Demagnetized key cards are a headache for both your hotel guests and your staff. Your hotel might have to deal with this on a regular basis if you use magnetic room keys, which can stop working after exposure to damage, heat, or other magnetic devices.
Thankfully, this is an easy problem to fix. Let’s see how Front Desk Supply can help you protect your key cards from demagnetizing for surprisingly little cost and effort.
What Causes Key Cards to Demagnetize?
If your room keys have a black or brown strip on the backside, then you’re likely using magnetic keys. The strip holds the electromagnetic data that tells the door lock whether or not to unlock.
Magnetic key cards are popular because they’re the most budget-friendly room key you can order. Unfortunately, they do have a downside: there’s nothing protecting the magnetic strip, so the data can be easily corrupted or erased.
Magnetic key cards can be demagnetized by:
- Other Magnetic Devices: Your key card’s data can get erased when it gets too close to other magnetic devices, like cell phones, magnetic items, wallet clasps, and credit cards.
- Damage / Wear: Key cards can lose magnetization when they get scratched or bent. The cards can also stop magnetizing as they age. [Magnetic key cards usually have a lifespan of 3 years.]
- Excessive Heat: High temperatures can cause a key card to demagnetize. Keep this in mind if your hotel is located in a region that gets very hot.
One thing to remember: just because a key card isn’t working doesn’t necessarily mean it’s been demagnetized. A room key might have stopped working because the encoder is dirty/damaged, or because the battery on the door lock died.
3 Ways to Protect Key Cards from Demagnetizing
Demagnetized room keys are frustrating for hotel guests, and your front desk agents are probably growing tired of making new keys or having to trek up to a room to check whether or not the door lock is broken.
You can make life easier for your guests and staff by protecting your key cards from demagnetizing. Use one of 3 methods:
- Use Key Card Sleeves: A key card sleeve covers up the magnetic strip on the back of the card, which prevents other magnetic devices from erasing the data. This is the easiest way to protect your key cards from demagnetizing.
- Order New Keys: Still running off of stock that’s pre-pandemic? It might be time to order new key cards. After 2-3 years, the magnetic strips get worn down and stop working properly.
- Upgrade Your KEY CARD System: Your key cards will get demagnetized more frequently if they’re using low-strength magnets. You could upgrade to room keys that use stronger “magnets” (similar to a credit card), or you could switch to RFID key cards, which rarely demagnetize. Upgrading the magnetization is free from some lock vendors. The RFID options might be more expensive and may require upgrades to your door locks and software, but they’ll provide better results and happier guests.
Please consider the ongoing cost of keys in the decision. Different lock vendors use different chips inside and the higher cost keys are likely to double the cost of some of the other options. Also, consider using the major locks – we regularly get customers calling about needing keys from obscure vendors who aren’t answering the phone and our hands are tied. Front Desk Supply can offer guidance on how to upgrade your system.
Reduce Your Room Key Demagnetizing with Front Desk Supply.
Demagnetized room keys are no fun for anyone. Protect your key cards from demagnetizing by ordering key card sleeves, new room keys, or RFID key cards. Customize them however you like and save big when you order in bulk.
Contact us today to get started!
FAQs
Use Key Card Sleeves: A key card sleeve covers up the magnetic strip on the back of the card, which prevents other magnetic devices from erasing the data. This is the easiest way to protect your key cards from demagnetizing.
How to prevent demagnetizing cards? ›
A very simple way to protect a magstripe card is to put it in a paper or a plastic sleeve. You can also use a wallet-type credit card holder and keep the cards facing the same direction in order to avoid potential inflictions or scratches.
What can demagnetize a key card? ›
Cards with scratches, exposure to debris, and other types of physical damage can be rendered unusable. Key cards may become inoperable when the magnetic stripe is demagnetized through exposure to magnets. Name tags, signs, and purse and wallet closures, and mobile phones are all potential sources of magnet exposure.
How to prevent demagnetization? ›
How should you store your magnets properly in order to prevent demagnetization? To prevent any loss of magnetic strength and performance, keep your magnets in a dry and protected place. Avoid temperatures below -40°C for Ferrite Magnets and above 80°C for standard Neodymium Magnets.
Why does my card keep demagnetizing? ›
Scratches and general wear are common causes of demagnetization, but prolonged exposure to magnets can also ruin a card's magnetic strip.
Can phones demagnetize key cards? ›
Magnetic key cards can be demagnetized by: Other Magnetic Devices: Your key card's data can get erased when it gets too close to other magnetic devices, like cell phones, magnetic items, wallet clasps, and credit cards.
Is there a way to Remagnetize a card? ›
Most gift cards and credit cards have magnetic stripes. Once these stripes are destroyed or de-magnetized there is no way to re-magnetize them.
Do cell phones interfere with key fobs? ›
Although modern cell phones are not very likely to demagnetize a key fob card, they do emit electromagnetic fields. Consequently, placing your key card very close to a powerful electromagnetic source like a turned-on and actively transmitting cell phone could theoretically cause issues.
Can I put my hotel room key in my wallet? ›
In Google Wallet, you can save and use your hotel keys at hotels where this feature is supported. In Google Wallet, you can safely and securely use your hotel keys to access your Hotels, guestrooms and key card-protected common areas like gyms, pools and lifts throughout the duration of your stay.
Can you fix a demagnetized card? ›
You can try to clean it off with an alcohol wipe and check for obvious damage. You can also try gently cleaning the magnetic stripe with something rough; just don't scrub too much or you risk damaging the card. If there are scratches or damage on the stripe, you can also try putting tape over the magnetic stripe.
If you place two cards in the same slot, and their magnetic stripes are pressed together, that's magnet-on-magnet action, and it could wind up demagnetizing one or both of the cards.
Can phones demagnetize cards? ›
Phones do create a magnetic field, but thankfully, it isn't strong enough to demagnetize credit or debit cards. The small magnet in the phone's speaker is the main culprit of generatingthe magnetic field. This field, however, is too weak to cause sufficient damage to a credit card magnetic strip, with some exceptions.
What are the four causes of demagnetization? ›
Demagnetisation is the process in which a magnet loses its magnetic power. Demagnetisation can occur due to many processes: It is caused due to heating, hammering, AC current field, rough usage etc. It can also be due to natural processes over time.
Why do hotel key cards stop working? ›
If the key card was not encoded with the correct number of nights, the card won't grant you any access. The key card control system is programmed to give access for a certain period until a guest checks out. If the front desk hostess fills in a few nights, the card will stop working.
Does RFID protect against magnets? ›
Will strong magnets affect or disable these devices? No. RFID chips send out a radio signal, which is not affected by permanent magnets. While RFID devices can be powered by a changing magnetic field (by electromagnetic induction), they can not be scrambled, erased or blocked with a strong permanent magnet.
How do you tell if a card is demagnetized? ›
If you find that your credit card won't swipe after exposure to a nearby magnet or electromagnetic field, it may have been demagnetized and you'll need to have it replaced.
How can a card get demagnetized? ›
Coming into contact with refrigerator magnets, clasps on wallets, and magnets on the back of tape measures and flashlights can demagnetize a credit or debit card. When you place your card in your wallet, but sure not to rub it up against the metal clasp and place it as far away from it as possible.
Will a cell phone demagnetize a credit card? ›
Phones do create a magnetic field, but thankfully, it isn't strong enough to demagnetize credit or debit cards. The small magnet in the phone's speaker is the main culprit of generatingthe magnetic field. This field, however, is too weak to cause sufficient damage to a credit card magnetic strip, with some exceptions.
How to fix a demagnetized card? ›
Put a piece of clear tape (ie: scotch tape) on the mag stripe or put the card in a plastic bag and try to swipe the card again. This technique sometimes works by cutting down on the interference between the card and the reader.
Does RFID protect cards from magnets? ›
Will strong magnets affect or disable these devices? No. RFID chips send out a radio signal, which is not affected by permanent magnets. While RFID devices can be powered by a changing magnetic field (by electromagnetic induction), they can not be scrambled, erased or blocked with a strong permanent magnet.
