There is one thing I see quite often in the homes and businesses I organize — locks with no keys and keys for which we know not what.

The first step in organizing keys and locks is to gather them all in one place. I suggest using a small, lidded bin such as a shoe box. Label the box too!

Collect any keys you find and put them into the box. If you find padlocks or combination locks, add them to the box too. You may have lockable cabinets that are missing their keys, of course you can’t put the cabinets into the shoebox but you can make a list of cabinets that require keys and add that to the shoebox.

Purchase a few key tags from a hardware store or dollar store. If you know what the keys are for, write on the key tag right away and attach the tag to the key. If you have combination locks, write down the combination on a key tag with a description of the combination lock and/or its serial number.

Extra keys should be labelled  and stored in a different location such as a key box. My organizing colleague, Jeri Dansky has put together a collection of key cabinets that would look great in any room and be perfect for storing extra sets of keys.

Keep keys that are used frequently close to where they are used. For example, you might keep a key to your garden shed on a hook, just inside the back door.

What about the mismatched keys and locks? I recommend that people keep these in the labelled shoebox for a few months just in case their mates turn up somewhere else in the house or office. It is also helpful to ask family members and co-workers if they have seen any keys or locks “hiding” anywhere. You may find someone else is in possession of the little key you were looking for. If you’ve determined that the keys and locks are never going to find their mates, feel free to dispose of them.

A word about combination locks: If the locks are simple, such as suitcase locks with only 3 or 4 numbers, you may be able to fiddle with it enough to determine the combination. Some rotary dial combination locks, have serial numbers and you can get the combination by contacting the manufacturer.

You probably don’t need to carry your office keys while vacationing at the cottage and you probably don’t need your cottage keys while your at the office. Carry only the keys you need with you. Separate the keys you carry with you into groups such as Home, Car, Office, Cottage. Put each set on a different ring.  Clip the key groups you need together with a carabineer when you leave the house.

Do you have any tips or tricks on organizing keys and locks? Share them here!