock or door. 

Emergency locksmiths can also cut keys on site to replace your lost one. They’ll get you into your property and cut you a key so you can carry on with your day as usual. 

Contact your landlord 

If you’re living in a rented property, your landlord may have an extra key. It’s worth asking them before contacting a locksmith. 

As a tenant you need to get permission from your landlord prior to changing locks, so they should be involved when looking for lock repair or replacement services. 

Report to the police

This isn’t always necessary, but if you believe your keys have been stolen, report it to the police. 

There’s no need to report the loss if you believe you’ve just misplaced or lost track of them. But it could be worth checking in at the station to see if anyone has handed them in. 

Do I need to change my locks? 

Whether you believe the key has been misplaced or stolen, if it’s never found, it’s a good idea to change the locks. This keeps your house completely secure. 

A local locksmith can replace your lock quickly and supply you with extra keys to keep your home’s security up to scratch. 

Final thoughts

Losing track of your keys happens to the best of us, but 9 out of 10 times they’re closer than you think. 

Make sure you’re checking all the common hiding spots and taking care to put precautions in place so it doesn’t happen too often. 

But it’s important to always prioritise your home’s safety and contact a locksmith should you need replacements or repairs.