Maybe you just need to know how to seal an envelope, or maybe you're desperately looking for alternatives to the standard method of licking. You can always buy self-sealing envelopes, available at most office supply stores, and do not require moistening of any kind. Otherwise, you have several options.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Seal the Old Way
Step 1. Consider the old-fashioned method if you only have one or two envelopes to seal
Old-fashioned licking is the most common method, as long as you don't have too many envelopes to seal. It can be cumbersome and inefficient if you handle a large number of envelopes at once.
Contrary to urban legend, the glue in envelopes is non-toxic: it is made primarily of gum arabic, an ingredient found in a number of common foods. Even if you cut your tongue on the edge of the envelope, the glue won't seep in and kill you
Step 2. Lick the envelope
Gently run your tongue over the seal on the envelope.
Step 3. Seal the envelope
Fold the tab down, then run your fingers over the top to snap it into place. Moisture from your tongue will moisten the glue on the seal, allowing it to adhere to the envelope paper when sealed.
Method 2 of 3: Using Commercial Envelope Moisteners
Step 1. Use conventional envelope moisteners
These are usually plastic bottles covered with a small sponge and are available at most office supply stores. To use this type of envelope moisturizer:
- Hold the bottle upright, sponge end down, and run it along the glue strip on the envelope while gently squeezing.
- Be careful not to squeeze the bottle too tight, or you may get the envelope too wet and leave it soggy or wrinkled.
- This method is most efficient when you need to seal a large number of envelopes at once (which makes it useful for sending wedding invitations, holiday cards, etc.), but it can become a disaster if you squeeze the bottle too enthusiastically.
Step 2. Use a combination sealer and moisturizer machine
They represent the very latest in envelope sealing technology and will moisten and seal envelopes for you. Electric dampening and sealing machines will automatically work envelopes, while manual machines must be worked by hand, which can make them as labor-intensive as other low-tech methods.
As this is a relatively new technology, it is not without technical problems and some models may perform better than others. Make sure to do your research before investing
Step 3. Try an old envelope wetting wheel
If you prefer an old-school method, you can find moistening wheels online and at vintage office supply stores. Most are ceramic and feature a cylindrical wheel perched on a rectangular container, making them quite similar to an office tape dispenser. To use one, fill the container with water, run the glue strip from the envelope over the top of the moistened wheel (like running a razor over a whetstone), and fold and press the tab on the envelope to seal. Although a bit dated, these envelope moisteners have the advantage of durability - the ceramic wheel won't disintegrate like sponges do.
Method 3 of 3: Make DIY Envelope Moisteners
Step 1. Use a sponge, q-tip, a 1/4 "wide inexpensive brush, or a cotton swab to help moisten the envelopes
This method will prevent you from using your tongue and will allow you to seal more envelopes than only your tongue can handle. To use this method, get a small bowl and fill it with warm water. Lightly dampen the sponge, Q-tip, brush, or cotton swab in the water and slide it over the stamp glue. Fold over the moistened flap and press down to seal the envelope, but be careful with the amount of water you moisten with. Start small and reapply if necessary. If it gets too wet, the paper may become soggy or start to wrinkle.
Step 2. Use tape or glue
You can simply tape the envelope closed by folding the flap of the envelope down and running a strip of regular tape across the top. For a less do-it-yourself look, you can use double-sided tape or glue along the inside of the tab before folding and sealing. Many prefer to use a glue stick over traditional liquid glue because it is less messy and dries faster, but both are viable options.
Step 3. Use stickers
If you want to add a bit of unconventional personality to the envelope, you can seal it with stickers. Simply fold the flap down and place the stickers on the line where the flap and the body of the envelope meet. But keep in mind that stickers can look unprofessional and may be less secure than other methods.
Step 4. Seal it with nail polish
Nail polish, it turns out, is one of the great household multitaskers, and one of its lesser-known qualities is its ability to save you trouble sealing envelopes, and to offer a particularly strong and secure grip while you do it. Simply slide the polish along the inside of the flap of the envelope and press it closed. You may want to go for a clear nail polish to prevent the envelope seal from having an odd color, unless of course that's the look you're after.
Step 5. Make a wax seal
Since the Middle Ages, the use of wax to seal envelopes is perhaps the most classic and impressive of all envelope sealing methods. For hundreds of years, the use of wax seals was confined almost exclusively to royalty and nobility (since most others were illiterate and had little use for letters), and today it carries with it an air of prestige that it is likely to impress your recipient. As a bonus, sealing an envelope with wax can give you a worthy reason to melt things with fire. See how to use sealing wax with a glue gun and how to use sealing wax with a crucible.