Key Storage Solutions: Where to Keep Keys

Looking for key storage solutions? Here are the best (and worst) places to keep your spare keys.

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Even though technology has come far, millions of Americans still use standard keys every day. Car and house keys are the most common, tiny pieces of metal that, if lost, cause huge problems. That’s why it’s always a good idea to have spare house and car keys, just in case. That begs one particular question, though; where to keep spare car keys? 

Here’s the thing; some key storage solutions are good, a couple are excellent, but most are risky. Let’s face it, if a thief gets your keys, that’s a problem, which means finding a good solution is vital. With that in mind, we put together this quick article on where to keep spare car keys. (Plus info on where to keep spare house keys, too!) If the thought of getting locked out sends a shiver down your spine, read on!

Key Storage Solutions: Where to Keep Spare Keys

The question of where to keep spare house and car keys is a good one. The problem, of course, is that if you lose your house keys, having a spare set inside the house is futile. It’s the same if you misplace your car keys while you’re out; how do you get home to grab them? In either situation, having spare keys inside your home isn’t the best solution.

So, which spare key storage solutions work well? We have a few of them, and their pros and cons, below:

HOUSE KEYS

• Under the Front Door Mat. PRO- Easy to access. CON- Easy for a thief to access.
• In a Junk Drawer. PRO- Safe and secure. CON- They’re inside; you’re locked outside.
• At a Freind’s House. PRO- Safe. CON- Your friend might not be home.
• Inside a Fake Rock. PRO- Easy to access. CON- Easy for a thief to access.
• In a Storage Unit. PRO- Safe, secure, and someone is always on duty. CON- Short drive to get them.
• In Your Car. PRO- Safe, easy access. CON- If you’re locked out of your car, you won’t have either key.

CAR KEYS

• At Home in a Drawer. PRO- Safe and secure. CON- They’re at home; you’re not.
• Under Your Car in a Magnetic Holder. PRO- Works well. CON- Thieves know about these magnetic devices.
• In the Glove Compartment. PRO- Secure. CON- They’re inside your car; you’re locked outside.
• At a Freind’s House. PRO- Safe. CON- Your friend might not be home.
• In a Storage Unit. PRO- Safe, secure, and someone is always on duty. CON- Short drive to get them.

Alternative Key Storage Solutions

Above, we talked about the ideas almost everyone uses when they want to hide a set of spare keys. The problem; thieves and criminals know about these solutions also, and thus where to look. That means getting a little bit creative when searching for the perfect spare key hiding spot. Remember, you won’t be using these keys every day. (Hopefully, you’ll never need them.) If they’re slightly difficult to get, that’s a good thing as it will deter thieves. Below are a few excellent suggestions;

• Don’t hide spare house keys near the front door. Hide them nearby or near a side or back door instead.
• Put them in a waterproof plastic container and place them in a thick hedge, shrub, or bush. (Push them in as far as you can.)
• Place them in a hanging plant outside that’s slightly out of reach.
• In a birdhouse in your yard. Hung on a nail in the back is best, in case there’s a nest inside.
• Inside your garden hose. (You’ll need to file down the head a bit, but it works great!)
• Nail the keys to a tree in your yard. (They don’t rust.)

The Worst Places to Hide a Spare Key

There are many places you can hide a spare key, no doubt. Many of them, though, have been so overused that it’s almost cliche. Thieves look at these ‘hiding places first if they want to break into your home, making them the worst spots to choose. They include;

• Under the doormat.
• Under a stepping stone near the front door.
• Inside a fake rock that looks so fake, it’s silly.
• In or around the mailbox.
• In a potted plant near the front door.

At Storage Solutions, we want you and your loved ones to be safe. We hope our spare car and home key suggestions were helpful. If you have questions, you can chat with us online any time or come in and say hello. An onsite manager is on duty at all Storage Solution locations, making it a great place to store spare keys. Until then, we hope your keys always stay firmly in your grasp!

_{This post was originally published on 05/23/2018. It was updated on 04/09/2021.}