# Do you lick envelopes? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 1, 2019, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lick-envelopes/841106 "2019-10-01T18:15:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2019, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lick-envelopes/841106/21 "2019-10-02T03:00:51Z")
Wait, what? ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2019, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lick-envelopes/841106/22 "2019-10-02T03:20:22Z")
It’s highly unlikely that your envelope will have any live germs or bacteria on it - if it’s fresh out of the box or enclosed in a mailing from a business it’s probably never even been touched by human hands. But it’s almost a certainty that your finger will have all kinds of microorganisms residing on it. ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2019, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lick-envelopes/841106/23 "2019-10-02T05:04:11Z")
I marked the I lick return enveleopes, but I can’t remember when one did not have the peel and stick seal. Same for birthday cards. Stamps are also self-adhesive, so no licking there either. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2019, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lick-envelopes/841106/24 "2019-10-02T11:04:01Z")
Despite being unable to recall when I last had to do such a thing, I ticked ‘lick’. Most DM or plastic wrapped birthday cards containing envelopes are fulfilled by machine these days - as my sister would say ‘untouched by human hands and feet’. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2019, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lick-envelopes/841106/25 "2019-10-02T12:47:21Z")
Bill printing and stuffing machines are used to print and stuff envelopes without any human interaction. If you get a bill in the mail with a return envelope inside, it may not be absolutely sterile, but the possibility of it containing dangerous germs is almost nil. Lick away. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2019, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lick-envelopes/841106/26 "2019-10-02T13:42:58Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > It’s highly unlikely that your envelope will have any live germs or bacteria on it - if it’s fresh out of the box or enclosed in a mailing from a business it’s probably never even been touched by human hands. But it’s almost a certainty that your finger will have all kinds of microorganisms residing on it. But then I’ve never gotten a paper cut on my tongue from licking my fingers. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2019, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lick-envelopes/841106/27 "2019-10-02T20:51:36Z")
Considering some of the places my tongue has been, return envelopes are the least of my concerns. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2019, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lick-envelopes/841106/28 "2019-10-03T03:51:29Z")
I lick the envelope, the paper, the stamp, and the mailman. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2019, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lick-envelopes/841106/29 "2019-10-03T04:40:07Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > Despite being unable to recall when I last had to do such a thing, I ticked ‘lick’. > > Most DM or plastic wrapped birthday cards containing envelopes are fulfilled by machine these days - as my sister would say ‘untouched by human hands and feet’. Yeah, I don’t remember the last time I licked an envelope someone sent me. But that’s because of the internet, not because I’m worried about catching something from a new, untouched envelope. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2019, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lick-envelopes/841106/30 "2019-10-03T13:31:35Z")
I never lick the adhesive on any envelopes I send out; I don’t want the authorities getting my DNA. I also wear gloves to avoid leaving fingerprints, and purchase envelopes in a different city, paying cash and wearing noseglasses. You can’t be too careful. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2019, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lick-envelopes/841106/31 "2019-10-03T13:48:44Z")
I can’t remember the last time I had to use a return envelope, but I luck an envelope if required. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2019, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lick-envelopes/841106/32 "2019-10-03T14:59:31Z")
I pay bills online, but in the rare instance where I need to use an envelope, I tape it shut. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2019, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lick-envelopes/841106/33 "2019-10-03T15:06:34Z")
I lick all kinds of things more _organic_, shall we say, than an envelope. I probably lick five envelopes a week between business correspondence and bills. ---
**Author:** ![Ignotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecc23a/32.png) [@Ignotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignotus)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2019, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lick-envelopes/841106/34 "2019-10-03T16:36:11Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > Considering some of the places my tongue has been, return envelopes are the least of my concerns. 😉 This! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2019, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lick-envelopes/841106/35 "2019-10-03T20:12:51Z")
I use my sweaty brow since I live in South Georgia. OK, in reality, I usually just lick them. Maybe an average of slightly higher than one per month. Does anyone else remember elementary school valentines with flavored glue on the envelopes? ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2019, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lick-envelopes/841106/36 "2019-10-03T21:30:26Z")
I’m electronic. However, back when I was doing bulk mailings at work, I used an [artificial tongue.](https://www.staples.com/OIC-Pencil-Type-Moistener/product_889610?cid=PS:GooglePLAs:889610&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=889610&KPID=889610&gclid=Cj0KCQjwuNbsBRC-ARIsAAzITufLVsGpYzTRyZhQ_P7lDBYVGZht26kQWzJLvKBKjr4-9umofx2Gg0IaAkZXEALw_wcB) ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2019, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lick-envelopes/841106/37 "2019-10-03T23:21:34Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > But then I’ve never gotten a paper cut on my tongue from licking my fingers. I wet something instead of licking because I got a papercut on my tongue as a teenager. Never again. ---
**Author:** ![CaptainE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71c47a/32.png) [@CaptainE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptainE)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lick-envelopes/841106/38 "2019-10-04T16:57:38Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > I wet something instead of licking because I got a papercut on my tongue as a teenager. Never again. Maybe you’ve learned things since then. Like acute vs obtuse angles? Don’t live scared. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lick-envelopes/841106/39 "2019-10-04T18:27:36Z")
My wife pays the bills. I lick her tongue, and she licks the envelopes. It works for us, and I very much look forward to the 30th of the month. When we do the Christmas cards I use a wet rag. Sealed with a Kiss, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lick-envelopes/841106/40 "2019-10-04T22:09:10Z")
I lick my monitor every time I pay a bill. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lick-envelopes/841106.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lick-envelopes/841106.md?page=3)