Five Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Paper Shredder

If you own a paper shredder, you might be wondering how you can get the most out of it. There's good news because getting the most out of your shredder is easy. Here's what you need to do:

• To begin, you should read your shredder's instruction manual. By doing so, you'll learn about your shredder's capabilities so you can be sure to use all of its features. Also, the manual will fill you in on important safety tips so you can use your machine and avoid injury. Finally, the instruction manual will probably contain details on the shredder's warranty. You should become familiar with the warranty's terms so you know what's covered in case your machine malfunctions.
• Every shredder has a shredding capacity which dictates how many sheets of paper it can destroy at once. It's important to never shred more than your machine can handle. If you try to overload the device, you'll probably need to deal with a paper jam. And if you do this repeatedly, it's going to wear out the device, so avoid it. Also, don't try to shred credit cards, CD's, or floppy disks unless the shredder can handle them.
• If you're like most people, you probably bought a shredder so you could protect yourself from identity theft. Therefore, you'll need to shred various documents on a regular basis. The best way to ensure this happens is by placing your machine in a convenient location. You're far more likely to use your shredder if it's right near your desk (or other preferred location) than if it's stored in a closet or is tucked away in the basement.
• Another way to get the most out of your paper shredder is by turning it off whenever you're done using it. Although there are many machines that have the ability to shut off automatically, not every device has this, so turning the shredder off manually is a must. If you leave it on for an extended period of time, you could eventually burn out the motor. Then, you'd either need to have the machine repaired or replaced, both of which can be expensive. So save yourself the money and hassle and turn the shredder off after use.
• Finally, oiling your paper shredder is one of the best things you can do to ensure you get the most out of it. Oiling the machine is easy to do and requires the use of specially formulated shredder oil. (Never use any other type of oil. Doing so could possibly damage your device.) To oil the machine, simply dampen a sheet of paper with the oil and shred it. The oil will coat the cutting mechanism which helps cut down on paper dust and keeps the blades in good shape. You need to oil the device on a regular basis. Be sure to check your instruction manual to find out how often you need to do this.

It's very easy to get the most out of your paper shredder. Just follow the five tips listed in this article and you'll be able to keep your information private and have a shredder that works beautifully. Good luck!

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Written by Jeff McRitchie
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