How to Close Steam and Open It Again

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Steaming open an envelope is one of the oldest tricks in the book. It'due south really easy, and, if done carefully, an envelope can be opened and re-sealed with a minimum of fuss. Simply don't apply this flim-flam to break into somebody else'south post, that is a felony.^[1] There are less dubious reasons you may need to steam open an envelope, nonetheless. Perhaps you have envelopes which have become stuck tight, or you only realised you were had gotten letters or card mixed upwards. In that location are a number of ways to open up an envelope and then that it tin can exist re-sealed and you lot can keep your mistakes subconscious.

1. one

   Put a pot of h2o on to boil. ^[two] You lot don't really need much water, just try to put an inch-and-a-half in the lesser of the pot, and put it on the rut. If you use also much water, it volition take forever to eddy, but don't use too little, or it'll evaporate before you tin can open the envelope. As you await for the h2o to boil get ready with your envelope.

2. ii

   Concur the envelope over the boiling water. ^[three] With the side of the envelope with the opening flap facing down towards the water, discover a spot where you tin can gently ease your thumb under the flap. A good spot is at the very end of either side of the flap, because some envelopes don't have any glue there.

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3. 3

   Apply constant light pressure on the flap. Be gentle, you don't want to tear the paper. One time the steam saturates the envelope (it will feel hot, damp and limp), the mucilage will cook, and the envelope volition open.

   • Don't hold the paper in the steam for also long. You'll get it all soggy and give the game abroad. Concur the envelope over the steam for about fifteen seconds, and then start trying to open up information technology, returning to the steam if it is still stuck.^[4]
   • Consider using a skewer instead of your pollex or finger to peel the flap up. It allows for more precise control and is especially effective if you place the skewer vertically underneath the flap at 1 end and twirl it forth the length of the flap.

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1. i

   Put the kettle on to eddy with plenty of h2o. Instead of using a stove, you can use a kettle. This technique tends to create a greater quantity of steam that is hotter. It also avoids the possibility of scorching the edges of your envelope if you lot have a gas stove.

2. 2

   Concur the envelope a little away from the spout. Don't hold information technology too close and try to get an even distribution of steam across the seal. Y'all tin can identify a spoon into the spout of the kettle to try to have command over the direction of the exiting steam. If it looks like it is getting too moisture, move it away and be patient, you don't want to accept wrinkles give the game away.^[5]

   • Equally the steam from a kettle is more than intense, it might be a good idea to wear an oven glove or something like to protect the hand holding the envelope.

3. iii

   Ease open up the envelope. Expect for a few seconds after removing it from the steam and then, in much the same way as with the stove method, gently slide a apartment bract nether the seal to open and release information technology. Be very careful non to tear it, and if it doesn't come hands give it a little more fourth dimension in the steam and try once again.

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1. ane

   Put some water in your iron and plug information technology in. An alternative way to steam open up an envelope, with less steam, is to use your apparel iron. It works in a similar way, merely can exist less messy and easier than using a kettle or a stove. Simply heat upwardly your iron as if y'all were ironing some shirts and get your sealed envelope ready.

2. 2

   Put the envelope on a suitable surface. Cheque the surface is clean with nothing that might marking the envelope. Place your envelope on a surface that volition not burn down or scorch under a heated iron, an ironing board is ideal. Exist sure that you lot accept the side of the envelope with the opening flap and seal facing upwards towards the iron.

3. 3

   Atomic number 26 your letter. With the atomic number 26 on a medium-low temperature, pass it over the envelope backwards and forwards gently pressing downward. The oestrus from the fe will melt the adhesive that holds the envelope's sealing flap down. If the iron temperature is high the glue will melt quicker, simply y'all risk called-for or scorching the envelope, and then don't blitz it.

4. 4

   Using a flat bract, break the seal. Every bit with the other steaming techniques, once the gum has been melted you can carefully slide a dull knife under the flap and ease the envelope open. It's best non to use a sharper knife as there is a greater risk of you tearing or damaging the envelope. Every bit always, don't force it open if information technology is still sticking, instead give it some more than time in the heat.

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1. i

   Expect for the envelope to dry out. If you are trying to steam open up an envelope, you probably want to know how to become well-nigh re-sealing it over again. Commencement of all wait for the glue melted by the steam to cool and re-gain information technology'due south stickiness.^[6]

2. 2

   Lick the gum and seal information technology as normal. The starting time affair to try is simply licking the adhesive strips and endmost the envelope as yous would normally. The glue should have re-gained information technology's tackiness and you should be able just printing it closed.

   • Deport in mind that you may have to hold the strip down for a piddling longer than usual to go it to stick.

3. 3

   Re-seal with steam. Another way to reseal the envelope is to put the agglutinative side of the flap back in the steam briefly. Get your water back to the eddy and hold your envelope over the boiling water for around twenty seconds.

4. 4

   Gently push the mucilaginous strip dorsum downwardly. While y'all hold it over the water, run your finger along the adhesive strip to shut it down. Be careful not to crease it or allow too much stream to wet the envelope.

5. 5

   Have it out of the steam and hold it airtight. Now remove the envelope from in a higher place the h2o and place downwards on a table or surface and apply pressure to the agglutinative strip. You may take to hold it downward for thirty seconds or so, or y'all could put something heavy like a book on top of information technology. Soon information technology should be re-seal and ready to go.

   • If it does non all reseal on the first try put it back in the steam briefly and printing it together lightly. Brand certain non to rub the envelope, because when it is damp it may rub and tear.

6. vi

   Use a trivial glue. If all else fails, don't panic! Y'all tin use some Elmer's glue, but make sure that you spread it around very well so that information technology looks like a normal envelope. You don't want to take some areas with glue marks staining the envelope, or soggy viscid patches. A calorie-free even covering should do the trick.

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• Remember that the proper name of the game is espionage. Exist secretive, don't do this around anyone you don't desire to know (or who might squeal), and don't exit the open up envelope lying where someone tin can come across it before you lot close information technology once again. Employ your brain.

• Don't leave a pot of boiling water lying around. Not only is that dangerous, but it's suspicious. Either dump it out and put information technology away, or brand some Ramen noodles or tea or something. No sense in wasting all that h2o.

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

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• Opening someone else's mail without their consent is a felony. This is for educational purposes only.

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Things Y'all'll Need

• A pot of water
• A stove
• A kettle (optional)
• An fe (optional)
• A freezer and freezer bag or tub (optional)
• Elmer's mucilage (optional)

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Commodity Summary X

To steam open an envelope, find a source of steam from a common item, such as a pan of boiling water, a tea kettle, or an iron. Then, bring the envelope close, making sure the flap is facing the steam. The paper should become saturated, simply not too wet, in about 15 seconds. Once the mucilage is softened, observe the corner edge, and use your finger or a skewer to slowly slide it along the seal and pull it apart. For help resealing a steam-opened envelope, go on reading below!

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