Best Lock Lubricant – 5 Handpicked, Reviewed with Guide, FAQs
You’ll agree with us when we say that locks can definitely become very rigid and almost unusable when not taken care of properly.
Owing to this, we’ll be looking at lock lubricants today and separating the great ones from the ordinary ones.
In this post, we’ll discuss what you should look for in a lock lubricant and also the best to apply to lock lubricant onto your locks.
WINNER
WD-40 Specialist Water Resistant Silicone Lubricant
Best Lock Lubricant
This silicone-based lubricant provides a waterproof and low-friction coating on multiple surfaces. It doesn’t leave a messy residue and comes with a straw for precise spraying.
RUNNER UP
WD40 Company 490194 Multi-Use Lubricant
2nd Best Lock Lubricant
This lubricant is perfect for freeing rigid rusted metal parts of a lock. It comes with a flexible straw which is great for reaching difficult places in a lock.
ALSO GREAT
DuPont Teflon Easy Entry Lock Lubricant
3rd Best Lock Lubricant
Coming with a unique applicator tip, this product is great for preventing corrosion in your lock. It’s a cleaner alternative to graphite and you can use it on any lock.
After months of heavy testing, we’ve found these three to be the best out of all the lock lubricating products that we experimented with.
Now, let’s get into the detailed reviews for the top 5 best lock lubricants.
Best Lock Lubricant - Top 5 Reviews
WD-40 has been a household name when it comes to lubricants for many years now. They’ve been innovating in this field for many years and with this product, they’ve really outdone themselves.
You just need a small amount of it to lubricate your locks and then you're good to go for several months before the lock needs lubrication again.
The convenient straight straw that comes with it is also a great addition. It can be added or taken off at will. This enables you to have two different types of streams depending on what you need: a precise stream or a fan-shaped spray.
Features of WD-40 Specialist Water Resistant Silicone Lubricant - Best Lock Lubricant
11-ounce aerosol can
Comes with a straight straw
Doesn’t leave a messy residue
Stain-resistant
Available in a single pack or a 6-pack
If you’re looking for an easy-to-use lock lubricant that is highly effective then this product is perfect for you. It comes with a convenient straight straw and is quite affordable.
It should come as no surprise that the first two spots in this list both go to WD-40 products. This lock lubricant is a multi-use variant that can be used on any kind of lock as well as on other surfaces.
The flexible EZ-Reach straw that comes with it is an incredible feature that enables you to easily reach difficult places. This comes in very handy when you’re trying to properly lubricate heavy-duty locks. Locks like that often have complex locking mechanisms inside of them.
Features of WD40 Company 490194 Multi-Use Lubricant
14.4-ounce container
Available in a 6-pack, a single pack or a twin pack
EZ-Reach flexible straw
Dissolves adhesives and removes labels
Shields against moisture and corrosion
If you’re in search of a lock lubricant that is effective on all kinds of locks then this product is ideal for you. It helps prevent corrosion and rust, makes sure your locks run smoothly and is also very cheap.
Graphite powder is usually the preferred dry lubricant when it comes to lubricating locks. However, DuPont is a manufacturer that aims to change that. They’ve introduced this lock lubricant that is Teflon-based and we have to say, it definitely shows a lot of promise.
We tested this product out on a number of different types of old locks. These included padlocks, deadbolts and wafer locks and it was able to make them work smoothly as if they were brand new.
Not to mention, it also prevents corrosion inside your locks which will make them last much longer.
Features of DuPont Teflon Easy Entry Lock Lubricant
0.8-ounce bottle
Prevents corrosion
Applicator tip built into bottle
Teflon-based
Great alternative to graphite powder
If you’re tired of using graphite powder to lubricate your locks then this is the product you’re looking for. It’s a great dry lubricant that helps prevent corrosion and works great on all locks.
A lot of people don’t know this but most lock lubricants are designed to be effective at fairly conventional temperatures. Thus, if you live in an area where it gets overly cold then these lock lubricants may stop working. In fact, a lot of these lock lubricants tend to freeze inside your lock and this may damage your lock and enable it to be pried open very easily by a burglar.
This lock lubricant claims to work at temperatures as low as -60 degrees Fahrenheit. We tested it at lower temperatures and were impressed to see that it was able to smooth the inner mechanisms of our old locks without breaking a sweat.
Features of ProTecta Needle Oiler
0.96-ounce bottle
Effective between temperatures of - 60 to over 1000 degrees Fahrenheit
Comes with a useful dispenser
Works for many different locks
Useful for other household applications as well
If you live in a region where it gets extremely cold, then investing in this lock lubricating is a very smart idea. Conventional lock lubricants stop working at lower temperatures while this one stays effective.
We were skeptical about this lubricant as no one from our team had heard of it before but it turned out to be the underdog of the bunch. Not only did we have to use a very little amount of it to effectively lubricate our locks but this lubricate also lasted a very long time inside them. Our locks kept functioning very smoothly for months before we had to lubricate them again.
The needle-nose that comes with the bottle is also a great feature. You can utilize it to reach hard places within your locks to effectively lubricate them.
Features of Chemours Krytox GPL105 1oz Needle Nose Bottle
1-ounce Needle Nose bottle
Available in a single pack, two-pack, three-pack and four-pack
Non-flammable
Chemically inert
Non-toxic
If you don’t want to keep using your lock lubricant on your locks every few weeks then this product is definitely for you. One use will last you several months before you have to lubricate it again.
Best Lock Lubricant - Buyers’ Guide
What type of lubrication is normally most effective for a lock?
Graphite-based lubricants are quite popular and often used as the preferred lubricants for most locks. They can, however, get messy. Other lubricants such as Teflon and Silicone are also being utilized much more frequently now.
What are some things to consider when purchasing a lock lubricant?
It’s actually a lot more complicated to buy a lock lubricant than it sounds. Some of the factors you can think about which will help you determine which lock lubricant would be most suitable for you are:
Straight Straw or Flexible Straw?
It’s a great idea to think about what kind of straw comes with the lock lubricant you intend on buying. You can make this decision by thinking about what other uses you may have for the lubricant. Think about what else you'll be using it on except locks and also by thinking about what type of locks you’re going to use it on. Some locks have a lot of moving parts and in-depth mechanisms. It may be an issue to reach them if you have a lock lubricant with a straight straw delivery system.
Legality
There are certain laws set in place when it comes to the production of lubricants and these laws can vary heavily depending on where you live. Most reliable and top lock lubricant brands produce their lubricants within the confines of the law. However, it’s important that you check what the laws in your region are before you buy them, especially if you’re ordering online.
Weather
Before buying a lock lubricant, it’s important to consider the weather of the region that you live in. Many common lock lubricants tend to stop working at colder temperatures. This is because their reaction with the lock’s surfaces is slowed down at lower temperatures. There do exist special lock lubricants that can work at colder temperatures so if you live in such a region, you should seek such a product out and buy that.
How can I effectively apply lock lubricant without wasting too much of it?
No matter what lubricant you get, it’s going to come with its own set of instructions. What you need to understand is that if you follow these instructions to a T, you will end up applying the correct amount of lock lubricant on your lock. You won’t have trouble with any extra lubricant being wasted. It’s important for you to follow these instructions as it will help you prevent wasting lubricant. Also, your lubricant might not work properly if you don’t apply it correctly.
If you don't apply your lubricant properly, it could lead to the sticking of smaller parts inside your lock. this could then lead to the lock becoming rigid or even breaking. If the inner workings of your lock become rigid, it could also be easily pried open by a burglar.
Are lock lubricants flammable?
No. Most high-quality lock lubricants are non-flammable. However, we still recommend that you keep it away from any open flames.
Are lock lubricants toxic?
Most top lock lubricant manufacturers make an effort to make sure that their products are non-toxic. However, we still strongly urge you to be careful not to ingest them and seek medical help immediately if something like that does happen.
Best Lock Lubricant - FAQs
I just spilled some of my lock lubricant. How can I clean it effectively?
Here are are some things to keep in mind in order to effectively clean up lock lubricant spills:
- If a spill occurs, the best way to deal with it is by cleaning it up using a dry cloth such as an old rag or shop towel. You can make use of paper towels if you want but cloth towels are generally better as they are more absorbent.
- Most lock lubricants are oil-based chemicals. Now, most people know that oil and water don’t mix and thus, trying to clean up your lock lubricant spill with water is a terrible idea. It will just spread the lubricant around even more rather than cleaning it up.
When should I use a silicone lubricant?
If you’re unsure whether your lock has only metal parts or if it has some parts that are non-metal, then making use of a silicone lock lubricant is a good idea.
Is it a good idea to use WD-40 on door locks?
How do I lubricate a deadbolt lock?
- Spray your lock lubricant into the keyhole of your deadbolt lock two to three times.
- Insert your key into the keyhole and turn it to lock and unlock the deadbolt several times.
- Open your door and lock the deadbolt so that it has a portion of it protruding from the door.
- Wipe any excess lubricant off of this protrusion with a dry cloth
Does the weather have an impact on the effectiveness of lock lubricants?
Yes. As we mentioned earlier, lock lubricants start becoming less effective at lower temperatures. Most lubricants are effective until temperatures fall below 20 degrees Fahrenheit (-6.6 degrees Celsius). Anything below that, you’ll have to invest in a lock lubricant that is specially made for temperatures like that.
Should I clean my lock before I apply lock lubricant on it?
It’s not essential but it’s a good idea to do so. The dirt and grime over the lock can mix with the lock lubricant to become sticky residue which is not only unpleasant but can also damage your lock.
Is there such a thing as applying too much lock lubricant?
Yes. Lubricants are chemicals and they tend to drip from the lock if you apply too much of it. Please keep an eye on how much lock lubricant you’re applying.
Can I make use of a lock lubricant to open a stuck lock? How?
Yes. More than likely, your lock is stuck mainly because you haven’t applied adequate lubricant to it in the past. You can get it to open by squeezing lubricant into the keyhole and then using your key to gently turn and open up the lock. Once you’re able to turn and open it once, lock and unlock it several times to make it smooth.
I applied my lock lubricant and now my door won’t lock. How can I fix this?
This can sometimes happen but it’s nothing to worry about. All you need to do is wipe off the excess lubricant with a dry cloth and then wait about an hour to let any remaining excess to dry off. Once this is done, your lock will start operating smoothly again.
Final Verdict
Lock lubricants are essential when it comes to increasing the longevity of your locks and thus, it’s important that you buy a suitable one.
After much thought and debate, we’ve decided that the WD-40 Specialist Water Resistant Silicone Lubricant. It’s extremely effective, easy to use and it works on almost every lock.
And with that, we’re at the conclusion of our post for the best lock lubricant.
Let us know in the comments what lubricant you’re using for your door locks.
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