It’s been a longtime teen prank, Halloween season or not, to "egg" houses. If you’ve been a victim in the past, you know how difficult it can be to clean egg off, especially if it dries.

So instead of wasting your energy seething or getting back at the pranksters, just focus your efforts on cleaning it off. If you act fast and are willing to give some elbow grease, you’ll be able to clean egg off of your outdoor surfaces quickly and easily. If you have a spray paint problems as well, take a look out our article, Graffiti: How to Clean Spray Paint off Your Home Exterior. 

Clean Egg Residue off with Household Products

Eggs are easier to remove when the egging is fresh – due to their high moisture content. The quicker you remove any excess egg, the better off you will be.

Use a dull knife, cloth, or soft-bristled brush to remove any pieces of shell as well as ground-in clean egg stains. Don’t scratch the surface to avoid risking damage to the paint or its texture.

Use a pressure washer, a power sprayer, or a regular hose to spray water directly at the remaining egg residue. Put it at a low pressure setting and point the stream of water downward.

Never use hot water because it can cook the egg – which will make it more difficult to remove it.

For more stubborn egg stains, use a cleaning solution. More unique sidings or surfaces like stucco require a more intense cleaning process. In some cases, you might need to repaint the area.

Using Different Cleaning Solutions

Regular Laundry Detergent. In a bucket of warm water, pour 1 cup of non-bleach laundry detergent. Use a scrubbing brush with bristles to gently rub the egg stain off with the warm soapy water. Rinse off with hose or pressure washer. Repeat the process as needed.

All-purpose household cleaner. Use an alkaline-based cleaner because they are more effective in dissolving the fats in the eggs. Follow the directions above. Choose an alkaline cleaner that are recommended for removing organic, high protein matter such as eggs. Don’t forget to wear gloves and eye protection.

White vinegar. Follow the above mentioned directions for either the non-bleach laundry detergent or alkaline cleaner but mix in one cup of white vinegar to the solution. Take a clean sponge or a terry cloth towel and use it to clean egg residue off.

Egging on Other Types of Surfaces

To clean egg on stucco, concrete, brick, roof shingles or other porous surfaces is a bit trickier. To ensure you don’t have to resort to repainting the entire surface, here’s what you can do:

  1. Mix any of the above mentioned solution with talc to form a thick paste.
  2. Apply the paste liberally to the stain. Make sure you have removed any extra shells already.
  3. Cover it with plastic wrap and let it sit for an hour.
  4. Clean as directed.

Additional Tips

  • Proceed with caution if you decide to use any commercial grade cleaning products. Because they are obviously stronger than regular cleaning solutions, it can discolor and even remove paint.
  • Avoid using acidic cleaners because the acid in these substances can cause the proteins in the egg to coagulate and bond with the surface – making it an even more stubborn stain to be removed.