How To Sharpen Scissors? Sharp Scissors At Home - Treasurie Blog

Learn how to sharpen scissors! They are one of those tools that everyone has in their home. Something that can be used for so many different things. Not only can they help you cut through various materials, but they are also helpful around the home. As part of the upkeep, you must know how to sharpen scissors. This tutorial will help you discover the best way to sharpen scissors so you never have a dull pair again.

How to Sharpen Scissors at Home Tutorial

Whenever you have a dull blade, you may wonder if you can sharpen scissors at home or if you’re better off having someone else do this work. Many services are available in the market that sharpen scissors for you, and while convenient, they can be pretty costly. Sharpening scissors at home is not very hard to do.

Can you Sharpen Scissors?

Absolutely, scissors can be sharpened. Like all cutting tools, they can become dull with use. Sharpening scissors at home is relatively easy. However, you will need to be careful as you are working with an object that will get sharper as you work on it.

You can find a variety of sharpeners both at home and in-store to help you restore your scissors to life. If you want a quick fix for your dull scissors, there are many objects around the house that you can use when learning how to sharpen scissors. This will also save you money when buying a sharpener.

6 Ways to Sharpen Scissors at Home

1. How to Sharpen Scissors with a Knife Sharpener

You don’t have to buy specially designed scissors sharpeners to get your scissors back to life. You can also use kitchen knife sharpeners to get the job done.

Scissor sharpeners are designed to sharpen both blades simultaneously, but their use is limited. Knife sharpeners, on the other hand, will be able to sharpen many different tools and won’t cost as much. You probably even have one already in your kitchen drawers.

Some knife sharpeners have an extra slot for sharpening scissors, so look at the labels on your sharpener carefully. Remember that you can only use a knife sharpener with flat-edged scissors. You will have to use another method for pinking shears with a serrated edge.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to sharpening scissors with a knife sharpener:

SAFETY FIRST: Make sure you are being safe when sharpening. Don’t put your fingers anywhere near the sharpener slot. Beware of where the scissor blades are as well, and don’t cut yourself.

1. Clean the Scissors: Start by cleaning the scissors to remove any dirt, dust, or rust that may have accumulated, ensuring a smooth sharpening process. Use warm soapy water and dry them completely afterward to avoid any rust.
2. Separate the Blades: See if your scissors can be separated into two pieces, as this will make it easier to run the blades through the sharpener.
3. Prepare the Knife Sharpener: If you have a handheld knife sharpener, position it on a stable surface, holding it firmly in one hand. If it has a handle, make sure to keep your fingers away from the sharpening slots.
4. Sharpening Process: Position the inside edge of the scissor blade in the knife sharpener slot. Starting from the base (near the handle), pull the blade through the sharpener towards the tip. The number of times you do this will depend on how dull your scissors are, but around 10-15 passes should do the job. Do this with medium pressure and make sure you are being safe and in control.
5. Repeat for Other Blade: Repeat the above process with the other cutting edge blade of the scissors.
6. Reassemble: If you separated your scissors blades, put them back together and tighten the screw.
7. Test: Test the sharpness by cutting through a sheet of paper. If it cuts cleanly, you’ve done well. If not, you may need to repeat the sharpening process.
8. Clean Again: After sharpening, your scissors may have small metal filings on the blades. Wipe them clean with a damp cloth, then dry them thoroughly.

2. Aluminum Foil

Some aluminum foil from your kitchen can help you sharpen your blades. Use your scissors and cut across the tin foil on both sides, and the blade should be a lot less dull. Fold the tin foil several layers thick for really dull blades and then cut through.

3. Sharpening Stones

Sharpening stones are generally used for tools and knives and are readily available at hardware stores. Lubricate the sharpening stone with water or oil and run the blades across the stone. Most stones have fine grit on one side and harsher grit on the other. Which side you use will depend on how blunt your scissors are.

4. Sandpaper

You can also use some leftover sandpaper in the same way as the tin foil. Cut through the sandpaper several times. Medium-grit sandpaper works best. Sandpaper is also suitable for removing any rust on the blades.

5. Steel Wool

Cut through the steel wool several times and use it to clean the blades. This is also good for removing any rust or debris accumulated on your scissors.

After sharpening with any of the methods above, wipe down the blades with a damp cloth or paper towel. This will remove any remaining residue or grit.

6. Specialty Sharpeners

We’ve discussed using different materials and objects to sharpen your scissors’ blades. This is a short-term solution that you may have to repeat more than once if you use your scissors heavily for projects, in the kitchen, or just around the house.

The long-term solution for scissor sharpening is to invest in a specially manufactured sharpener. These sharpeners are easily available in craft stores and even online and do not cost a lot of money.

How to Sharpen Scissors Commercially

Sharpening scissors at home can sometimes be a lot of effort, and if you don’t want to do it or would rather not risk damaging your blades, you can get them sharpened professionally.

You can take your scissors to many different stores or use sharpening services all from the comfort of your home. This method will cost a pretty penny, but it does save you a lot of time and effort if you have a lot of scissors that need to be sharpened.

There are many arts and crafts stores, as well as home improvement stores, that offer sharpening services. You can also go to smaller specialty stores that have the equipment needed to sharpen the scissors. This works especially well if you have these types of stores somewhere near your home, and it will also save time since you literally have to drop them off in the morning and pick up your good-as-new scissors in the evening.

If there are no stores around you offering scissor-sharpening services, there are many sharpening services that you can make use of. You just have to send your sharp scissors to the address provided and wait for them to be returned within no time. This will cost a little extra as you will have to pay for the delivery and shipping fees, but it is the most convenient option in the market.

Best Way to Sharpen Scissors of Different Types

There are many different types of scissors available nowadays. Whether you want them for crafts or household chores, there is a scissor for you.

You don’t necessarily need every kind of scissor to be able to use them as intended, but understanding the type of scissor you have and how the sharpening of the blades can differ is vital if you want to do it at home by yourself.

Here is how to sharpen scissors of different types:

How to Sharpen Standard Scissors

These are the scissors you have in your house that can be used to cut fabric, wires, and even herbs of different kinds. These scissors come with a standard one-size-fits-all handle, and the blades are not usually too hard to keep sharp. You can easily sharpen them by using sandpaper or tin foil.

Sharpening Embroidery Scissors

A pair of scissors with a specific purpose, such as embroidery scissors, is small and delicate. These scissors have pointed blades, which allow you to do precision work.

The blades here also don’t need much sharpening, but when they start getting dull, you can easily sharpen them back up with some tin foil. If your blades are too dull, you can also use a store-bought sharpener.

How to Sharpen Fabric Scissors

If you love sewing and making clothes, you will understand the importance of sharp fabric scissors. These scissors cut through the fabric quickly and leave you with a clean cut, which is very important when sewing or stitching.

Sharpening these scissors at home will require a bit of practice and some medium-grit sandpaper. However, you may be better off sending them off to get professionally sharpened to minimize any damage to the shape.

How to Sharpen Hair-Cutting Scissors

One of the sharpest scissors in the market, hair scissors, or barber shears, are scissors that need to always be sharp. The work they do would not be the best if the blades weren’t sharp enough. A key thing to keep them from going dull is to only use them on the hair, and if you do need to sharpen the blades, do it so gently using sandpaper or a store-bought sharpener. If you are a professional hairdresser or stylist, then it is best to take them to a professional sharpener.

How to Sharpen Kitchen Shears

Special scissors made for the kitchen are not essential tools, but they can make a lot of chores easier. You can use them to cut herbs, packaging, and even poultry.

Kitchen shears and scissors usually come with screwdrivers that help you take them apart to clean them. You can also use these to sharpen the blades easily. Take the shears apart and use a store-bought sharpener to get your blades back to top condition.

Maintenance After Sharpening Scissors

If your scissors are expensive or an essential part of your business, it is vital that you take care of them in between sharpenings.

First, let’s talk about cleaning. After each use, give them a quick wipe to remove debris and prevent any residue build-up. When they are really dirty, wipe them with a soft, damp cloth and a mild soap. Use a soft brush if necessary. The important thing is that you let them dry thoroughly before putting them away.

Store your scissors separately somewhere with minimal humidity. The ideal place to store them is a scissor block or pouch. Resist throwing them in a drawer with other tools, where they could get scratched or rust.

In Conclusion

For most of us, scissors are inexpensive, easy-to-find tools that can be replaced quickly if they start getting dull. For some, however, scissors are an essential tool that they use daily, and replacing a blunt pair of scissors can get quite expensive over time.

Understanding how to sharpen scissors is a great way to ensure the longevity of this versatile tool. You can sharpen the blades at home using a variety of materials, such as tin foil, sandpaper, and the shaft of a screwdriver.

You can also buy different sharpeners that will help you sharpen the blades quickly. Store-bought sharpeners do cost a bit of money, but you do get a product that helps you keep your scissors sharp and save money in the long run.

Many stores will sharpen the blades for you, and you can even use different services where you can send them your scissors, and they send them back good as new.

Different types of scissors may need different sharpening methods, but overall, scissors are two knives joined together, so even your knife sharpener will work great. Thanks for reading about how to sharpen scissors!

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Author - Luisa Clare

Luisa Clare is the founder of Treasurie and a sewing educator with over 15 years of experience in dressmaking, pattern design, crochet, and craft education. She creates clear, beginner-friendly tutorials and printable patterns that home sewists and crocheters worldwide use to build skills and confidence. Learn more about Luisa and Treasurie.