15+ Surprising Uses for Eggshells
The majority of people just throw eggshells in the trash; however, they can be really useful in our everyday lives. In the following article, we’ll cover some of the most surprising uses for eggshells.
Eggshell Facts
An eggshell is composed of calcium carbonate, which is also an ingredient found in certain antacids. The shell of a medium-sized egg contains approximately 750-800 mg of calcium.
The shell accounts for 9-12% of the total weight of the egg and has pores that allow for the exchange of oxygen and the release of moisture and carbon dioxide.
The color of the shell depends on the breed of hen that laid the egg. In other words, white hens produce eggs of the same color, and brown ones lay brown eggs.
What are some uses for eggshells?
Use as natural bandages
The eggshell membrane (the slightly transparent film inside) is used to help heal cuts and scratches. So, the next time you get hurt, apply some of this film and let it do its job.
Enhance the flavor of your coffee
If you brew coffee with some eggshells (a practice that’s been around for centuries), it will reduce the bitterness. Remember to thoroughly wash the shells and strain the coffee to avoid swallowing any pieces.
Repel pests in the garden
Soft-bodied animals like slugs and snails cannot travel across the sharp pieces of eggshell, keeping your plants and likewise your flowers safe from these predators.
Give tomatoes a “calcium boost”
If you have a garden, then you probably know that tomato plants have a problem supporting the weight of their fruit. Experienced gardeners often put eggshells in the soil where tomatoes are grown to help combat this problem.
Eat them
Many people eat eggshells because of their impressive calcium content. To eat them, crush and use them in your meals, sprinkle on soups, desserts, sauces, creams, salads, etc.
They won’t affect the taste of the food and the good news is they’ll improve the health of your bones.
Starting seeds
If you’re starting a garden (or even a container garden) you can add eggshells to the soil, just like with tomatoes. Mix some eggshells along with some compost or fertilizer into your soil. You can also scatter them on top of the soil of your garden and flowers or add them to a compost pile.
Sharpen and clean kitchen utensils
Place the shell, as complete as possible, in the freezer and use it to clean and sharpen the blades of your blender. Just add water and run the blender.
Treat canine diarrhea with one of the best uses for eggshells
If your dog ate something it shouldn’t have, you can pulverize some eggshells with some coffee grounds to make a powder.
Sprinkle a few teaspoons into the dog’s food and diarrhea should disappear within one day. Above all, this is one of the most surprising uses for eggshells!
Use as a mineral supplement
Soak some eggshells in water with lemon juice for a few weeks and keep this mixture in the refrigerator. Add a little to fruit and vegetable smoothies to provide your body with extra minerals.
Decorate your house
You can make Christmas ornaments from the shells. However, you may need to take a course or have lots of patience and a steady hand. Along with keeping the kids entertained, it’s also the perfect way to spend less during the holiday season.
Remove stuck food
Crushed eggs shells can be used to scrub pots that have food stuck to the bottom and sides. Try using some eggshells to scrub pots and pans the next time you wash the dishes.
Strengthen nails
Crush an eggshell into a powder and add a little to your nail polish or enamel to strengthen your nails with each application.
Furthermore, this is perfect for those women that have problems getting their nails to grow or suffer from frequent breaks.
We recommend reading: Treat Brittle Nails with These 5 Home Nail Remedies
Reduce the appearance of wrinkles
Crush some eggshells and put the powder along with some water in an ice cube tray and freeze. So, you can rub the ice cubes on your face to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
Apply as a nourishing mask
Pulverize some eggshells with a mortar and pestle. Mix the powder with an egg white and apply as a mask to tighten the skin on the face. This is one of the great uses for eggshells in the beauty department.
Whiten clothes
Some people say that if you put some eggshells into a mesh bag and add to the washing machine, stains will disappear and your whites will be shining.
Make candles
The next time you boil eggs, carefully open the top and save the hollow shell as a mold to fill with candle wax.
- First, insert a wick.
- Then, allow the wax to set.
- Lastly, remove the shell.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
King’ori, A. M. (2011). A Review of the uses of poultry eggshells and shell membranes. International Journal of Poultry Science. https://doi.org/10.3923/ijps.2011.908.912