Ways to use eggs that don’t involve food

The humble egg is great for so many household purposes…and you can use the shells and the carton too.

And no, we’re not talking about using eggs in your cooking – we’re talking about good ol’ fashioned tips and tricks to use around the house.

1. Natural moisturiser

If you have dry skin, an egg yolk makes a great natural facial. It might sounds a little bit strange but it really does the trick. Beaten the yolk then apply to the area you want to treat. Leave on for 30 minutes then rinse.

2. Use eggshells in the garden compost

Eggshells are a great addition to your garden compost because they are rich in calcium. Simply crush them before you put them in your compost heap to encourage the process.

3. Put egg water in the garden 

After boiling eggs, don’t pour the water down the drain. Just let it cool then water plants with the nutrient-filled water. They’ll thank you later!

4. Use eggshells to scrub the house

Ground eggshells make a great abrasive for those tough-to-clean pots and pans. Crush them up then mix with a little soapy water for a powerful clean.

5. Unclog drains

Keep a few ground eggshells in your kitchen sink strainer. This will trap little particles and help break them down in the sink pipe.

6. Make a natural shampoo

Eggs are packed with protein and great for thinning hair that needs a gentle treatment. Whisk an egg and then run it through your hair with your fingers and massage it into your scalp. Once fully applied to the hair, wash the egg out. Easy.

7. Heal cuts

Apply a thin layer of egg whites to a minor cut. The egg whites will dry, creating a thin film that protects your cut as well as provides nutrients to the skin that will help it to heal easier.

8. Enhance jewellery

Eggs contain sulphur, which oxidises jewellery with sterling .925 or lower. Simply hard boil 1-2 eggs, crumble the egg yolk and place egg yolk at the bottom of a container. Top the crumbled egg yolk with 1-2 paper towels, and then place the jewellery on top of the paper towels. Seal the container and let it sit at room temperature for a few days. Remove the jewellery and rinse.

9. Make coffee less bitter

Not everyone loves bitter coffee, which is where eggshells can help. Just add crushed shells to the coffee before brewing – it’ll make it smoother.

10. Clean leather

Whisk egg whites and apply a thin layer on to your leather and lightly scrub the egg white away. It will leave the leather both clean and shiny.

12. Make seed pots

Fill the carton holes with fertiliser and plant seedlings in each one. Transfer them to a larger garden once they grow or give them to others as a gift.

13. Deter pests

Spread crushed eggshells around the edges of your garden and the jagged edges will ward off all incoming slugs, snails, and worms.

14. Relieve dry, peeling cuticles

Is the skin around your fingernails dry and peeling? Break off a couple pieces of eggshell with the membrane attached. Then tape the shells, membrane side down, to problem areas.

Do you have any other uses for eggs to share?