Getting rid of things like an eggshell is tough because they’re not great for garbage disposal and they leave behind odor and goo in our trash cans, sinks, and floors. Here are 17 things to do with them instead.
1. Put Eggshells in the garden
Interestingly, eggshells are rich in nutrients so they make a great fertilizer for the garden. Particularly, they’re high in calcium which will help create healthy plants and nutritious foods.
2. Mix Eggshell with Coffee
For an extra dose of nutrition in the garden, mix the eggshell with a few scoops of ground coffee. It’s noted that specialty coffee should be avoided, but regular coffee boosts the eggshell’s nutritional power.
3. Compost Eggshells
Composting is a great way to reuse scraps from the kitchen, minimizing waste. While things like orange peels shouldn’t be added to compost, things like an eggshell are great additions to create a thriving compost pile.
“It helps power the pile and adds more nutrients to it,” explains Jim, a garden expert. “It’s always a shame when I see somebody throw any eggshell away.”
“It’s an instant fertilizer, it’s unbelievable how it works,” he added. “Simple nutritional things like that that are organic can provide so much power.”
Moreover, you can freeze them until you’re ready to compost them or make an “eggshell tea” by soaking them in water and using the tea for the garden.
4. Use Eggshell as a Pesticide Alternative
Crushing an eggshell into the garden won’t only boost crop health. It also acts as a pesticide because things like plant-eating slugs can’t glide over them the way they do the dirt, preventing them from causing damage.
5. Mellow Out Coffee
Purportedly, you can add a few crushed pieces to your ground coffee to help mellow out the flavor. Furthermore, this will give you a little boost of collagen as well because store-bought supplements are often derived from eggshells.
6. Use them to Scrub
The coarse texture of eggshells makes them ideal for cleaning pots and pans. Just crush a few and add them to a little dish soap. Next, scrub pots and pans with a sponge.
7. Eggshells can Remove Stains
Putting crushed eggshells into a stained coffee or tea mug with some water and soaking it overnight can help remove some of those tough stains that stick around on mugs, seemingly forever.
8. Use Eggshells for crafts
You can dye them, use them to make chalk or create beautiful and intricate mosaics.
9. Turn them into Seedling Pods
Half an eggshell is the perfect size and shape to plant seeds in, plus they’re packed full of nutrients to help seedlings grow into healthy and thriving plants. Just add some dirt and the seed and bury it in the garden or a planter box. You’ll be amazed at how easy and cost-effective this gardening method is.
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10. Plant Herbs
Interestingly, you can cut little holes into the bottom of eggshells to put stems through and use them to grow herbs when space is limited. However, you’ll want the eggshell to be wet before poking a hole in it. Otherwise, the eggshell will crack.
11. Make a Cute Vase
You can also repurpose eggshells by painting them and adding a succulent or air plant. These are great for decor and gifts. Just be sure to wrap them well as they are more delicate than a standard clay pot.
12. Repurpose them as Feed
If you have chickens that produce fresh eggs, a great way to give back to them is to feed them the eggshell. Although it may seem odd, you can crush them and the chickens will happily eat them, simultaneously gaining a huge boost of calcium.
13. Sharpen Blades
Incredibly, they can be used to sharpen knife blades. Blend the eggshell with water and use the mixture to sharpen the blades. It’s noted this method is “doubly beneficial” because it’ll also sharpen the blender blades!
14. Improve Teeth Health
Apparently, eggshells can help improve teeth health. The calcium and phosphate-rich eggshell can be crushed to make a paste. You can use this paste to brush with or spread over your teeth and do a treatment for several minutes before rinsing if your teeth are feeling particularly tender or weak.
15. Fresh Eggshell can help with Skin Injuries
Applying a fresh eggshell and allowing it to dry over the wound can help with things like drawing out a splinter, calming acne and blemishes, or treating boils. After the solution has dried, wash it away with warm water and be sure there’s some abrasion from the eggshell. This will help wash away any damage-causing bacteria.
Treat Blisters
Additionally, you can put a wet eggshell over a blister and cover it with a bandaid. Let it soak overnight and your blister should be almost completely gone by morning.
16. Make a Candle Holder
This decorative idea, like the crafty suggestions above, is delicate and should be handled with care. However, they make adorable candle holders as well. Simply fill the eggshell with wax and a wick then decorate the outside for an affordable makeshift candle holder that’s also customizable and can be suited for any holiday or occasion.
17. Science Experiments
Most people know that eggs serve an important function in science experiments. However, the eggshell can also be used to create a fun and educational environment. You can soak an eggshell in vinegar and watch it dissolve. Then you can use the egg (hard-boiled for best results) to soak in other substances like dyes and corn syrup or rubbing alcohol.
