Can you remove envelope adhesive without tearing the paper?

December 18, 2020 5:04 PM

I stupidly saved some old important papers inside envelopes with the flap tucked inside.

I saved a bunch of old checks and papers inside envelopes that were labelled with what's inside. In order to close the envelopes and keep the contents inside without permanently closing it, I tucked the flap with the adhesive inside.

Unfortunately after years of storage the adhesive that was on the tucked flap somehow activated and now these papers are stuck onto the flap. When I remove it, the first layer of the paper it's stuck to comes right off- and therefore the information on it with it.

Is there any way I can remove these papers from the adhesive without destroying them?

posted by fantasticness to Home & Garden (6 answers total)

Depending on the kind of ink, soaking in water might separate them- works to get stamps off of envelopes.
posted by nouvelle-personne at 5:06 PM on December 18, 2020

Or steam - another trick of stamp collectors (and spies).
posted by snoboy at 5:09 PM on December 18, 2020 [10 favorites]

Well, I've steamed envelopes open before with a tea kettle, and apparently freezing might work too, with less chance of wrinkling your docs.
posted by lemonade at 5:10 PM on December 18, 2020

Thirding steam; it's a classic for a reason.
posted by aspersioncast at 6:45 PM on December 18, 2020

first layer of the paper it's stuck to comes right off- and therefore the information on it with it

I'm not sure if the physical papers are important or just the information, but you might be able to see what is on the paper by holding it up to a bright light.
posted by yohko at 8:16 PM on December 18, 2020 [1 favorite]

Put a just-damp sponge on the affected areas, keep swapping it out as it dries. The glue should, at some point, let go. More moisture = more chances for ink to run.
posted by theora55 at 8:39 PM on December 18, 2020 [1 favorite]