Now that most of you have filed or are finishing filing your taxes, Fellowes, Inc. and the Identity Theft Resource Center recommend their top-5 tips for spring cleaning the home office as well as protecting yourself from a common issue: identity theft:

Begin with the Basics: Sort through the piles of paperwork on your desk and in your office drawers. Place them into two categories: ‘save’ and ‘shred.’

Proper Storage: Organize the “save” pile into labeled folders and be sure to put anything confidential into a fire-proof lock box. The “shred” pile should be properly disposed of with a Cross-Cut shredder, such as a Fellowes P-12C. Cross-Cut technology is an important feature for a shredder because it provides high security, destroying confidential information into unidentifiable pieces. Equally important are enhanced safety features, such as Fellowes’ SafeSense technology, which shuts the machine down when hands come too close to the paper opening.

Get a Digital Makeover: Refresh your home office computer by deleting files you no longer use and backing-up important data onto an external hard drive. Clean out your inbox and change all passwords. Refreshing your computer is a good practice to follow throughout the year as well. 

Make Life Easier: Plan ahead by purchasing organizational tools for your desk, such as computer risers or file folder holders. This will help clear clutter from your desk top while keeping things within arms reach.

Freshen Up: Get rid of dust and germs that easily build up on office equipment such as keyboards, telephones and cabinets. You’ll feel instantly more productive with a clean workspace.

Fellowes’ P-12C Cross-Cut Shredder is a durable machine that helps stop identity thieves in their tracks by shredding confidential paper documents into nearly 400 particles with its Cross-Cut technology. It also features patented SafeSense technology, which automatically shuts off the shredder when hands come too close. This is great for my 5 year old…and let’s face it, my 10 and 12 year olds are just as curious.  Place your hand over the metal portion and the SafeSense light goes on and the machine shuts off!  Brilliant.

The machine is no louder than a hair dryer or a vaccum cleaner. The motor runs for a moment when you turn the machine on and put it in the auto position.  Place the paper in (up to twelve 8.5X11 in. pages at a time) and it automatically takes it down and begins shredding.  It’s powerful enough to shred paper clips, cardboard, staples, and even your old credit cards!  Continuous operation beyond 4-5 minutes in one sitting will trigger a 20-minute cool down period for the machine, hopefully extending it’s life.

Make sure you have it closed all the way before using the shredder.  If it’s just slightly ajar, it won’t turn on.  The large canister holds all your cross-cut “confetti” (up to 40 lbs of it) and makes for more room in your yard’s recycle bin!  You can also recycle that paper when you send packages or used the colored paper for gift bag confetti!

This is our first paper shredder and I’m pretty impressed by it!

The P-12C is available at Target Stores nationwide and more locations for $89.99.

We received a paper shredder to try out and offer an honest review.