Trouble opening envelopes

@grrranny, I just use a pair of regular scissors. I know you can buy those expensive ones that are made specifically for opening envelopes but regular scissors work OK for me. You can also by the small inexpensive letter openers that you are less likely to stab yourself with if you are a little shaky like me sometimes - https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0FR9R8B3Y/.

@grrranny I get it! I still have my parents old fashioned letter opener that looks like a stiletto, but when it's not handy, I use a steak knife.

@sueinmn Yes, this. Place the envelope on a (clean, please) cutting board rotated in such a way that you can easily draw a sharp paring knife across its top. Note that if you have weak/arthritic hands, all bets are off and it might actually be dangerous to do what I suggest. But a sharp paring knife drawn with pressure very close and parallel to the outer fedge of the envelope will have it open.

Method number two: plug in the kettle with at least a full cup of water in it, wait for it to begin to boil, place the gummed flap of the envelope into the steam plume and wave it back and forth. Note that a garden glove or other protection around your hand would be very wise....first. Try to keep your fingers out of the plume. It only takes maybe five-eight seconds of exposure to the steam and you can peel back the flap with ease.

@grrranny
How about an electric letter opener?
Jake

I received a silver letter opener over 40 years ago, I keep in my pen/pencil holder and as long as I can get the point under the "lip" of the envelope it works fine. Some new fangled envelopes have a "lift and tear" type, which are impossible.....maybe I don't know how to "lift and tear" properly

@gloaming NO, I can't press down like that, I use the knife under the flap like a letter opener. If I have several envelopes to open, I often grab a scissors and cut off the short end of each one.

Insert thumbnail at corner of flap, pull up, then insert index finger in opening and simply pull across top of flap. This way you don't have to go looking for, or being concerned that your your devise may break.

@fred1 Ah, that only works if you have fully functional hands, which I do not any longer. Tools to make life easier are my friends.

@sueinmn, sorry about your handicap, of course there was no way of knowing that from your original comment. Best to you, hope you find a new letter opener soon.