Hiding a Spare House Key in a Hollowed-Out ChapStick Buried in the Garden

Getting locked out is a pain. But hiding a key under the doormat is way too obvious. Thieves check there first. We need a better spot, one that looks like trash to everyone else.

This trick uses an empty ChapStick tube. You clean it, put a key inside, and bury it in the garden. It is cheap, simple, and surprisingly effective.

Thieves don't dig through garden trash. A greasy old lip balm tube is practically invisible to a criminal scanning for valuables.

My neighbor used a fake sprinkler head for years. One day, a kid picked it up to play. He got lucky the kid just threw it in the bushes. A ChapStick tube? No kid touches that.

Another friend buried a key in a pill bottle. The orange plastic stood out like a beacon against the brown dirt. Contrast matters.

What You Need to Hollow It Out

You don't need fancy tools. A few household items get the job done. Choose a standard-sized ChapStick brand tube because the plastic is softer and easier to cut.

Make sure the key is a copy, not your main one. Copies are cheaper and less stressful to bury. If the tube leaks or cracks, you only lose a two-dollar duplicate.

I spent ten minutes scraping the gunk out with a toothpick first. My fingers smelled like mint for an hour. Next time I just used hot water and dish soap. It took two minutes.

A guy online tried to hide a car key fob. The tube was too skinny. Measure before you commit.

Preparing the Tube for Burial

Cleanliness matters here. Leftover balm attracts dirt and bugs. It also makes the tube sticky, which feels suspicious if someone accidentally digs it up.

After cleaning, the key should slide in easily. Wrap it in a tiny piece of plastic wrap or a small ziplock corner. This stops metal-on-plastic rattling and adds a moisture barrier.

The cap is the weak point. Screw it on tight. If water sits in the soil, pressure can push mud past the threads. A small strip of electrical tape around the seam fixes this instantly.

I buried one without tape as a test. After a rainstorm, I dug it up. Mud caked the threads, but the inside was bone dry. I still use tape now. Peace of mind costs nothing.

My sister painted hers neon green so she wouldn't lose it. She missed the whole point. Gray, tan, or brown is better. Blending in is the goal.

Choosing the Perfect Dig Spot

Location is everything. You want a spot you can access in the dark, in the rain, without looking suspicious. The garden near the porch is usually best.

Mark the spot with something permanent but not obvious. A specific plant, a stone path, or the third fence post from the left works well.

Dig deeper than you think you need to. About three to four inches down stops it from surfacing during a heavy rain wash. Insert the tube vertically with the cap side facing down. This uses gravity to keep water out.

My dad buried his next to the hosepipe guide. He forgot the guide gets covered by leaves in autumn. He spent an hour raking the whole yard with a flashlight trying to find the right spot.

A neighbor used a stepping stone exactly two paces from the porch. Perfect reference. But he didn't realize the stone gets hot and the soil gets hard as concrete in summer. He couldn't dig it up without a tool.

Key Takeaways