Can’t Remember Where You Put Your Keys? 10 Tips to Retrace Your Steps

If you’ve ever had to endure the panic and frantic search for lost keys, then you know just how frustrating it can be trying to locate the small metal objects that grant you access to your vehicle or home.

Maybe you’re going through it right now and trying not to panic, or you find yourself in this situation more times than you’d care to admit.

Whatever the reason you’re here, we have 10 tips that will help you retrace your steps and locate your keys with less chest tightening and more focus.

1. Pause, Breathe and Relax – Being tense and worries are only going to muddle your thought process more. Once you need to find your lost keys, you need to breathe and relax so you can think clearly and see what’s right in front of you.
2. Start Where the Clutter Is – If there are places in your home, purse or at your desk that are piled with clutter, you should start there. These areas can easily become a vacuum for loose objects and hide them with ease. Don’t just make more mess and overturn everything – start to clean and organize the space. You’ll be surprised at what you might find.
3. Check Small Spaces – Keys are pretty small objects especially if not attached to a chain with other items. That means they can easily slip into small cracks and crevices. Get low and check behind spaces or dig your hands deep down into the couch cushions. Leave no space untouched.
4. Call Around for Lost & Found- If you just left somewhere it makes sense to call and ask if anyone has turned the set of keys into the lost and found. Oftentimes in a rush to check out and leave you may leave them behind and they’ve been sitting safely in the same spot the whole time.
5. Use Your Memory- Close your eyes, relax and draw from your visual memory to remember the steps you took throughout the day. Try to actually visualize the keys, it might stir up key clues to finding the last place you had them.
6. Do a Walk-around- Literally, retrace your steps. Do exactly everything you did prior for the day again, in the same way, while keeping an eye for a stray key somewhere along the path.
7. Recruit friends to help- Looking for keys is a grueling process. Getting a fresh set of eyes out there on your search could be helpful.
8. Write it Down – If calling up memories of the day doesn’t work, you might do better literally writing it down. Grab a pen and paper and start to write out all your steps for the day in hopes something important will come to mind.
9. Double Check – Once you’re coming to the end of your attempt to locate your keys, go over everything above one more time. A second check might surprise you and reveal something you didn’t see before.
10. Call a Locksmith – If you have no desire to worry about your lost keys and you need immediate access or if you’d rather put your worries in the hands of a professional equipped to help you gain access to your home or car again, call a locksmith!

All American Locksmiths provides trusted, prompt lockout services, new locks, and more throughout Connecticut & Westchester County. Contact us today!