Most Common Paper Shredder Mistakes To Avoid
Many home and business owners keep shredders on hand to dispose of personal information, but are you utilizing your shredder correctly? Here are some of the most common paper shredder mistakes to avoid in the office and at home.
Using the Wrong Type of Shredder
Many businesses use the wrong type of shredder without even knowing it. If your business is shredding high-security information in a standard shredder, its information might be at risk. Look for an NSA-approved shredder in a strip or cross-cut variety that will properly destroy your business’s confidential information and keep it private.
Not Maintaining Your Shredder
Not all consumers know there are ways to prevent shredder jams and take proper care of a paper shredder. Make sure to never feed too many materials into the shredder at one time, as this leads to paper jams. All shredders have a maximum paper thickness they can handle. You can also find specialty waxes to lubricate the shredder blades and keep them sharp.
Keeping Unnecessary Documents
Are you hoarding personal documents in your filing cabinets at home? The truth is, after a certain number of years, you can shred most private documents. These include old bank invoices or bills, past employer and employee information, and more. After a few years, you can safely shred this information. In fact, this information is more at risk sitting around in your cabinet than it would be if you shredded it. Just check the best practices for keeping specific documents before shredding. You should always shred business documents rather than put them at risk.
Shredding the Wrong Documents
On the other hand, there are certain documents that you should never shred. Shredding the wrong documents is one of the most common paper shredder mistakes to avoid. Make sure to store away items like your birth certificate, social security card, marriage license, and passport in a safe place. Locking these items in a bank lockbox or home safe is the best way to keep them secure and out of the wrong hands.
