8 Smart Uses For Eggshells

Believe it or not, there are a lot of uses for eggshells, and I’ll be sharing a few of the best ones with you today. Originally I began to save eggshells to add to my composter, but seeing those eggshells on my countertop every day got me thinking about what else I might be able to do with them.

I found a lot of unusual but practical ways to use eggshells, and since we eat a lot of eggs, I’m happy to be able to put the shells to good use instead of tossing them in the trash. I’ll start with something important: how to clean eggshells so you’re not introducing any bacteria when you use them.

Related: 13 Ways To Stop Wasting Food (And Money!).

How To Clean Eggshells

Before reusing or repurposing eggshells, it’s a good idea to make sure they are clean and free from bacteria. Rinse the shells inside and out, making sure to remove any residue or membrane that may be stuck to the inside. Then bake the shells at 150°F on a cookie sheet for about 10 minutes.

8 Surprising Uses For Eggshells

1. Nourishing Face Mask

Pulverize dried egg shells with a mortar and pestle (or in a blender), then whisk the powder in with an egg white and use for a healthful, skin-tightening facial. Allow the face mask to dry before rinsing it off.

2. Treat Skin Irritations

Drop an eggshell into a small container of apple cider vinegar and let it soak for a couple of days. Dab the mixture on minor skin irritations or on itchy skin.

3. Powerful Cleaner

Ground eggshells make a wonderful, non-toxic abrasive for those tough-to-clean pots and pans. Mix them with a little soapy water for a powerful clean.

You can also use eggshells to clean your hummingbird feeders! These feeders can get crusty and hard-to-clean if they aren’t cleaned regularly. First, rinse it out with hot water. Then add some crushed egg shells, fill 1/2 way with water, and shake. The shells act as an abrasive, removing mold or other built-up gunk. Rinse well before re-filling with hummingbird food. (You can also use this method to clean narrow containers like your favorite thermos!)

4. Garden Helper

Eggshells are rich in calcium and other minerals that help your garden thrive, which is why they make a great fertilizer! Crush a few eggshells into tiny pieces and sprinkle into each hole before planting. Then, sprinkle additional shells around the base of your plants every two weeks.

Eggshells can also help deter common garden pests like slugs, snails, and even stray cats! Just crush a few eggshells and scatter them around your vegetables and flowers. The texture of the shells will help keep would-be garden pests at bay.

5. Start Some Seedlings

Fill an egg carton with empty, rinsed eggshell halves and poke a hole in each one for drainage. Then add potting soil and one or two seeds to each shell. When the seedlings are big enough for transplanting outside, just crack the shell at the bottom and plant them, shell and all.

6. House Plant Booster

Keep a mason jar of eggshells covered with water for watering indoor plants.

7. Make Your Own Powdered Calcium Supplement

Skip the pills and simply bake your shells at 350 degrees for 8 minutes. Let them cool and grind them to a fine powder. Add your supplement (a teaspoon or less) to your favorite smoothie or juice once a day.

You can also add the powdered shell to your dog’s food as a calcium supplement. Calcium is an important part of a dog’s diet, and especially so for dogs being fed homemade food. To add to dog food, add 1/2 tsp of ground eggshells per pound of dog food.

8. Laundry Whitener

Some say that if you toss some shells in a mesh bag in your laundry, the gray tint to your whites will disappear.

What do you do with your eggshells?