How to Care for Your Scissors

Good quality scissors are an investment and should be treated with care. The following tips will help your scissors bring you years and years of reliability.

How to store your scissors:

Dropping scissors can knock the blades out of alignment, break off tips and nick cutting edges. Store scissors in a safe place after each use to avoid accidents.

Keep scissors in a cool and dry place. In high-humidity areas, regularly wipe the blades with a light coating of oil to prevent rust or corrosion.

Store your scissors with the blades closed so as to avoid nicking the edges with other objects.
How to keep your scissors clean:
Adhesive residue can build up on scissors when you trim stamps. or cut through Dacron, tape and other sticky materials. Keeping the inside of the blades clean will extend the life of the cutting blade and keep the cutting action smooth.

I use Goof-Off or Goo-Gone and a heavy rag to clean the blades (avoid using paper towels - if the scissors are sharp, it will be through the paper towel and your hand before you realize it.

Avoid letting water sit on your scissors - especially the pivot screw. If your scissors rust it will interfere with cutting. Be sure to wipe them thoroughly.

Several times a year oil the pivot screw to keep your scissors moving freely. Just put one drop of sewing machine oil on the pivot point. Open and close the scissors a few times to work in the oil and then wipe off the excess. Be sure to test your scissors on scrap material in case some oil remains on the blades.

Gently wipe off the blades with a soft fabric scrap at the end of the day to prevent lint and tiny particles from building up on the blades and clogging the pivot screw.

How to keep your scissors sharp:

Scissors are not multi-tasking tools. Never cut wire, staples, pins or needles with your scissors. One of the worst things to cut is cardboard; it dulls blades and can throw the scissors out of alignment.

If you want to touch up the edge of your scissors, use a good quality hand held sharpening stone when the edges of your blades begin to feel dull. It will help the scissors keep their edge.

Don't use a knife sharpener on your scissors, it will ruin the blade.

Hand held sharpening stones won't work if the blades of your scissors are already dull; they'll need to be professionally sharpened.

Have your scissors professionally sharpened once a year.
Caution: Brands like Kai Scissors and Shears are extremely sharp and should always be sharpened at home with care.

How to choose a good pair of scissors:

Look for a pair with ergonomic style handles. When cutting over a period of time the scissors should feel comfortable. This will help prevent hand fatigue.

When opening and closing the blades, they shouldn't feel too loose or too tight.

Adjustable blade tension is big plus when shopping for a good pair of scissors.

Look for a pair of scissors with a 35 to 45 degree blade angles for cutting cotton and synthetic fabrics. A 45 degree blade angle allows both you and the scissor to cut through the fabric with the least amount of resistance. This means less stress on your hands which you will really appreciate if you have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or an arthritic condition.

Happy Scissoring!

Scissorman

thanks for all of the information

Thanks!

thanks for tips. Really useful to know.

Thanks!

I didn't know a lot of this, thanks!

Thanks for this useful information about our scissors.

good to know. my son gave me a pair of those bent applique scissors by gingher for mothers day (good son). i am keeping them in the metal box and am planning on taking excellent care of them. there is a moisture absorber in the box. i hope that is good

That will be fine.

Thank you!!!!!!

Thanks for sharing such great info! :thumbup:

Tip Number ONE...keep husband and kids from touching YOUR scissors. Ever.

Tip Number TWO..HIDE YOUR scissors from everyone, except perhaps for a quilting buddy.

Tip Number Three..Keep a look-a-like pair of scissors in plain view so DH and DChildren can use it and put it back, nicks and all. Be sure to make loud screams about them ruining your "good" scissors.

Ramona,

Great additions for my list!

Scissorman

My grown children still shudder when they use scissors...even their own. Loud cries from mother still dance through their heads. My quilting daughter and I still laugh about it. One thing I did was to put a black electric tape on the handle of the pair they Could use. That seemed to work pretty good.

Great information

the two pair of scissors i use most are a straight pair and a pinking pair both belonged to my great grandmother (who has been gone for 40 years...both are still very good scissors- i have only had them sharpened twice in the 30+ years i've been using them...they are priceless!

I think when scissors were a one time purchase of course you took excellent care of them. I use my Ginghers as household scissors. Who wants to cut anything with a dull pair of scissors. I even put them in the dishwasher every now and then. I have many pairs of scissors laying around my sewing room and I've noticed the newer brands of scissors cut great all the way to the tip and cost much less.

I give quality pair of scissors as wedding gifts. They will thank me everytime they are used. :wink:

Thank you for the information

Thanks for the great information, I can add, Don't let your husband try to sharpen them. One pair of Ginghers ruined. But he did give me a new pair for the next Mother's Day. :)

Great tips! Does anyone know if it's true that Ginghers should be sent to the company for sharpening?

Thanks so very much for the information. I love my many pairs of scissors and want to take good care of them.

I love the idea of giving a pair as a wedding gift!

Thanks for the info. I was having a problem with gunk on the blade because I've been using fusible products.

Excellent advice! My Ginghers are 40 years old and I don't remember the last time they were sharpened! I never use them for anything but fabric. I should oil them. And take them for a check up! Thanks for resurrecting this topic.
Sandy