Safety 1st Cabinet Flex Lock Review

Youngsters have a habit of getting into places where they don't belong and one area where this problem is common and potentially dangerous is in the kitchen. And one product that is designed to keep children out of harm's way is the Safety 1st Cabinet Flex Lock, a device that keeps children from opening cabinet doors.

Child Lock Commentary:

Safety 1st Cabinet Flex Lock is an odd- looking product that features two flexible plastic lock straps that are attached to a plastic base. These lock straps are white in color, made from plastic, and feature a jagged edge, similar to a zipper. The plastic straps are anchored around the knobs on cabinets or through the handles, if handles exist. In order to move the straps, the button in the middle and the corresponding side button must be pressed at the same time, offering enough deterrent to prevent kids from getting inside.

The main thing that attracted me to these locks as opposed to others is the fact that, unlike latches, these locks do not require any tools. There is no need to drill a hole in your cabinets, no need for a screwdriver, etc. The locks come two in a package and they are ready for use immediately. There is no preparation needed.

Convenience is nice, and these locks certainly score points in this area. But the bottom line to most consumers is the effectiveness of the locks because even if they are very convenient, they won't do much good if they don't achieve the intended goal. And Safety 1st Cabinet Flex Locks are effective. As long as the flexible lock straps are pulled tightly so there is no "give", then kids will not be able to open the cabinets. I have watched my girls struggle to try to open one of the cabinets with these locks in place. They try hard, but they quickly give up when they realize there is no way to get around this lock.

I have used different types of cabinet safety locks and Safety 1st Cabinet Flex Lock is one of the better ones. However, there are still a few shortcomings with this product. Probably the greatest shortcoming is the limitations with installation. Because these locks loop around knobs or through handles, they cannot be used on cabinets without a knob or a handle. Also, the knobs and/or handles have to be close enough to each other so that the two lock straps can reach all the way to them. If the knobs are too far apart, there will be no way to use these locks. Also, it takes practice to get the pressing of the buttons right. The side and middle button must be pressed together. With practice, some people can do this with one hand.

Bottom Line Viewpoint:

Overall, Safety 1st Cabinet Flex Locks are my favorite child safety lock for cabinets. They do have limited use since they will only work on cabinets with knobs or handles located close to each other. But when you factor in the convenience, the fact that no tools are needed, and the inexpensive cost, these child safety locks are hard to beat. They keep kids out of cabinets without drilling holes in them to install latches or other locks, making them my favorite product of their type.