Wondering how to put a lock on a refrigerator? Find the best place where you can install the fridge lock. Secure the lock panel on the fridge door using an adhesive. Once done, you can place the side lock panel by applying adhesive to it and aligning it with the other lock panel.
Whether it is your family or your friends, you don’t have to let your food be eaten up without your permission. You can start your day without worrying if someone touched your food or not. Through this tutorial, you can install a lock on a refrigerator.
Table of Contents
What You Need
To successfully put a lock on a fridge, you will need specific items. It is advisable to prepare them first before you proceed with the tutorial. Most of them can be found in local hardware shops or you can also order them online.
1. Refrigerator Lock
Choose a refrigerator lock that does not require drilling to make installation possible (learn more lock installation kits here). There are locks that already include VHB tape, lock panels, and a brass padlock. In terms of the measurement of the lock panel, the ideal measurement is 2.5 inches x 3 inches.
A 30 mm solid brass padlock is enough to provide you with maximum security. Also, the lockset should have sturdy cable arms that would secure the door and the side of the fridge. To avoid rusting and corrosion, you can choose a refrigerator lock that is tolerant of lower temperatures and high humidity.
2. Adhesive
Most fridge locks include VHB tape as adhesive. However, there are some locks that don’t have one. If your lock doesn’t have adhesive, you can use super glue as an alternative. As much as possible, look for super glue that has a slightly slow bond, so you would have enough time to align the lock panels properly before the adhesive dries up.
Another alternative is an epoxy resin. For an epoxy resin to work, it needs a resin and a hardener. If you want to use the lock immediately, look for resin epoxy that cures within 24 hours since others can take days. Regarding the quantity, the common pack size is enough to secure the refrigerator lock.
3. Cleaning materials & marker
Before you can proceed with the tutorial, you need to clean the fridge first. Prepare cleaning materials such as a rag, warm water, and cleaning gloves. You can use any kind of cleaning materials that are available inside your house.
Aside from the cleaning materials, you also need to have a marker to draw a guide where you will install the fridge lock. The marker should be easy to erase so you could remove it once you are done with the installation. There are also erasable markers available online.
What to Do
Step 1: Find a good spot where you can put the fridge lock & clean the fridge
Before you install the lock on your refrigerator, you have to unplug the fridge first to prevent electrocution. Also, empty it to prevent any liquid from spilling while you are doing the tutorial. Clean it with a wet rag soaked in warm water. Once you are done, you can look for a good spot where you can set up the fridge lock.
Usually, the lock must be within ⅔ of the upper part of the fridge. Mark the spot using a marker so that you can easily locate it. Using a damp towel, wipe all over the refrigerator, except its rear part.
Step 2: Put the lock panel on the fridge door using an adhesive
Before you can proceed with the installation, you need to apply an adhesive at the back of the lock panel. After that, place the lock on the spot of the fridge door that you have located earlier. Hold it in place for a few minutes until it is secured permanently on the fridge door.
Step 3: Install the side lock panel by applying adhesive to it and aligning it with the other lock panel
Align the side lock panel with the previous lock panel so that they could form a hole for the padlock. Make sure that the steel arm is below the arm of the door. Apply adhesive on the side lock panel, then apply pressure into it as you hold it in place. To check if the lock panel is secured enough, insert a padlock on the lock panel and pull the lock panel.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the types of refrigerator locks?
Aside from the padlock-able fridge locks, there are also button strap fridge locks and clip strap fridge locks. The button strap fridge lock has an automatic latch system; however, its adhesive easily gets weak. On the other hand, a clip-strap fridge lock works on a fridge with french doors.
Why must freezers have locks?
If you have children, they may open the freezer now and then without closing the door tightly. This would result in the spoilage of your food. To prevent this from happening, you need to put a lock on a freezer.
How can I stop my child from opening the fridge?
Put a lock on a mini fridge to childproof your refrigerator. You can secure the handle of your fridge and prevent your child from pulling and opening it. Visit your local hardware store to check some refrigerator locks.
Conclusion
Did you find our tutorial on how to put a lock on a refrigerator useful? After you have done the tutorial, you can sleep at night without trying to figure out who is trying to steal your food. Aside from that, you will protect the contents of your fridge from nosy friends and visitors.
If you enjoyed the tutorial, why don’t you share this with your friends? Surely, they want to keep the food thieves away from their fridges. We will also be glad to know how locking your refrigerator became beneficial to you. Just leave your comment below.
I am the last member to join Revolar and might be just the luckiest to work with dedicated people like Teddy and John. Our team has established a process where my only job is writing the best content to deliver incredible ideas and guides.
