Defrost a padlock

Sleet and freezing rain can prevent a padlock from opening. Loosen up a frozen lock by warming a can of silicone or light lubricant (see “Warm Up Stuff on Your Dashboard” below) and spraying it into the keyhole and the areas around the shackles. Note to naysayers: Some say that liquid lubricants are bad for locks, but we all have sprayed our padlocks dozens of times, and they have continued to work trouble-free for years.