Stuck In Shredder - Paper

But remember the lesson: Respect the shredder. Oil it monthly. Feed it slowly. And never, ever try to shred a paperclip. That is a story for another day.

There is a unique sound of failure in a home office. It is not the crash of a computer crashing, nor the snap of a broken pencil lead. It is a low, guttural grunt followed by a high-pitched whine and then... silence. You have just experienced the dreaded phenomenon: Paper Stuck in Shredder. paper stuck in shredder

Most modern shredders have a "Reverse" button (usually marked with a circular arrow). Plug the machine back in for exactly two seconds, hit reverse, then unplug it again. Often, the blades will spit the paper back out just enough for you to grab it with tweezers. If it doesn't move, do not force it. Forcing it will strip the gears. But remember the lesson: Respect the shredder

Disclaimer: The author assumes no liability for shredded fingers, broken machines, or marriages strained by the sound of a jammed shredder at 2 AM. And never, ever try to shred a paperclip

One moment you are feeding that stack of expired credit card offers and junk mail into the machine with righteous fury. The next, the machine stops, and you are left staring at a two-inch tongue of pulpy, crumpled paper sticking out of the slot, mocking you. The shredder has eaten your secrets, but it has decided to stop digesting them.