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Razor blades being found in walls during remodels! Not just a couple, but sometimes a big pile of hundreds them! Who knows why?! Anyone?
There is a thread this morning in one of the Realtor groups we belong to about this phenomenon. And there is a common reason! I will post the answer below in the comments.
Years ago medicine cabinets had a slot where safety razor blades were deposited after they were dull. The blades would just accumulate between the walls and the studs on each side. If someone finds a bunch of razor blades, you can be assured that there was a medicine cabinet above the pile of blades on one side of the wall or the other. The house my father built in 1958 had just such a medicine cabinet.
Right! Here's the answer! Old metal medicine cabinets from the 40s on up had a "razor slot" in them to safely dispose of used razor blades. There was nothing usually installed under this slot, they just went down into the wall.
In the old days, there was a slot in the medicine cabinet to drop the used razors behind the wall.
This. Grew up with one, too.
Such a lovely time bomb to leave for future remodelers...
OTOH, I've found single-edge blades during remodeling, where they were apparently dropped down a wall section or sometimes even "parked" by one corner in a 2x4. (Beer cans, too.) But that sloppy practice doesn't result in a Jigsaw-like pile of rusty blades... shudder.
In the old days, there was a slot in the medicine cabinet to drop the used razors behind the wall.
Yep. They recognized such sharps as dangerous and not to be put in garbage. Garbage was commonly burned at the house in many areas, and the blades could survive the fire. Over time, the ashes might be used in the soil as an amendment (remember that garbage was far less toxic before plastics and household chemicals). Livestock, children, and gardeners needed to have the blades just disappear, and inside a wall was a safe storage.
Such a lovely time bomb to leave for future remodelers...
OTOH, I've found single-edge blades during remodeling, where they were apparently dropped down a wall section or sometimes even "parked" by one corner in a 2x4. (Beer cans, too.) But that sloppy practice doesn't result in a Jigsaw-like pile of rusty blades... shudder.
I definitely think the take-home message is be a little ~cautious~ sticking your hands into walls when remodeling!
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Here's the answer! Old metal medicine cabinets from the 40s on up had a "razor slot" in them to safely dispose of used razor blades. There was nothing usually installed under this slot, they just went down into the wall.
