50 Home Repair Tips We Wish We Had Discovered Earlier

Use a Regular Pencil to Unstick a Jammed Lock

A jammed lock often needs lubrication to get the key to work again. However, you should avoid using any liquids and instead use graphite. Although finding graphite powder in a pinch can be tricky, you can simply use a graphite pencil to lubricate the lock. It is not advisable to insert the pencil directly into the lock, as the tip might break and cause further problems. Instead, rub the graphite pencil on your key and insert the key into the lock. Repeat this process several times, then try to unlock the jammed lock.