Jade Shemwell
- How to keep your scissors clean
- How to store your scissors properly
- Using your scissors for their designated purpose
- Keeping your scissors sharp
Best practices: How to take care of premium quality scissors & shears
remium scissors should last you a lifetime, and as a valuable tool for your work and hobbies, it’s important you maintain them properly to ensure longevity and peak performance.
From regular cleaning and maintenance, to handling with care and avoiding misuse, your Whiteleys scissors need extra an extra level of attention to keep them looking perfect.
Below, we’ll explore the best practices to maintain your premium scissors and shears, helping you keep your tools in an excellent condition for years to come.
Keep Your Scissors Clean
Store Your Scissors Properly
Don’t be tempted to simply toss your beautiful scissors into a drawer filled with other tools and objects, as this can nick the blades or misalign them. Instead, consider using a dedicated drawer organiser to keep them apart from things which could cause damage.
Even better still, store your scissors in a protective case to shield the blades from damage and exposure to moisture. This will ensure your scissors can retain their premium quality for years to come, keeping them safe for a lifetime of use.
Avoid Cutting Improper Materials
Most premium scissors have a designated purpose – whether that’s for cutting fabric, paper, hair, or anything else you can think of.
Even if it may seem okay to quickly cut a piece of paper with your high-quality shears – don’t! Cutting inappropriate materials can dull the blades and damage the edges, reducing the lifespan of your scissors.
Regular Maintenance
As well as cleaning and proper storage, regular maintenance involves oiling your scissors and adjusting their tension.
When maintaining your scissors, apply a drop of scissor oil to the pivot point every now and then, to ensure they keep operating smoothly. This also helps to prevent rusting.
After lubricating your scissors, use the adjustable tension screws to tighten or loosen your scissors. Be sure to check the tension regularly, as if it’s too loose, the blades won’t cut effectively, and if it’s too tight, the blades may wear prematurely.
To check the tension on your scissors, hold them in front of you at eye level. Lift one handle up, and drop it to see where the blades close. If the blades completely shut, then the tension is loose, and if the blades hardly move, the tension is too tight.
Sharpening Your Scissors
The frequency at which you need to sharpen your scissors depends on your level of usage. For heavy daily usage, consider sharpening every three months, and for occasional use, once a year may be more appropriate.
Sharpening scissors at home can be cost-effective and easy – all you will need is a sharpening stone, a scissor sharpener, or fine-grit sandpaper. (LINK TO Scissor Sharpening Techniques: A guide to sharpening scissors at home vs. professional services)
However, for specialist scissors, you may want to consider using a professional sharpening service, to maintain the precise edges or your scissor blades. Professional services can offer the best results, within fast timeframes, and you’ll be safe in the knowledge that your premium scissors are being handled by experts.
Handle Your Scissors with Care
Premium scissors need to be handled with a greater level care. If you drop your scissors, check for any visual damage or nicks first. If you find a nick in the blade, a professional sharpening service should be able to fix this for you.
Dropping scissors can also misalign the blades, and damage the tension. Check the tension of your scissors, and adjust as accordingly. If the alignment has been compromised, this may be noticeable if you try to loosen or tighten the tension screw. As with above, a professional bladesmith should be able to fix this for you.
Inspect and test your scissors regularly
Inspect your scissors regularly for signs of damage, such as nicks, rust, or misalignment. Address any issues immediately to avoid worsening the problem, and seek help from professional services if needed.
Test the performance of your scissors too. If they don’t cut smoothly, or require extra force, it may be time for maintenance.
Consclusion
Here at Whiteleys, our scissors are designed to last you a lifetime. Caring properly for premium quality scissors and shears is essential to maintaining their high performance and lifelong durability.
By following these best practices, including cleaning regularly, storing properly, avoiding misuse, and frequent inspection; you’ll ensure your tools remain in excellent condition for years to come.
Treat your Whiteleys scissors with the respect they deserve, and they’ll reward you with precise, effortless cutting every time, with years of use ahead of you.
Regular cleaning is an important part of scissor maintenance. Each time you use your scissors, make sure you clean them thoroughly to remove dirt, lint, or residue.
For scissors used for general use of fabric cutting, use a soft cloth and warm, soapy water to wipe the blades. For scissors used in hair cutting or crafting, disinfectant wipes are effective for disinfecting and removing sticky substances.
Once clean, use a lint-free cloth to dry the blades thoroughly, and ensure the blades are completely dry before storage to prevent rust or corrosion.