7 Uses for Egg Shells

Over the colder months my work-day breakfast has become pretty standard – 2 eggs on sourdough, with some spinach or, since they’ve been back in season, avocado. It’s simple, healthy, delicious and keeps me full until lunchtime (and I make sure to choose ethical eggs of course!). As a result I’ve found myself with lots of egg shells on hand, so today I wanted to share my top 7 uses for egg shells with you all, and I’d love to hear your tips as well!

7 Uses for Egg Shells | I Spy Plum Pie

1. Garden Fertiliser

Egg shells are full of calcium and other minerals, so they make an excellent addition to any garden. Simply crush them up and pop some in the base of the hole when you are planting, and then sprinkle them over the soil every few weeks to provide an additional nutrient boost.

2. Seedling Starter

If you can manage to crack your eggs nice and cleanly, then egg shells make an excellent place to start off your seedlings before transplanting them into your garden. It’s as simple as rinsing them out thoroughly, poking a small hole in the bottom then sitting them in an egg carton. Pop in some high quality potting mix and your seed, then when they are ready to go into the garden simply crack the bottom of the shell (to make sure the roots can break through) then plant in your garden, shell and all. No waste and your seedlings get all the additional nutrients of the shell as the grow, win-win!

3. Pest Controls

Given the spiky nature of broken egg shells it’s probably no surprise that garden pests like slugs and snails aren’t a huge fan of them! Cats are also not on the egg shell bandwagon, so if you’re having trouble with either pests eating your plants or cats using them as a litter tray then simply scatter some egg shells over your garden beds and they’ll stay away.

4. Grow Better Tomatoes

The main reason that stops our tomato plants from fruiting properly is blossom-rot, which is often caused by a lack of calcium in the soil. This can be overcome by placing egg shells under the plant when you pop them in the pot, and then ensure you keep the calcium levels up while they are fruiting by adding more egg shells every second week.

5. Keep Drains Clean

If you’re finding your drain has gotten somewhat clogged and using vinegar and baking soda isn’t doing the trick (you can find those steps in my green cleaning post) then try crushing up some egg shells very small and adding them into the mix. You’ll need to wash them down really well, but they can help dislodge any built up gunk along your drain pipe due to their sharp edges. Be careful to really crush them down first, and don’t do this too often, but it’s a good option to try before pulling out any chemical de-cloggers.

6. Abrasive Cleaner

Egg shells make an excellent abrasive cleaner as they are tough and scratchy without being damaging. Simply crush a few eggshells up and sprinkle them over the surface that needs cleaning, then wash off with soapy water. It will gently scrub away grease and grime, leaving everything sparkling clean!

7. Compost Boost

If you end up with any egg shells left after all that then pop them straight into your compost bin (or worm farm, or bokashi) and let them break down with the rest of your food waste. This will help your finished compost have a balanced array of minerals, which in turn will result in happier plants when you add the compost to your soil!

Do you have any other uses for egg shells? I’d love to add some more the mix!

Join the Weekly News & get my Meal Planning 101 Guide!

8 Comments on 7 Uses for Egg Shells

  1. merilyn
    November 4, 2015 at 12:18 pm (8 years ago)

    good ideas there thanks liz!
    didn’t know some of those! especially for pesky snails eating my strawberries which have just started forming fruit!
    enjoy your day hun! love m:)X

    Reply
    • I Spy Plum Pie (admin)
      November 12, 2015 at 7:36 pm (8 years ago)

      Here’s hoping this helps save your strawberries!

      Reply
  2. Rebecca Clare
    November 4, 2015 at 6:27 pm (8 years ago)

    Egg shell is one of the best and easily digested forms of calcium. Ground down to a powder, half a teaspoon a day alongside some magnesium is great for your bones and teeth. Of course it doesn’t really need to be said that happy healthy chickens produce the best eggs. xx

    Reply
    • I Spy Plum Pie (admin)
      November 12, 2015 at 7:37 pm (8 years ago)

      Ooh I’ll have to give that a try, thanks lovely xx

      Reply
  3. Dhanya Samuel
    November 9, 2015 at 10:12 am (8 years ago)

    Though I have seen my mum use egg shells a lot in gardening, I had sort of forgotten it. Thanks for the reminder, especially handy as I am planning to grow some tomatoes this year.

    Reply
    • I Spy Plum Pie (admin)
      November 12, 2015 at 7:42 pm (8 years ago)

      No problem! Hope you get some excellent tomato crops this year

      Reply
  4. Happy Hiller
    November 18, 2019 at 5:57 am (4 years ago)

    Wow! It’s good to learn something new about egg shells!

    Reply
  5. Seth Parent
    February 6, 2023 at 6:26 pm (1 year ago)

    I love learning about new and creative ways to use common household items, and egg shells definitely fall into that category. I have always composted my egg shells, but I never thought about using them as a seedling starter or a pest control. Thank you for sharing your top 7 uses for egg shells. I’ll definitely be trying some of these tips in my own garden. I would love to hear some more tips from your readers as well. Keep up the good work!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badge