# Why Are There Razor Blades in My Walls? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 16, 2003, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-razor-blades-in-my-walls/213476 "2003-11-16T00:35:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2018, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-razor-blades-in-my-walls/213476/61 "2018-05-06T20:39:22Z")
I’ve got one of those old medicine cabinets in my utility bathroom. House is from the 60’s. It also has the 4 digit numbers for the local pharmacy and doctor, along with some home remedies that sound a bit dated. In any case, the other side of the wall is not finished, so if you dropped a blade in there, it wouldn’t fall in between the walls, it would just fall out into the basement. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2018, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-razor-blades-in-my-walls/213476/62 "2018-05-06T21:49:13Z")
I love this bump, because I haven’t thought about this in years. When I was a little kid in the late 60s we stayed at a crappy old hotel that had one of those slots, and I imagined the visual of decades and decades of them piling up somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2018, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-razor-blades-in-my-walls/213476/63 "2018-05-06T22:29:17Z")
Just checked, and all three medicine chests in our house have a slot in them. But vertical, not horizontal, and lacking the little lip I remember from the house I grew up in. The house was built in the 90s. Still for blade disposal, or are the slots there for some other reason? ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2018, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-razor-blades-in-my-walls/213476/64 "2018-05-06T23:23:20Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > …drywall was a later innovation: you wouldn’t easily get a medicine cabinet or a slot /in/ hard plaster. A lot of houses in the U.S. with this feature were built with lath and plaster walls. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2018, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-razor-blades-in-my-walls/213476/65 "2018-05-06T23:32:41Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > A lot of houses in the U.S. with this feature were built with lath and plaster walls. In fact, my house as plaster walls, was built in 1961 and there is one of those slots in the guest bathroom medicine cabinet that is original to the house. There was one in the master bath too but I removed it when I remodeled the room several years ago. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Cabbage\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/82dd89/32.png) [@The\_Cabbage\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Cabbage_Man)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-razor-blades-in-my-walls/213476/66 "2018-05-07T18:14:24Z")
As far as cutting wires go, shouldn’t electrical wires and fixtures be enclosed in metal conduit? ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-razor-blades-in-my-walls/213476/67 "2018-05-07T18:35:13Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > Maybe they should have slots for other things, too–anything you don’t want to deal with, or for people to find in the trash: old love letters, unused prescription drugs, **empty booze bottles** , etc. Bolding mine. That’s what the outhouse is for. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-razor-blades-in-my-walls/213476/68 "2018-05-07T18:52:22Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > Slight hijack: are these razor blade slots used in other countries besides the US? It strikes me as a very “American” idea - crude and simple but effective. I don’t remember seeing them in Europe, but then again I wasn’t even old enough to use razors the last time I was there. I’m not aware of this custom, but plenty of American posters didn’t know about it, either. However, I couldn’t find any mention of it when googling in French. I didn’t spend a lot of time searching, of course, but by contrast, I immediately found plenty of links and pictures when googling it in English. So, my guess is that it wasn’t done in France. ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-razor-blades-in-my-walls/213476/69 "2018-05-07T19:19:56Z")
> [@The\_Cabbage\_Man](#): > > As far as cutting wires go, shouldn’t electrical wires and fixtures be enclosed in metal conduit? No, not inside a wall. I seem to recall hearing of some localities where conduit is required even in a wall, but that would be the exception. In my experience electrical wiring in a wall is plain Romex. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-razor-blades-in-my-walls/213476/70 "2018-05-07T19:41:21Z")
> [@The\_Cabbage\_Man](#): > > As far as cutting wires go, shouldn’t electrical wires and fixtures be enclosed in metal conduit? Currently, most isn’t. The wires come pre-sheathed in flexible thermoplastic that acts as a conduit. (Like \*\*CurtC \*\*says, Romex.) I bought an older house that had the wires wrapped in what looked like thick waxed paper. Where it went through a stud, it also went through a small porcelain tube. Unfortunately for ease of replacement, there were also porcelain knobs in the wall that the wires were wrapped around, to hold them securely in place. There might have been a time when metal conduits were typical. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-razor-blades-in-my-walls/213476/71 "2018-05-07T19:55:54Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > Currently, most isn’t. The wires come pre-sheathed in flexible thermoplastic that acts as a conduit. (Like \*\*CurtC \*\*says, Romex.) > > I bought an older house that had the wires wrapped in what looked like thick waxed paper. Where it went through a stud, it also went through a small porcelain tube. Unfortunately for ease of replacement, there were also porcelain knobs in the wall that the wires were wrapped around, to hold them securely in place. > > There might have been a time when metal conduits were typical. That’s “knob and tube” wiring, one of the earliest types. Metal conduits came later, and non-metal (Romex brand, etc.) even later still. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Cabbage\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/82dd89/32.png) [@The\_Cabbage\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Cabbage_Man)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2018, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-razor-blades-in-my-walls/213476/72 "2018-05-08T17:12:35Z")
The code for electrical wiring has been relaxed frequently, but when i was watching my father and uncle install wiring for an addition to our house (in northeastern Illinois), the wiring inside the walls required a solid metal conduit that had to be bent in a jig when it needed to turn a corner, later, flexible metal conduit was used. I do not know when or if plastic conduit or unprotected wiring was allowed… ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2018, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-razor-blades-in-my-walls/213476/73 "2018-05-08T21:49:28Z")
Two additions: First, the podcast **My Favorite Murder** was informed about this, and they’re asking for people to send in stories about other cool/spooky stuff found inside walls. Don’t bother with razor blade stories, though, they’ve received tons already. Second, at least some manufacturers have figured out the blade-disposal problem. I use Feather blades, which come in a little plastic flat-pack. On top, you can easily swipe out a new, wax-paper-wrapped blade. On the bottom, there’s a narrow slot to insert the used blade; it takes a tiny amount of flex to get it in, which means you can’t get it out once it’s inserted. When the blades are all used, throw away the plastic box, with all the blades neatly tucked inside, where they can harm no one. ---
**Author:** ![thornyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/48db29/32.png) [@thornyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thornyrose)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2018, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-razor-blades-in-my-walls/213476/74 "2018-05-09T06:14:38Z")
I have never seen this. My grandparents’ house was build approximately 1890. In Melbourne Victoria Australia. My parents’ house was built approx 1950. We have traveled a bit in Australia QLD. NSW. Have never seen it in motels, or private houses. Have never seen it in New Zealand motels ,youth hostels, nor private houses. Grandpa sharpened his own life long razor so there was never a disposal issue. Father / assorted males used tape to wrap blades or use tins or both. Thank you for the link [https://www.duluthtrading.com/store/product/shaving-blades-double-edge-razor-blades-59064.aspx](https://www.duluthtrading.com/store/product/shaving-blades-double-edge-razor-blades-59064.aspx) Yes I have seen this sort of system a lot. I know this is a very small sample size. Hospitals always had some sort of sharps disposal after single use needles were invented. Around about the 1950s Single use needles were first used for mass vaccinations here. With this came the disposal issues, and separate containers were used, these would be burnt later in specialized medical incinerator at each hospital. These have been upgraded from simple ( scary ) cardboard boxes with a slot, to the bright yellow and red plastic boxes we see now. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2018, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-razor-blades-in-my-walls/213476/75 "2018-05-10T08:17:06Z")
> [@lucky\_henry](#): > > That was the common way to dispose of those blades. If you still have the original medicine cabinet in the bathroom you will find a slot through which you would push your used blades. Either that, or the brackets that hold up those glass shelves will all be, essentially, slots into which old blades can be dropped. What surprises me though, is how evidently in some cases a mass of blades ends up in the wall. I had always assumed the framework of the medicine cabinet was hollow, but sealed, so you could discard quite a few blades there but they would stay with the medicine cabinet. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2018, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-razor-blades-in-my-walls/213476/76 "2018-05-10T08:20:20Z")
I still use the old-fashioned safety razor blades; these days the container they come in has a disposal slot on the bottom for used blades. Well? Look how long it took before someone finally thought of putting wheels on a suitcase. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![erysichthon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@erysichthon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erysichthon)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2018, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-razor-blades-in-my-walls/213476/77 "2018-05-10T17:12:39Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Some airline bathrooms still have razor blade disposal slots. God only knows where they end up. I remember Jerry Seinfeld doing a stand-up bit about those slots many years ago. “WHO IS SHAVING ON THE PLANE?!?” ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2018, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-razor-blades-in-my-walls/213476/78 "2018-05-10T23:27:06Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > That’s “knob and tube” wiring, one of the earliest types. Metal conduits came later, and non-metal (Romex brand, etc.) even later still. A hint about knob and tube - if you find out your house has it, the wax paper wrapping will be worn away in places. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2018, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-razor-blades-in-my-walls/213476/79 "2018-05-10T23:42:58Z")
> [@erysichthon](#): > > I remember Jerry Seinfeld doing a stand-up bit about those slots many years ago. “WHO IS SHAVING ON THE PLANE?!?” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/n0E7EaRLmSI/hqdefault.jpg "jerry seinfeld on airplane travel") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0E7EaRLmSI) ---
**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:** [May 11, 2018, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-razor-blades-in-my-walls/213476/80 "2018-05-11T00:31:53Z")
I used flat safety razors in the seventies, and this is how I disposed of them: > [@t-keela](#): > > Actually they did come up with a better solution. Many of the double safety razor blade came in little metal tin. You would push the new blade out with your thumb via a hole in the middle top. > > Flip over the tin and slide the old blade into another slot on the back. When you ran out of new blades the tin would be full of the old blades…then throw away the tin. I’m astonished to learn that it was common to shove them into the wall. But it doesn’t strike me as especially hazardous. There’s all sorts of crap in walls. (Mine have broken asbestos tiles, for instance) and anyone opening up walls should use caution. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-razor-blades-in-my-walls/213476.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-razor-blades-in-my-walls/213476.md?page=5)