43
votes
Accepted
How do I redact information when my black marker isn't "wet" enough, and the information shows through my blackouts?
If you are able to make copies of the forms, create a digital copy instead. Then you can "black out" the information digitally with any photo editor or your favorite PDF software. Replace the target ...
- 6,635
28
votes
How do I redact information when my black marker isn't "wet" enough, and the information shows through my blackouts?
Make a regular copy, then cut out the redacted information on the copy before you send it.
- 1,884
22
votes
Accepted
How to cut paper without scissors?
The fold-and-rip method works or doesn't work based on the type of paper you are working with. Paper that is made on rolls (most office paper, newsprint, paper towel, etc) has a 'grain'. The pulp ...
- 386
15
votes
What is the best way to recondition a whiteboard?
The quickest trick to get rid of ghosting is to completely color the board with a black dry-erase marker and then erase with a dry (as in not wet) and clean microfiber cloth or eraser. This works by ...
- 151
15
votes
What is the best way to recondition a whiteboard?
I have been very successful at reconditioning white boards by following these steps.
Wipe off the board of existing marks using the conventional felt eraser.
If there is any tape or sticker residue ...
- 375
14
votes
Accepted
How to re-form a bent paper clip?
You can never fully return the paper clip to it's original state:
There will be slight irregularities in the straight portions requiring special equipment to smooth out.
Curves will not be in exactly ...
- 3,485
13
votes
How do I redact information when my black marker isn't "wet" enough, and the information shows through my blackouts?
Put some opaque tape over the sensitive information before making your copy. You could try masking tape or electrician's tape. You might not want to use the auto paper feed on your copier because ...
- 1,884
12
votes
How to cut paper without scissors?
Disclaimer: Most of the answers/techniques I have seen here so far actually only work on flat surfaces. Except licking the crease method (provided you can perform a straight fold mid-air) works mid-...
- 3,939
12
votes
Revive gel pens that stop working?
You want both heat and humidity to get the ball rolling again.
So, if just breathing on it hasn't worked, try holding the nib in steam from a boiling kettle for a few seconds. The warm water ...
- 410
11
votes
What office equipment can I use to safely observe a solar eclipse?
A common method that I was taught at school is to create a pinhole projector type thing.
You can do this by making a small (pinhole) piercing in a sheet of paper and hold it above the ground until ...
- 6,474
10
votes
What is the best way to open letter envelopes?
There are two easy ways to open an envelope without damaging the contents:
Letter Opener
This is by far the easiest method if you have one. Simply flip the letter over, slide the letter opener under ...
- 1,272
10
votes
How can I make flying insects leave?
Place a plastic container over the bug against the window. Now it can't escape.
Slide a piece of cardboard between the container and the window, closing the container.
Carefully lift the container ...
- 6,224
10
votes
Accepted
Prevent rubber bands from ageing?
Rubber-band get sticky because they oxidize. A similar question was asked on physics:
Is there any way to increase a rubber-bands lifetime?
It has a very good answer, but to summarize it: "Keep them ...
- 461
9
votes
How to cut paper without scissors?
when you do the fold and rip method, just lay something straight and flat along the crease, like a book or a ruler and then push down on the object to keep the paper secured and then rip pulling the ...
- 1,694
9
votes
How to cut paper without scissors?
The only way to cut paper with clean straight edges is using a cutting ruler and a sharp cutting knife.
This will beat all scissors in precision. All tear and cut solutions will inevitably lead to ...
- 4,666
8
votes
Accepted
What is the best way to recondition a whiteboard?
I am a maintenance person at a facility that has 30+ whiteboards.
I have done ALL of the suggestions I found online. The whiteboards we have here will stay clean and work fine for 3 days after ...
8
votes
Accepted
How to remove charcoal droppings on an eraser?
You need to erase on a blank sheet of paper or a rougher surface to "sand" the dirty part of the eraser out. You can erase on your desk surface to get those dirty crumbles out. Your eraser is getting "...
- 906
8
votes
Prevent rubber bands from ageing?
Rubber bands become brittle with age due not so much to oxidation but rather to evaporation of volatiles in the rubber/plastic material they are made of. These volatile parts of their plastic/rubber ...
- 564
7
votes
How to cut paper without scissors?
Fold and then run your finger along the edge to totally flatten it out and then use a kitchen knife (ideally), just the same as a letter opener. Keep the paper taught to avoid slipping or ripping. ...
- 71
7
votes
Accepted
How to remove permanent marker from furniture, clothes, skin etc
Rubbing alcohol is usually a catch-all method to remove permanent marker. Just apply to a clean towel or a cotton ball and then rub it on the stain. Also, there are different methods to remove ...
- 11.2k
7
votes
Accepted
How to stop a paperclip slipping off
That does indeed happen just as you describe. A staple would definitely solve the problem.
A few other options are paper clamps (shown below) or to use envelopes (large manilla) for groupings.
- 1,977
7
votes
What is the best way to recondition a whiteboard?
From personal experience maintaining whiteboards at a university, strong cleaners like simple green and the like are not your friend. They may clean it initially, but tend to leave a detergent behind ...
- 434
7
votes
How can I make flying insects leave?
I've noticed that big flies, bees, wasps and hornets tend to be attracted by light sources when trapped inside a room. So I usually try to roll down the rolling shutters of all the windows save one (...
7
votes
Using binder clips to hold cables
You're right, I don't think there IS a right-size clip for this. I have an 18mm desktop too and the medium-sized clip (32mm wide) won't fit. If it DID fit, the lever part would be too big for most ...
- 3,127
7
votes
What to do with left over calendars of previous years?
If you can keep them until 2026, the days will be aligned the same as they are in 2015. ie Jan 1st is a Thursday and 28 days in Feb.
EDIT : More explanation. You can use a 2015 calendar as a 2026 ...
- 1,729
7
votes
Randomizing papers
Take a well shuffled deck of cards and paperclip a card to each one in turn. Then sort them into deck order A..K spades followed by A..K hearts, A..K diamonds, A..K clubs.
- 1,729
7
votes
How can I remove gel (?) Ink from a book?
If all your attempts at removal fail or you do indeed damage the paper in an attempt at doing so, I suggest what I would have probably done instead of writing directly into the book:
Use a matching (...
- 3,156
6
votes
Accepted
How to restore Sticker's stickiness?
This may not be a life hack as it describes using an adhesive agent, but it is a great fix for the sticker problem. I am not certain it was designed to fix stickers so this may still be a hack... but ...
- 4,507
6
votes
Accepted
How do I remove hard-to-remove ink from my hands?
Depending on the type of ink, you might try oil-based hand cleaners such as Goop or acitrus-based solvent, or an alcohol-based solvent, such as isopropyl rubbing alcohol. Though it's very hard on the ...
- 5,928
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible