A lost key can be a scary experience but having a spare on hand will ensure you're able to unlock your home without a lot of stress or anxiety. It's important to hide a spare key strategically; after all, you and other members of your household should be the only ones who can access it. Here are some do's and don'ts of proper spare-key placement.

Do:

Leave it with a neighbor.

The most secure option for a spare key is to give it to a neighbor you trust. A stay-at-home parent or a retiree would be ideal, as they're more likely to be at home if you need them. And you can always return the favor and keep their own spare safe and accessible should a lost key ever pose a problem for them.

Be creative.

Those fake rocks that hide keys can really stand out like a sore thumb, which means they likely don't fool many people. Fortunately, there are a variety of ways to be creative in your key-hiding sneakiness. Tape the spare to the back of a thermometer or to the inside of one of the tubes of a large windchime. 

You could even use insulating foam to create a fake hornet's nest in the corner of your porch or entryway; even the most determined intruder would think twice about rifling through a hornet's nest in search of a key.

Don't:

Go for the obvious.

Most people place their spare keys under welcome mats or flowerpots. And these are often the first places that intruders will look. The more original your hiding place, the safer your home will be.

Hide it in brick and mortar.

If you have a brick driveway or walkway on the premises, a patch of loose mortar can seem like a perfect place to hide a key. But there are a few problems with this spot. First, it looks conspicuous, creating a visibly different texture than the rest of the pathway. Second, it can easily result in a lost key, as heavy rains can wash loose mortar away. 

And third, if the patch of mortar is loose enough, digging deeper into it to hide a key could cause the surrounding bricks to loosen as well, resulting in damage to the driveway or walkway and an increased risk of accident and injury. So, you'd be best served to choose another location.

If you've lost keys and don't have spares, let A-Okay Lock & Key, Inc. help. Since 1995, they have been serving St. Charles County, MO. This mobile locksmith provides rekeying, car lockout assistance, and lock installations and repairs. Call (636) 441-1190 to request a quote or visit their website to explore their residential services.