A paper shredder is a great investment for any home office, and gives you the security of knowing any sensitive or personal documents you throw away are in a state where no one can retrieve your information. However, paper shredders can get clogged with paper dust and eventually stop working. To keep yours running smoothly, reader Eric reminds us that paper shredders should be oiled, and he uses plain canola oil to keep his in working order.


Most shredder manufacturers will tell you to avoid lubricants like hobby oil or WD-40, and to only use proper shredder oil, as their specific lubricant is designed to be heat tolerant. However, reader Eric writes in and tells us that in his research, it's commercial shredders that need special oil-based lubricants. His old Fellowes model was out of warranty, and when he looked up what was in the Fellowes lubricant, he found it was just re-bottled canola oil (PDF link). He did the math: canola oil at the store is $0.07/oz, and the Fellowes-branded oil is $0.87/oz.

We did some more research, and sure enough, Fellowes isn't the only shredder manufacturer that uses canola or vegetable oil for their home units. Plus, canola oil's smoke point ranges (depending on quality) from 225 degrees F to 435 degrees F, well above the temps your shredder should be running at. If your home paper shredder is on its last legs or you don't want to spend a bunch of money on it, grab the canola oil from your kitchen and give it a shot, using this method to oil a paper shredder. Your mileage may vary, but it could save you a lot of money.


Photo by Rob Marquardt.

Thanks to Eric for sending in the tip!