Five little-known uses for eggshells & why you should never chuck them in the bin

EGGS are one of the most popular breakfast foods in the UK, with countless omelettes and pancakes made every morning across the country.

After making your poached, fried or scrambled delicacy, the obvious next step would be to tidy up, by tossing the eggshells in the bin.

But did you know that eggshells have an abundance of hidden uses that can help improve the running of your home and garden?

1. Gardening

Eggshells are packed full of calcium, which helps plants to build cell walls, and grow faster.

Next time you have a fry-up, try crushing up your eggshells and adding them to your compost heap.

Lots of plants such as tomatoes and squash struggle with collecting enough calcium to grow, so the eggshells are guaranteed to give them the boost they need.

You can also use eggshells to protect your plants from slugs and snails, as if you place crushed up eggshells on your soil, the sharp edges will scare the pests off.

2. Unclogging the Sink

Placing eggshells in the strainer of your kitchen sink may seem counter-productive, but it can actually help keep it unclogged.

The crushed shells will break up any bits of food, and keep the sink clog free.

However, make sure not to let any of the shells go down the drain, as this will only add to the problem.

3. Improving the Taste of Coffee

Grinding up eggshells and mixing them in with coffee grounds can improve the taste of your morning brew.

The shells remove some of the bitterness of the coffee, and help to provide a smoother experience for your taste buds.

Make sure to grind the shells up extra small though, so you don't end up swallowing any sharp edges.

Whitening Laundry

Eggshells can be a great natural alternative to bleach, when it comes to keeping your whites nice and clean.

Simply place empty eggshells into a muslin cheesecloth or empty laundry bag with a few slices of lemon, chuck it in the wash with your whites, and watch the magic happen.

5. Boosting Calcium Intake

Eggshells are 95% calcium carbonate, so adding ground up shells to your meals in a simple way to increase calcium intake.

One teaspoon of eggshell powder contains 800-1000 milligrams of calcium, so one teaspoon a day mixed with water is the perfect amount to add to your meals.

Soups and broths are just some of the foods recommended for adding ground shells to.