Don't Throw Away Those Eggshells

If you love eggs, you probably go through many of them every week. They’re so important for cooking, from a simple hard-boiled egg to a fancy Pavlova. The eggshells, however, often get discarded with no second thought, like yesterday’s newspaper. That is a crying shame because the shells have so many uses...

1. Skin-tightening face mask

Clean and dry the shells, then grind them with a mortar and pestle into powder. Mix the powder with an egg white, and then apply the paste to your face and wait for it to dry. Wash it off, and you’ll be able to feel the difference.

2. A household abrasive

Use crushed eggshells and soapy water to clean the insides of containers, as well as pots and pans. Simply put the solution into the container and shake it well. Oh, and it’s eco-friendly.

3. Clean your drain

Consider keeping some crushed eggshells in your sink’s strainer – they’ll add another layer of straining, and as they break down, they keep the drain and pipes clean.

4. Help seedlings grow

Fill shell halves with soil and add your choice of seeds, place in an egg carton and let it grow. Once the seedlings are ready, transplant them with the shell in your garden to give them fertile ground to start from.

5. Take the edge out of coffee

If your coffee tastes too bitter, just add a clean, dry eggshell to your coffee filter. The shells contain calcium carbonate, which neutralizes the acidity in the coffee, thus reducing both the bitterness and acidity levels in the coffee.

6. Compost enhancer

Eggshells break down rapidly in compost piles, adding the much-needed calcium to the mix. Add the coffee grounds from #5 for even better results.

7. Keep your garden free of slugs and snails

Sprinkle crushed eggshells in your garden to deter slugs, snails, and even cutworms from eating your plants. If you have deer in the area, you’ll be happy to know that they hate the smell of eggs too.

8. Skin irritation remedy

Use apple cider vinegar to dissolve an eggshell (this should take about two days), and then apply the mixture onto the irritated area for quick relief.

9. Use the membrane

The membranes inside the eggshells are incredibly useful for a variety of home remedies:

• Apply to boils to make them go away
  
• Apply on splinters or glass shards that you can’t easily remove with scissors – as the membrane dries out, it will pull out the splinter, making it easy to remove.
  
• Similarly, use on blackheads or to clear out pimples.
  
• Place the wet side of the membrane on cuts or scratches and let it dry. Doing this will hasten the healing process and minimize scarring.
  
• If you accidentally peeled skin from the sides of your fingernails, apply the wet side of a membrane and let it dry. This should stop the pain and help it heal quickly.
  

10. Turn them into fun molds

Blow out the egg and rinse the shell, and then fill it with chocolate or Jell-O. Serve it to your guests peeled, or leave it in the shell and let them discover the surprise on their own.

How to blow out an egg: