15 Ingenious Home and Garden Uses for Eggshells

15 Ingenious Home and Garden Uses for Eggshells

Eggshells are more than just kitchen waste — they’re a versatile, eco-friendly resource packed with calcium and other minerals. With a little creativity, you can put them to work in your home and garden instead of tossing them away.

1. Natural Fertilizer
Crushed eggshells add calcium to the soil, promoting strong cell structure in plants like tomatoes and peppers.

2. Seed Starters
Use half shells as biodegradable pots. Fill with soil, plant seeds, and later transplant them directly into the ground.

3. Pest Deterrent
Scatter crushed shells around plants to deter slugs and snails, which dislike crawling over sharp edges.

4. Compost Booster
Add shells to your compost pile for a mineral-rich boost that improves soil quality.

5. pH Balancer for Soil
Crushed shells can help neutralize acidic soil, making it more hospitable for many plants.

6. Calcium Supplement for Chickens
If you keep backyard chickens, feed them crushed, baked shells to strengthen their eggs.

7. Bird Feeder Additive
Mix crushed shells with birdseed to provide wild birds with extra calcium for stronger eggs.

8. Coffee Taste Enhancer
Add a pinch of crushed eggshells to coffee grounds before brewing to reduce bitterness.