Oiling and Emptying: Simple Shredder Maintenance

Two habits keep a shredder working for years, and both take under a minute.

Empty before it is full

An overfull bin pushes cuttings back up into the mechanism, which is a leading cause of jams. Emptying at three-quarters is the practical rule.

Oil the cutters

Cutting heads need lubrication. Use oil intended for shredders — aerosol lubricants and cooking oils are not suitable and can gum the mechanism. Apply as the maker directs and run briefly in reverse to spread it.

How often

With every bin change is a reasonable habit for a machine in regular use. Micro-cut mechanisms generally want it more often than coarser ones.

Keep the sensor clean

Auto-start models use a sensor at the feed slot. Dust on it causes the machine to run when nothing is there, or to ignore paper that is.