10 brilliant uses for eggshells

Quickly sharpen dull shears

The last time you reached for your trusty kitchen shears to chop up fresh herbs for pasta sauce, you found that the blades did more crushing than slicing. No need to replace them! Instead, simply use the scissors to cut up a few eggshells. The hard, rough shells will sharpen the blades as they cut, leaving your kitchen shears as good as new again.

Mellow out bitter coffee

You nabbed a new brand of coffee on sale at the grocery store, but find it’s a bit too acidic. To make it more palatable, add 1 tsp. of clean, crushed eggshells to the coffee grounds before brewing. The alkaline shells will neutralize the acidity in the java, without compromising f lavor.

Easily eliminate stubborn stains

You love a cup of hot tea in the afternoon but could do without the dark tint the liquid leaves behind. To eliminate the stubborn stains, simply place a few broken eggshells in the mug, fill with hot water and let sit until morning. The porous eggshells will help absorb the tea’s remaining pigments, so you can get the mug squeaky clean sans scrubbing.

Improve a pup’s bone health

Here’s a vet-approved way to ensure Rex gets all the calcium he needs. Simply bake 12 clean eggshells for 5 minutes at 300°F. Then let cool and grind into a powder. Every day, sprinkle 1⁄4 tsp. per 15 pounds of body weight atop your dog’s meal. Shell remnants are loaded with calcium and plenty of other nutrients to keep your pup healthy and happy.

Help heal dry, cracked cuticles

The all-natural secret to revitalizing cuticles: Break an eggshell into several pieces and tape them over cuticles (membrane side down). Leave in place for a few minutes until the pieces start to feel dry. Membranes on the shells contain nutrients that help soften cuticles, leaving your nails beautiful.

Avoid a clogged kitchen sink

Whenever you hand-wash dishes, chunks of food end up clogging the drain. To prevent this, leave a few larger eggshell pieces inside the sink strainer before you start. Food solids will be trapped by the shells, and you can just toss them when you’re done.

Attract birds to your yard feeder

Nothing brightens your day more than seeing happy songbirds in your yard. To entice more to visit, simply rinse empty eggshells, then sterilize them by baking on a cookie sheet in the oven at 250°F for 10 minutes. Crumble, then add to a bird feeder or sprinkle on the ground. Birds, especially females who have recently laid eggs, will come to nibble on the pieces for a calcium boost.

Ensure a recipe is shell-free

Oops! While cracking eggs for your homemade brownies, you accidentally drop a piece of the shell inside the bowl. To remove it, use the other half of the shell (ensuring it has no cracks in it) to scoop out the floating piece. The broken bit will slide right into the larger piece of shell to toss, saving you time and frustration.

Naturally soothe cranky joints

Your daily walks have really been lifting your spirits—if only you weren’t feeling so sore and achy! To get relief, try this: Add the pieces of a broken eggshell to a glass jar, then cover with apple cider vinegar and close shut. Let sit for two days. As the vinegar dissolves the shells, their joint-healing nutrients like collagen, glucosamine and chondroitin will become infused in the liquid. Once the shells have dissolved, rub the solution onto sore spots for quick relief. Aah!

Get a jump-start on your seedlings

Ensure your spring is off to a good start by “planting” your seedlings in eggshells! Simply fill clean shells with potting soil, add seeds and place them in egg cartons. Then set near a window. Once the seeds sprout, transfer shells to a pot or your garden. Proteins in the shells will help nourish the seedlings so they grow big and strong.