How to Unjam a Paper Shredder

Shredders are useful things, but incredibly annoying when they get jammed up. Whether you put too much paper in or were try to shred newspaper, here's how to quickly get rid of it.

Steps

1. Turn the shredder off at the wall and unplug it. You DO NOT want to be poking round in those sharp blades and have it accidentally switch on!
2. Take the top off the shredder and place it on a big piece of newspaper, or somewhere you can easily sweep up mess.
3. Begin by getting a pair of tweezers and taking pieces of paper from one end of the shredding blades. This will loosen it up and give you more room to get the rest out.
4. Carry on tugging the strips of paper out. It helps if you don't just pull a clump, but wiggle it from side to side. This will get the whole strip out, not just the top.
5. If any pieces are curled round and you can't free them, cut them with the knife and then tug them out.
6. Once it's mostly cleared, put the top back on and switch the shredder on. Put it on Reverse mode so it will spit the last bits back up for you to remove.
7. If it's clear, continue shredding!

Tips

• Remember to wiggle the paper, not just pull.
• Shake it occasionally to get smaller pieces of paper out of the blades.
• Try not to jam it in the first place (avoid loading a lot of paper or thick sheets of newspaper).
• Use oil paper or performance oil to lubricate the blades on a regular basis. For an office shredder, medium to heavy usage can require lubrication as often as every three days.
• To prevent the shredder blades from dulling, remove paper clips and staples before shredding. Shredding CDs and DVDs also cause premature wear & tear. Use the Disc Eraser (www.DiscEraser.com) if you have sensitive discs.

Warnings

• Always turn the shredder off at the wall and unplug it! You don't want shredded fingers!
• Be careful with the blades - they are sharp and you could cut yourself.

Things You'll Need

• A pair of tweezers
• A small, sharp knife