Learn how to tell if your scissors are dull or damaged—and the simple sharpening techniques that can bring them back to life.

Dr. Elizabeth Yuko is a bioethicist and adjunct professor of ethics at Fordham University. She has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, Rolling Stone, CNN & Playboy.

Sharpening scissors at home can help you achieve smoother, more efficient cuts. By learning how to sharpen these essential household tool you can restore their cutting power when they start to dull.

Used for cutting paper, cardboard, fabric, string, price tags, plastic packaging—that list goes on—the scissors in your office or kitchen drawer might be the most reliable everyday tool in your house.

Kitchen scissors and shears are some of the most versatile tools in our kitchen. But if they keep catching, snagging or have become more difficult to use, it’s time to sharpen them. Like our knives, ...