How to increase the lifespan of a paper shredder

In general, a paper shredder should last about 10 years. However, the longevity of your paper shredder will depend on several factors.

A little troubleshooting, maintenance, and cleaning will keep you shredding for longer with any shredder, whether it’s a little home model, a heavy-duty office model, or an industrial-strength one. Turning off your paper shredder when you’re finished using it is one way to get the most out of it. If you leave it on for an extended period, the motor may burn out, leaving you with a large repair or replacement bill. We have listed a few more tips on how to increase the lifespan of a paper shredder.

Have shredding guidelines for users

Every organisation that keeps private paper documents needs to have a shredder machine, and it also needs to have a set of rules that every employee can understand and adhere to. These should be placed in close proximity to each machine so that staff can use them properly, hence reducing typical problems such as overloading the machine with paper, shredding the wrong materials, and causing it to overheat.

Do not exceed the shredder’s capacity

Your shredder can only handle so much material. If you push your shredder over its limits, it could get damaged and stop working properly.

To give you an idea of how many sheets may be shredded at once, manufacturers specify a paper weight that they use in their calculations. You may not be able to shred as many sheets as the capacity states if you shred thicker paper.

If you’re not sure how the shredder works, try feeding in a few of pages (up to half the shredder’s capacity) and see what happens. In this way, you can see if the shredder can handle all the paper you intend to feed into it.  If the shredder seems to be struggling, remove some papers and try again.

Do not overload the container

You should empty the container of your shredder before it reaches its maximum capacity. Some high-end shredders have lights or clear containers to let you know when the shredding basket is full, but you should always empty it before it becomes too full. Overfilling the bin might force scraps of paper, plastic, or metal back into the blades, jamming the clearance. The motor and shredding gears may wear out prematurely under such stress.

Keep the shredder clean

A paper shredder in an office setting should be cleaned every month or so, depending on how often it is used. If you only use your personal shredder once or twice a year, you may be fine with just cleaning it once or twice a year. If you follow a few easy procedures, you can clean your shredder and free up any jammed paper in the cutting cylinders. If the blades can stay sharp and unimpeded for longer, that means less maintenance for you. Furthermore, it will eliminate the paper dust that can accumulate inside the shredder and cause problems if left unchecked.

Let the shredder cool down

Shredding a large amount of paper at once can cause your machine to overheat, so be sure to let it rest for a few minutes. How long it takes to cool down after a session of continuous shredding will depend on the type of shredder you have and how long you had it running. As their motors aren’t designed to handle high volumes, personal shredders require more cool-off time than their workplace counterparts, which may only need 30 seconds to a minute less frequently. Always refer to the instructions that came with your device to determine the best course of action.

Run the blades in reverse

You should reverse the blades if you have been using the shredder for a long. Before you do that, though, make sure the shredding basket has been emptied. You can increase shredding efficiency and reduce the likelihood of jams by running the blades backwards (back-flushing).  After the blades have been run in reverse, they should be oiled.

Lubricate the shredder

Opinions on the use of shredder oil vary, but it is a low-cost item that can help a well-used shredder last longer. Some recommend lubricating the unit every time you empty the waste bin, while others recommend only oiling after a jam or once a month. Oiling the machine is simple and only requires specially formulated shredder oil. Use of any other type of oil may cause damage to your device. Simply dampen a sheet of paper with oil and shred it to oil the machine. The oil will coat the cutting mechanism, reducing paper dust and keep the blades in good condition. The device must be oiled on a regular basis. Check your instruction manual to see how frequently you should do this.