If you have a sealed envelope that you want to see inside, there are 2 great ways you can open and reseal it without anyone knowing the difference. The most popular method is to use steam to reduce the stickiness of the glue, then re-glue it with new glue. Now there's another way: you can freeze the envelope until it's easy to open, then close it again when the glue has started to warm up. Before you begin, remember that it is illegal to open other people's envelopes.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Opening the Envelope with Steam
Step 1. Place the teapot on the stove
Boil the water until the steam starts to appear. This steam is what you will use to reduce the adhesiveness of the glue on the envelope you want to open. Remember that this method can damage the condition of the envelope, so if the condition of the envelope must be in perfect condition, then you should use a new envelope.
- If the steam that comes out is blowing fast and strong, stick a spoon at the end of the pot to disperse it. In this way, the envelope paper will not be easily damaged by the strong hot steam.
- If you don't have a teapot, you can use a pot to boil the water until it starts to steam.
Step 2. Place the sealed envelope on the steam
Due to the heat, you may be able to use tongs or a hand guard to hold the envelope while it's steaming so you don't burn your hands. Hold the envelope in the steam for about 20 seconds to give the steam enough time to reduce the glue sticking to the envelope.
- If the envelope to be opened is a long business envelope, steam it thoroughly so that any part of the glue is loosened by the steam.
- Do not steam the envelope for more than 20 seconds because the envelope paper will begin to deform.
Step 3. Use the envelope opener to lift the envelope flap
Place the envelope on the table and use the envelope opener along the glued portion of the envelope to open it. Open the lid so you can retrieve the contents of the envelope. Don't be in too much of a hurry to open it because it might tear, but also don't be too slow until the glue sticks back together.
If the envelope flap seems difficult to open, and is a little torn, steam it again so it doesn't tear completely
Step 4. Dry the envelope
After you have finished moving and changing the contents of the envelope, dry the envelope before gluing it again. To prevent envelopes from creasing, place envelopes on parchment paper and cover them with a heavy book. Holding the envelope flat while it dries will make the envelope look brand new.
You can also iron the envelopes flat to prevent them from creasing. If you do this, make sure not to place the iron over the envelope too long, as intense heat can turn the envelope yellow or burn if you are not careful
Step 5. Re-glue the envelope
The glue on the envelope will lose its adhesive strength once it's exposed to steam, so you'll need to use a different method to re-glue it. To re-glue an envelope so that it looks like it's never been opened, try one of the following methods:
- Use stick glue. Since the glue stick is relatively dry, you can use it so it looks like it's never been opened. Apply glue to the end of the envelope flap and seal the envelope. The envelope will look like it was never opened.
- Use wet glue. White glue used in schools, super glue, or another type of wet glue can be used if you don't have a glue stick. Make sure you don't overdo it, so the envelope doesn't wrinkle from getting too wet.
Method 2 of 2: Opening Envelopes by Freezing It
Step 1. Place the envelope into a plastic clip to freeze
Protecting envelopes from frost and moisture is very important, as these elements can cause envelopes to wrinkle. When the envelope is wrinkled, then the envelope must have been tampered with.
Step 2. Place the envelopes in the freezer for a few hours
Extremely cold temperatures in the freezer will cause the glue to lose its adhesive strength. You can place it in the freezer for as long as you want. Make sure the envelope is inside for at least a few hours, or the glue will still stick firmly when you try to open it.
- For this method to work, you must use a freezer, not a regular refrigerator. The temperature in a regular refrigerator is not cold enough to weaken the strength of the glue.
- If you can't find a freezer, try placing the envelope in plastic wrap and dipping it in ice water. This is quite risky because a leak in the plastic can cause water to flow inside and damage the envelope and its contents.
Step 3. Open the envelope
After a few hours in the freezer, you may be able to open the envelope easily with just your fingers. If it's still difficult, use an envelope opener or knife to slowly open the envelope. If the envelope still won't open, place the envelope in the freezer overnight and try again.
Step 4. Re-glue the envelope
When you use the freezer-free method, the frozen glue will lose its stickiness, but will stick back together when the glue warms up again. To re-glue envelopes, simply wait a few minutes for the envelopes to come to room temperature, then glue the envelope flaps. Envelopes should be closed with no signs of ever being opened.
- If the envelope flap won't stick when you try to close it, use a stick of glue to secure it.
- If you don't have a stick of glue, use the white glue used in schools or a little bit of super glue to seal it.
