Introduction: 6 Unusual Uses for Eggs

About: Former Instructables employee. Living in San Francisco amidst the fog. I love getting my hands dirty by taking on new projects, developing unique skills and learning fun facts.

You know something's good when it's sold in packages of 12. Eggs are incredibly versatile, and so this is my ode to those slimy insides that make breakfast worth waking up for.

(and get ready for some pretty egg-plosive puns)

Step 1: Eggsotic Beauty Product

If your hair has been lacking that extra something-something lately, worry no more! You don't have to shell out the major bucks, but break a few eggshells instead!

Eggs are rich in proteins that are very similar to those found in our hair, and so make great conditioning and strengthening masks. Try beating an egg (or a couple yolks if your hair is especially dry) with a bit of olive oil, and apply to your hair once frothy. If you want to smell less like an omelette, and more like you've just come home from the salon, add a couple drops of a scented oil. Leave on for about 20 minutes, and then rinse with warm water. 

Fun tip: If Fido's coat has also been lacking luster, add a scrambled egg to his food every week. Your pets will love this tasty treat, and they'll be turning heads at the dog park in no time. As always, raw eggs are off limits, because they could be contaminated with salmonella.

Let's move this eggy beauty regimen south of the hairline to your face. Egg yolks and whites both have valuable qualities on their own for your skin, so there are a couple different facial treatments to do with eggs.

With egg whites, you can make a soothing anti-aging cleanser that smooths the skin. Whisk whites with a little bit of water, and wash over your face. After rinsing off, you should find puffiness diminished, and your pores looking smaller.

Egg yolks are very rich in Vitamin A, which is great for moisturizing. Just as you did with the whites, whisk these yolks with some water and use to wash your face. 

If you have a large supply of eggs, perhaps a chicken coop all your own, alternate between these cleansers each night for best results.

Step 2: Eggceptional Glue

If you've ever been out in the barn making crafts and run out of glue, fear no more! Simply walk over to the hen house and grab an egg.

Egg whites are pretty sticky as they dry, and can easily double as an elmers-subsitute when gluing paper or light cardboard. You can also use egg white instead of glue in your papier-mâché project by mixing with flour, water, sugar, and some alum.

Step 3: Eggstraordinary for Plants

Are you eating a hardboiled egg right now? WAIT! Don't pour out the water you used to boil it just yet!

Eggshells contain a high amount of calcium, which plants love. Let your hard-boiled-egg water cool, and use it to water your plants. They'll thank you for it - especially your solanaceous garden plants (tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, etc.).

If you've broken a few eggs to make your french toast, be sure to compost those shells! Or, if you have a particularly straight break, consider saving the shells for seed starters. Rinse the shell halves out with warm water to remove the membrane. Poke a small hole in the bottom with a pin to allow for draining, and fill the shell with soil. Press in your seeds, which will draw in extra nutrients from the shells and grow up nice and tall!

Step 4: Eggsactly Like a First Aid Kit

If you're anything like me, you enjoy to cook but are rather clumsy in the kitchen. This does not pair well with sharp knives and hot pans.

Next time you're too enthusiastic cutting vegetables into a fricassee and cutting your hand in the process, no worries! Hardboil and egg, and use that thin membrane between the white and the shell as a make-shift band aid. It will act as a thin kind of skin by applying enough pressure to stop the bleeding, and has scar-fighting nutrients.  Plus, snack!

Or perhaps you bruised yourself when digging around the cupboards to find that spring-form pan or grapefruit spoon. Hardboil an egg, and (while it's still quite warm) peel off the shell and rub it on your bruise.  The heat should dissipate some of the blood that's starting to collect. Plus, another snack! 



Step 5: Eggcellent Cleaning Product

Remember how eggs are good for our own skin? Well they're good for cleaning leather, too!

Egg whites'  thick and sticky base easily removes dirt from your leather shoes. Or bag. Or wallet. Anything leather, really. Gently scrub the whites into your dirty leather, and wipe off with a damp cloth. The egg will also forms a protective base covering on your leather, which gives it shine!

Step 6: Eggstra-Beautiful Jewelry

If your silver jewelry needs some oxidation to bring out a design, break out the eggs!

Eggs contain sulfur, which is the active ingredient in store-bought oxidation solutions. Note that this method of oxidation does not work on fine sterling .999 (but most commercially sold silver jewelry is sterling .925 or lower, so this shouldn't be too much of a problem)

First boil an egg or two, depending on the size of your jewelry. You only need the hardboiled yolk, so take a second to boost your energy by eating the cooked white. You all set? Alright, let's continue.

Break up the yolks a bit, and place at the bottom of a container that you can easily seal. Set a wire rack over the yolks so you can hold your jewelry above without directly touching the yolks. If you don't have a rack, use some paper towels. Place your jewelry in, and seal the container. Let sit for a day (or longer if you want it darker), and wash silver with a bit of soap. Heads up: the yolks will smell pretty nasty after sitting out, so be sure to open your container in a well-ventilated area.

If you don't want the entire jewelry piece to be oxidized, use a buffing cloth to polish the areas you want shiny again. 

Step 7: Eggsperiment for Yourself!

I'm sure there are plenty of other great uses for eggs, so get cracking and go find out for yourself!

Egg-Bot Challenge

Participated in the
Egg-Bot Challenge