Why You Should Never Lick Envelopes

You know that little lick you give an envelope before sealing it shut? Turns out, that’s not such a great idea.

When you were younger, you may have loved the taste of envelope adhesive. And maybe you still do. But did you know that licking envelopes has its downsides?

Today, we’re going to explore the reasons why you shouldn’t lick envelopes, starting with a look at what envelope glue is made of.

What is envelope glue made of?

The lickable adhesive on envelopes is primarily made from a substance called gum arabic. It’s a natural gum derived from the acacia tree.

Gum arabic has been used for centuries in everything from food and beverages to cosmetics and medications. But just because it’s natural doesn’t mean large quantities are safe to ingest.

In some cases, the adhesive is also made from dextrin and starch.

Is envelope glue made from horses?

One urban legend says that envelope glue is made from horses. This is not true. While horses are sometimes used to make glue, they are not used to make envelope adhesive.

Now that you know what’s in envelope glue, let’s look at some of the reasons why you shouldn’t lick it.

4 reasons why you should never lick envelopes

It might contain other harmful chemicals

In addition to gum arabic, envelope glue can also contain other chemicals, such as preservatives and dyes. These chemicals can be harmful if ingested in large quantities.

It can contain bacteria

Your saliva contains bacteria. When you lick an envelope, you’re essentially transferring that bacteria to the envelope. And if the person who receives the envelope has a cut or abrasion on their skin, they could be at risk for infection.

It’s unhygienic

Licking envelopes is just plain unhygienic. The world is full of germs, and you never know where an envelope has been. An envelope has to travel through a lot of hands and environments before it ends up in your possession. By licking it, you’re exposing yourself to whatever bacteria or viruses might be lurking on the surface.

It leaves a bad taste in your mouth

Envelope adhesive doesn’t taste great. In fact, it can leave a nasty taste in your mouth. It’s not worth subjecting yourself to that when you can simply use water.

Alternative to licking envelopes

Those envelopes still need to be sealed though, right? So if you don’t want to lick them, what other options are there?

Use a wet brush or sponge

You can wet a small brush or sponge and use it to moisten the adhesive on an envelope. This is a much more hygienic option than licking the envelope.

Wet your finger

If you don’t have a brush or sponge handy, you can wet your finger, either with your saliva or under a tap, and use it to moisten the adhesive.

Use a glue stick

Another option is to use a glue stick. Glue sticks are specifically designed for adhering paper, so they’re a good choice for sealing envelopes. They’re often much more effective than licking the envelope, and there’s usually no chance that the envelope will open accidentally.