The mysterious abyss of snow, water and even deep grass play like a cruel magician’s slight–of-hand stealing our keys in a moment of klutzy- carelessness. All you did was drop your keys, but where you dropped them enveloped their existence and severely complicated your day.

I have served customer’s who have lost keys in the snow and the ocean.  The best way to handle lost keys in the snow or ocean is to prevent this event from happening. I have read some blogs on keys lost in the snow. One suggestion is to rake the snow in the hopes you will snag your keys and pull them to the surface. Another option might be a magnet, but you would need a very strong magnet to pull keys out of the snow. Most keys are brass so your only hope is the magnet will pull the steel key-ring with the weight of all the keys. Locating your keys with a magnet is highly unlikely.

Keys lost in the ocean are gone forever. I remember one day my father dropped a pair of pliers in about seven feet of water at his boat dock. The water was so murky the bottom could not be seen. We tried to retrieve the tool with a strong magnet, but all our efforts failed.

Lucky Line Products makes key fobs with bright colors that float. These key fobs have their limits on how many keys they can hold and still float. I believe the floating key fob will work for snow also.  The buoyancy properties will not help as much as the large size and bright color. Keep in mind the fewer keys you have to carry the better.

Auto keys with built-in remotes are water-resistant and will most likely survive the snow. But keys with built-in remotes are not designed to be immersed in liquid. If you are going fishing take your key without the remote buttons. All cars have a mechanical key that will at least open the door. However auto keys with sealed transponders will remain water-proof. Most cars made today use a transponder in the key bow to prevent auto theft.

You should always have a spare set of all your keys stored somewhere you can access them quickly. This is not always remembered when taking a trip. I lost a set of keys to my truck while attending a locksmith convention in Orlando, FL. My truck was double-locked with a hasp and pick resistant “hockey-puck” padlock. Even though I was amongst other locksmiths the best way into my van without a key was a cutting torch. Luckily someone found my keys and turned them into the front desk. I was unprepared. The most likely place you will lock yourself out of your car or lose your keys is when you are out of your normal environment or routine. Be prepared, carry a spare key for your vehicles door in your wallet or pocket. I would say carry a spare key in your purse, but I have opened many cars for women who locked their keys and purse in the car.