I Tried the Viral Sugar Trick on My Dull Scissors—Here’s the Truth

The Theory Behind the Hack

The idea is simple:

Granulated sugar is slightly abrasive. Repeatedly stabbing and cutting through sugar crystals supposedly polishes and realigns the blade edge, restoring sharpness.

It’s often grouped with other DIY methods like cutting aluminum foil or sandpaper—both of which do have mild sharpening effects due to their abrasiveness.

But does sugar work the same way?

Let’s look at the science.

Sugar hardness: Granulated sugar has a Mohs hardness of about 2-3 (similar to your fingernail). Steel has a hardness of about 4-5. So sugar is softer than steel.

How sharpening works: True sharpening removes metal from the blade, creating a new, sharp edge. This requires an abrasive harder than the blade material (diamond, ceramic, or specialized sharpening stone).

How honing works: Honing realigns the existing edge without removing metal. This can be done with a steel rod (harder than the blade) or, in theory, with a softer abrasive that polishes rather than grinds.

Where sugar fits: Sugar is too soft to remove metal from a steel blade. At best, it might polish the blade (remove microscopic burrs) or clean off residue. At worst, it does nothing.

But I’m a scientist at heart. I needed to test it myself.