Tips for Opening Sealed Envelopes

Struggling to open a sealed envelope without causing damage? With various types of glue used, no single method guarantees success for every letter. Take your time and handle the task with care to avoid ending up with a torn mess and feelings of regret.

Give this method a try first to minimize the risk of damage. While most effective on thick paper envelopes or those with weakly attached glue, its success rate can be unpredictable. Despite being less potent than steaming, it poses a lower risk of envelope or content damage, making it a sensible initial approach.

Locate a tongue depressor or similar implement. Some envelopes, though not all, can be delicately opened using a flat, curved wooden tool like a tongue depressor. According to an aged CIA guide, the tool should possess a smooth edge, preferably with a rounded, blunt tip. While these tools can be fashioned by filing down wood or an ivory piano key blank, any flat tool with the specified shape should suffice.

Insert the tool beneath the corner flap. Examine the corner of the envelope flap for a small gap that hasn't been glued shut. Carefully insert the tip of the tongue depressor or another tool into this gap. If the flap is entirely sealed, cautiously introduce a wire or other thin object into the corner to create an opening for the tongue depressor.

Be prepared to halt if the flap doesn't yield. Execute the following steps systematically, employing slow, precise movements. If the paper doesn't comply, or if any tearing is noticed, cease and proceed to the next step.

Secure the envelope and gently oscillate the tool. Utilize your non-dominant hand to steady the envelope flat against the surface to prevent it from shifting. Delicately oscillate the tool in your dominant hand up and down, applying slight pressure to the edge of the envelope flap. If the envelope responds, replicate this technique to unseal the remainder of the flap. If resistance persists, proceed to the subsequent step.

Moisten a cotton swab slightly. Pour a small amount of clean water, preferably distilled, into a bowl or cup. Dip a cotton swab into the water, then press it against blotting paper or a paper towel to eliminate excess moisture. Water should only be applied sparingly to weaken the paper and glue of the envelope flap; excessive moisture may cause ink to bleed and paper to tear. If the envelope has been partially opened, fold a piece of blotting paper and insert it under the flap to absorb any surplus water.

Apply gentle pressure with the moist swab on the sealed flap. Concentrate solely on the area of adhesion. Press down and wait a few moments for the adhesive to soften before attempting to lift the flap with the tongue depressor. Repeat this process until the flap loosens, or proceed to the steam method if it remains stuck. Remember not to apply water to areas with ink or stamps. Some envelope adhesives may not be water-soluble. If you see no results, consider using the cutting method. If you observe slight progress but insufficient to open the envelope, try steaming instead.

Explore other folds if available. Certain envelopes feature multiple pre-sealed folds from manufacturing. If these folds respond to this technique, you may be able to open the envelope from the side instead of the top. Regardless of the method chosen, reseal the flap using small amounts of glue applied with a toothpick. Some envelopes may regain stickiness when the glue is slightly dampened.

Place the envelope inside a plastic bag. This will shield it from moisture during freezing.

Store the envelope in the freezer for a couple of hours. Certain envelope adhesives may regain tackiness when subjected to freezing temperatures.

Wiggle the envelope open. Employ a blunt, smooth instrument such as a tongue depressor or butter knife, or cautiously utilize a penknife. While the flap won't release on its own, with some luck, it may loosen enough to lift without tearing.

Re-seal the envelope once done. Certain envelopes can be re-sealed by moistening the adhesive on the flap with a damp cotton swab. Others may require discreet dabs of glue for re-sealing.

Employ this technique on envelopes sealed with saliva. Note that this method may not be effective on self-adhesive envelopes, as the glue used (usually latex) is not water-soluble. If unsure about the type of envelope, conduct a steam test with minimal risk of damaging the paper and ink.

Commence with a cup of boiling water. Pour boiling water into a narrow cup. While this generates minimal steam, it serves as a recommended starting point for novices to minimize the risk of paper damage. If unsuccessful, the subsequent steps will proceed to more potent, riskier methods. If the envelope ink appears wet or begins to run, discontinue steaming and attempt another method.

Heat a flat opening tool. Warm a tongue depressor, butter knife, or similar flat, blunt instrument in steam for ten seconds, then wipe away water droplets. This prevents steam from condensing around a cold tool, which could damage the paper and ink.

Try opening the envelope. Position the warmed tool against the flap's corner, directly in the steam's path. Gently move the envelope against the tool's tip, pausing at resistance points. Rotate the envelope to prevent the freed flap from reattaching. A smooth, continuous motion minimizes wrinkles but poses a higher risk if you lack experience.

Experiment with a kettle's steam jet. If gentle steam fails, use a constantly steaming kettle for a hotter steam jet. Repeat the previous steps in this hotter environment, moving quickly but carefully to avoid wrinkling or dampening the paper. Protect your hands with an oven mitt and narrow the kettle's opening with a spoon if needed.

Smooth the opened envelope with an iron if necessary. Allow the envelope to cool and dry before reinserting its contents. If the paper or contents become wrinkled, cover with a dry cloth and iron on the lowest setting to smooth out wrinkles.

Once dry and restored, replace the contents and reseal. Alternatively, freeze the envelope for a few hours; some glues regain stickiness when frozen.

Understand the potential drawbacks. This method involves creatively concealing a cut in the envelope's side by sealing it with Papier-mâché paste. However, if the paste is too thick, weak, or sticky, it will be noticeable. This technique is most suitable for letters that won't undergo close scrutiny or heavy handling. Be prepared to spend ample time perfecting the Papier-mâché seal.

Examine the envelope against a light source. Hold the envelope up to a bright light or window to observe the shadow of the document inside. Make a mental note of its position and handle the envelope carefully to avoid disturbing the contents.

Trim a small corner of the envelope. Using sharp, small scissors, carefully remove a tiny corner, preferably from the bottom, ensuring the document remains intact.

Slit open the envelope's short edge. Cut along the side crease of the envelope without altering its width, effectively opening the envelope. Now you can access the document inside or add any materials you forgot to include in your mailing.

Create a small batch of papier-mâché paste. Combine white flour and water until you achieve a moderately runny consistency. Test the paste on a spare folded paper to ensure it adheres well when dry. Adjust the flour-water ratio if needed until the mixture forms a sturdy layer upon drying.

• Boiling the flour-water paste can result in a clear drying mixture rather than white or off-white, but it may weaken the paste. Boiling is especially important for dark envelopes to minimize the visibility of the papier-mâché.

Apply Papier-mâché to seal the incision once completed. Use a letter opener or another smooth tool to spread the papier-mâché paste along the cut edge of the envelope. Be careful not to moisten the document inside.

Allow it to dry completely and repeat if needed. Wait until the paste is fully dry. For added strength, apply a second layer of papier-mâché paste. Continue layering until no holes are visible, and the envelope's sides remain securely sealed.

Smooth out any rough papier-mâché residue with fine sandpaper. Proceed with caution to avoid damaging the envelope, particularly if there is ink along the edge being sanded. Once the visible residue is removed, the envelope should appear undisturbed, resembling a standard unopened envelope.

• Begin by practicing on empty envelopes.

• In certain jurisdictions, opening mail addressed to others without permission may constitute a criminal offense. Even if legal, consider the ethical implications of invading someone's privacy.
• Methods employed by philatelists to remove self-adhesive stamps may not be effective for envelopes. Modern self-adhesive stamp gum typically contains acrylic plastic, while self-sealing envelope flaps commonly use latex glue.

• Envelopes for practice
• Tongue depressor
• Scissors
• Container with boiling water
• Oven mitt
• Flour
• Water
• Hot knife
• Clothes iron
• Freezer