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
18
votes
Signing a new credit card
I sign with a Sharpie*. Not a fine tip one either. It doesn't wear off and it's easy to read. Nobody has ever objected. We keep one around for writing on CDs and DVDs anyway.
*Sharpie is a brand name ...
- 1,422
16
votes
Dispose of sensitive paperwork
Place the shredder somewhere where you'll pass by it many times during the day. Shred a few papers every time you pass by it. It'll still take a while, but it's not such a daunting prospect when you ...
- 6,224
15
votes
Accepted
How to write in a straight line without lined paper?
There a several options to create an invisible line to help you write:
Draw thin lines with a pencil and erase them afterwards. If you work with a soft pencil and without much force, the lines are ...
- 496
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
11
votes
How to write in a straight line without lined paper?
The easiest way to do this is to
get another piece of paper
print or draw lines set to the ruling you want (the height of the
lines) in dark black ink on that page
place that page underneath the ...
- 311
11
votes
Dispose of sensitive paperwork
Bite the bullet and find a place to burn them. It's the only way to be sure. You can plant trees all the way home from the incinerator.
- 111
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
9
votes
Signing a new credit card
Pens for labelling CDs/DVDs work very well for this. They won't wipe off and come in sizes of about 0.5 or 0.7 mm, around about that of a ballpoint pen.
- 1,729
8
votes
How to write in a straight line without lined paper?
As far as I know there isn't really a hack to write in a straight line, but there are a couple of tips that can help you practice:
I don't know how you write, but I was taught to turn the paper at an ...
- 3,939
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
7
votes
Accepted
How to remove ink from paper?
There are a few methods for removing pen ink from paper
White Out
You can use White Out to cover up pen marks. Sadly this does not remove the mark, it only masks it. It also only works (looks good) on ...
- 11.2k
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 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
Dispose of sensitive paperwork
If you live in or near a city, you can probably find a business that offers shredding as one of its services. The ones I've found offer guarantees of privacy for your sensitive documents. The ...
- 11.5k
7
votes
Signing a new credit card
Banks and financial institutions prefer the miserly thin line you dislike. Forgers love thick lines that disguise small irregularities in a bogus signature. It's VERY difficult to forge a signature ...
- 13.7k
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
6
votes
How to cut paper without scissors?
Wet wool. Honestly. Wet a length of wool or yarn or string, you get the idea; and run your fingers across it to whip away extra moisture: you want it wet but not dripping. Lay it on the paper where ...
- 161
6
votes
How to deal with eraser shavings effectively
The two items you linked to are novelty items and are unlikely to work well. The tool professionals (e.g. draftsmen) use for this job is a drafting brush like this one:
(not recommending this ...
- 6,224
6
votes
Accepted
How to remove/hide/destroy senstive information written on paper without a machine?
Ripping it up is as secure as the obfuscation you can apply to the task.
A shredder is actually not a very secure method, unless your total shredded quantity is high. Re-assembly is just a jigsaw ...
- 2,062
6
votes
How to remove/hide/destroy senstive information written on paper without a machine?
Eat it
If it's a small amount of paper, then eating it would be very effective.
- 1,884
6
votes
Accepted
Stuck photos while inside an envelope
If they are gelatin-emulsion based, as used in traditional photography (or some coated ink-jet papers), hold the back side of the pack over a steaming kettle and let the steam slowly loosen the rear-...
- 5,928
6
votes
How to COMPLETELY peel off a sticky price tag or label on a book or item without the gunky residue?
Use a hair dryer and pull perpendicular. It softens the glue so that it stays on the sticker instead of the book. Glue residue can be removed with white spirits.
However, some glues are really hard ...
- 201
6
votes
Accepted
How to write with a pen upside down?
Good that you mentioned astronauts in one of comments, because this reminded me some myth that cosmonauts used to use pencils while NASA spent lot of money on creating spece pen
This article says ...
- 548
6
votes
Accepted
Fuse / patch two papers side-by-side without noticeable seam?
Turn the ticket over and work on the back.
First, clean the desk where you will work. Use good lighting in your work area. Wash your hands thoroughly.
Carefully match the two pieces and join them ...
- 13.7k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible