Today, we are sharing some wonderful ideas for things to do with eggshell so they don’t go to waste!

We have talked about eggshell uses many times on Chemistry Cachet, but I have not written a dedicated post for this before.

With egg prices being so high now, I think learning unique ways to use your eggshells will come in very handy. The brilliant thing about eggshell uses is this is based on the chemistry and science of the shell!

Things To Do With Eggshells So They Don’t Go To Waste

So, Why Should I Save My Eggshells?

When you check out the science and composition of an eggshell, it makes sense that it has some wonderful benefits to take advantage of for your home and garden.

An eggshell’s main component is calcium carbonate.

Calcium carbonate is a crystal, and a calcium salt of carbonic acid. It has many uses as a supplement, and even as an addition in household products!

I have been saving and using eggshells for years, and it is one of my favorite science-based home hacks for so many things!

Let’s start with the garden benefits.

What Can I do With Eggshells in my Garden?

One of the best uses of calcium carbonate is for your garden and plants. Calcium is not only beneficial for compost, but also soil.

Compost

The most common and well-known way to reuse eggshells is simply adding them to your compost pile. Rinse the egg shells, then place them in the compost pile in pieces or even crush them up.

Give Your Lawn a Calcium Boost

You can also use eggshells in your lawn! The key to this is making sure you rinse them, dry them, then crush into a powder to avoid attracting insects. I like to sprinkle eggshell powder onto the lawn before it rains!  You can do this every month. Crushing the shells into a powder also helps the calcium reach the soil quicker than just leaving the pieces whole.

Feed Plants

Eggshells are also fantastic for feeding plants and flowers. Which plants like eggshells? Just about every plant in my experience.

One of my secrets to big healthy roses is eggshells! We have a cool, slow release plant food in the eBook which uses eggshells as the calcium source too. Egg shells are also great for container plants.

Non-Toxic Pest Control

Most insects are deterred by egg shells, so sprinkling crushed eggshells around plants, flower beds, or even around sidewalks. The key again is making  sure you rinse the shells, let them dry, and crush them up! We have a post about organic ways to remove pests found here.

Feed The Birds with Leftover Shells

I learned this interesting tip when I took Ornithology in college (this was such a fun class by the way). Female birds can really benefit from the calcium boost in eggshells. Rinse them, dry them completely, then crush them and add to bird seed. Here is more information and instructions for this.

Now, moving into more household tips starting with houseplants…

Feed Houseplants With “Eggshell Water”

This still pertains to plants, but now we are moving into the house area. I read this tip in an old gardening book years ago! Get a jar of water (make sure it has a lid), add egg shells to it, and let this mixture soak for a few weeks before using it. You can actually keep this jar of eggshells and water all the time and use as needed. This calcium rich water is perfect for watering your houseplants! You can still used crushed shells for the soil, but since this is for an indoor plant, they will get quicker benefits with this calcium enriched water!

Make Your Own Calcium Citrate

Try making your own calcium citrate! It is so easy to do. Mix eggshell powder with lemon juice!

Make Your Own Sidewalk Chalk

This is such a cool tip and fun to do with your kids! The sidewalk chalk you purchase contains calcium carbonate just like an eggshell!

Here is what you need:

• 5 eggshells finely ground
• 1 tsp hot water
• 1 tsp flour
• Food coloring (optional)

Directions:

1. Mix up the ingredients until the solution is a paste texture.
2. Form into log shapes. If it doesn’t form well, add a tiny bit more water.
3. You can also pack this into something like a toilet paper roll to keep the structure.
4. Let it completely dry out for 3-5 days or dry in the oven on a low temperature.

Homemade Cleaning Scrub

Did you know that calcium carbonate is an ingredient found in many cleaning products like Comet cleaner? You can use egg shells to create something similar!

Here is what you need:

• 12 egg shells
• 1 tbsp baking soda

Directions:

1. Crush egg shells into a powder.
2. Add in the baking soda.
3. You can drizzle in some dish soap at this point to make a cleaning scrub. Add just enough dish soap to combine the ingredients, but keep the texture for scrubbing.

You can use this one so many different things like pans, sinks, or even outside surfaces.

Does it matter what type of eggs you have?

No, this can be good for store-bought or farm fresh eggs! The egg shell will have the same calcium carbonate, it just might have a different texture or color. Otherwise, the uses are going to be the same for all of these tips 🙂

How long do egg shells last?

Once you rinse and dry your egg shells, they will be good for years! The important thing is making sure they are rinsed and dried before storing them. Once they have been dried, you can store them crushed up in jars with a lid, then use as needed.

I hope this post is helpful for you to use leftover egg shells so they don’t go to waste!

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