Never Mistake One Key For Another Again

A quick way to differentiate the keys on your keychain is to use nail polish to colour code them.

THE CREATIVE SOLUTION | Do you have keys on your keychain with bows (the handles used to turn the keys) so similar that you continually confuse one key for another, an activity that wastes time and causes frustration? You could use plastic key caps to distinguish important keys, but key caps are bulky, often fit poorly and don’t last all that long. Another less obtrusive way to differentiate your keys would be to use nail polish to colour code them.

Why not use a few of those crazy coloured enamels you bought to tip your toes to paint strips across the tops of the keys you use most frequently: lavender for the front door, yellow for the backdoor, green for the basement entry.

To keep the polish from chipping, rough up the surface of the metal with medium-fine sand paper before you begin painting, and apply no more than three fine coats of enamel.

If you want a more lasting finish (polish will eventually need a touch up), make your coloured stripe with one of the many paint products on the market specifically made for painting metal. —Ruth Rainey