FAQ – What do I do with my used razor blades when I’m done with them?

So, now that you’ve worn out your double edge razor blade, what do you do with it?
How do you safely dispose of it where no one will be injured?
And what about the environment?  How do I do this in a low-impact, green, earth friendly manner?

Double Edge Razor Blade Disposal Options

This probably wasn’t first and foremost on your mind when you make the switch to classic wet shaving with a safety razor, but you’ll rapidly begin to accumulate a bunch of ‘dead soldiers’ as your beard wears out double edge razor blade after blade after blade (and besides, you want to try them all and find that perfect double edge razor blade anyway).  So, let’s look at your choices.

Worst option – throw the razor blade in the trash, ‘naked’.

What if you realize you accidentally through away something you needed and have to dig through the trash?
There’s a world of pain and bleeding hiding in your refuse.  This is not the best option.

Easiest option – Blade Bank or Blade Safe

You can get a commercial blade bank or blade safe for about $1.00.
Or, you can drain the liquid out of a tin can and put a slot in the top and make your own
(go here to see how the safe in the picture below was made).
Some people even re-purpose piggy banks for this purpose (probably not a great idea if
there are young kids in the house, but might be a clever response to a burglary threat!)

DIY blade bank next to commercial blade bank

The nice thing about both of these blade banks is that, when full, they’re recyclable – a metal can full of metal blades.

Old School Option #1 – Buy Double Edge Razor Blades in traditional packaging – blade bank is built in to the dispenser

Double Edge Razor Blade Dispenser with Built-in Blade Safe

Old School Option #2 – Blade Bank in the back of the medicine cabinet

Double Edge Razor Blade Safe in back of old Medicine Cabinet - this was even featured in for rent ad

If you don’t have an old-school medicine cabinet, you could cut a slot in the back of your modern medicine cabinet (just be sure you use a stud finder so you don’t put the slot where there is a stud or firebreak behind your new disposal slot!)

If you go with the ‘behind the medicine cabinet’ option and have your bathroom remodeled some day, make sure the contractor knows what’s in store for them in the wall.

Stack of old Double Edge Razor Blades behind medicine cabinet

Old School Option #3 – For you shower shavers – Blade Bank in the shower tile

Bathroom Tile with double edge razor blade disposal slot

Old School Option #4 – Let’s add this to the ‘bad idea category’

Found this while researching for blade safes…seems like a really bad idea to this BSEE…

Electrical Outlet with a Blade Safe Built in - Probably not up to code...