Comments on: Ask Unclutterer: What should I do with old x-ray films?

By: Khurshid Shaikh

Khurshid Shaikh — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 11:32:52 +0000

I would like to know about the disposal procedure for X-ray film.

By: Emma

Emma — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:17:23 +0000

Save them for the next solar eclipse (no idea when the next one is though I’m afraid). You can look at a solar eclipse through an xray and it will protect your eyes and show the eclipse nicely.

By: Freddy

Freddy — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 08:57:30 +0000

Pretty much any facility that takes x-rays recycles them because, as you pointed out, they have silver and are relatively valuable.

By: Kyle

Kyle — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 19:04:30 +0000

My mother is an ICU nurse and would bring home x-rays to use as stencils for craft projects. It’s really easy to cut with an exact knife.

By: allen

allen — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 19:53:36 +0000

i _love_ the idea of having these on display! it couldnt’ be that expensive/hard to build a simple lightbox…

Now, i just need to break a few bones!

Am i the only one who has never recived the x-rays from the doctors? I don’t get them, they keep them, and I never thought to ask for them.

By: George

George — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 16:23:11 +0000

As a science teacher, I’d love to get some old x-rays.

By: Alexis

Alexis — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 01:57:37 +0000

I too have some x-rays of my cat. I have often thought of turning them into some sort of display I just haven’t figured out the best way. I like the light box idea.

By: Marie

Marie — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 21:59:37 +0000

I think this qualified for your request from last year for odd clutter.

By: ziggee

ziggee — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 21:25:31 +0000

How about using them as art??? It would be unique art, but still art

Zig

By: gypsy packer

gypsy packer — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 11:52:13 +0000

Hang onto them. Injuries can come back to haunt you. If you can get digital storage, do it.

By: Kim

Kim — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 07:22:50 +0000

I threw out a very old spinal xray when I moved 3 months ago … and now I need it. A bit of funny configuration means I could have problems having an epidural when I give birth in a few months (and being pregnant, it’s not a good idea to get another xray).

At the time, I could not think of any reason the xray would be useful.

So from personal experience, and against my usual inclination, I’d say don’t throw out too early – having a copy on your medical records is a good idea.

By: Cyrano

Cyrano — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 05:55:46 +0000

My wife had some x-rays of her ankle that she wanted to throw out. I wanted to shred it just in case, but when I did the shredder had a hard time because the film (it may have been an MRI instead of an X-ray, I’m not sure) was made of some relatively hard plastic-ish stuff.

I had just remembered a how-to online on making a wallet out of an old keyboard cellophane film, so I made her x-ray into a handy wallet. It is really strong, and best of all, SUPER thin and light. I am pretty minimal when it comes to what I put IN my wallet, so it’s the lightest my back pocket has been in a long time.

By: Miracle Maxine

Miracle Maxine — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 03:04:01 +0000

Umm – I’ll be a little hesitant to display my X-rays, since the last one I had was an HSG – a nice image of my uterus and tubes. Definitely not anything I would like my guests and family to comment about.

By: Tim Carlson

Tim Carlson — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 03:02:27 +0000

I’m not sure I understand what harm someone could do with an x-ray of my bones. How does insurance fraud come into the picture? It’s not like they are taking your bank account number.

Sorry if that’s a naive question.

By: erin malone

erin malone — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 01:43:02 +0000

There are a lot of artists who may be interested in your xrays as well. Many artists specialize in imagery of the body and xrays provide a unique glimpse inside. Perhaps offer them up on freecycle or to a local university art class.