How do I quickly clean broken eggs off of grass?

June 28, 2007 2:26 PM

What is the best method for cleaning broken eggs off of grass during an event? This must be done in a timely manner over a fairly large area, with the help of 4 people.

I am planning an outdoor event with a potential of 100 broken eggs on the ground after an egg toss event. The area used is too large for a tarp, and I must get the glass clean soon after the event. I 'll encourage people to clean up after themselves, but who knows how far that will go.

posted by Jenna Roadman to sports, hobbies, & recreation (11 answers total)

Couple methods I can think of:
1. Several large and hungry dogs.
2. wet dry vac with long extension cord
posted by cosmicbandito at 2:37 PM on June 28, 2007

I have no solution for you, but maybe water balloons might be easier to clean up? You'd just have to collect the rubber balloony bits, which usually end up in big pieces.

Maybe this is just me, but ever since my 5th grade teacher successfully got egg tosses switched to water-balloon tosses (because she was against wasting food), I've seen egg tosses as wasteful. Although I suppose water-balloon tosses could be seen the same way.

If water balloons are a no-go, i'd say a hose and a lot of patience. Even if you get all the shells up somehow, the gooey eggy insides will get icky and stanky quick.

I must get the glass clean...
I'm assuming that's a typo. Because with glass, it would just take a mop :)
posted by AlisonM at 2:37 PM on June 28, 2007

hard boil the eggs?
posted by happyturtle at 2:38 PM on June 28, 2007

This is my answer to most everything, but, ShopVac?
posted by 4ster at 3:02 PM on June 28, 2007

A good trick for cleaning up a broken egg on solid flooring: sprinkle it liberally with salt, which soaks up the slippery gooey mess after a couple of minutes. Then you can just scoop it up in a paper towel or even brush it into a dustpan.

But with grass, I'd worry about the salt eventually soaking in and damaging the soil: you could literally be salting the earth it grows in. Maybe salt to dry it out, then a vac to pick up all traces of salt?

Chemists, gardeners, and horticulturalists, am I being overcautious about traces of salt?
posted by Elsa at 3:29 PM on June 28, 2007

I'll second a few voracious dogs. They'll do it faster than any human can. And, as a bonus, it's now not wasteful at all!
posted by twirlypen at 5:14 PM on June 28, 2007

My dog is no egg sucker so I can't second the dog thing but it occurs to me that the best and most environmentally correct thing to do might be dilute it. Hose it down and forget it. Maybe you'll want to keep people off after the event (if that's possible) but if impact is a concern, I'd just add water.
posted by Toekneesan at 5:28 PM on June 28, 2007

Use the eggshells in a garden; they're supposed to be good for the soil.
posted by backseatpilot at 7:44 PM on June 28, 2007

go the dogs.
posted by singingfish at 8:14 PM on June 28, 2007

Possums or racoons will eat them all once it gets dark.
posted by fshgrl at 10:20 PM on June 28, 2007

I was about to suggest lacquering or enameling them a la Eggshelland, but that rather defeats the point of the egg toss, doesn't it?
posted by RobotHeart at 8:12 AM on June 29, 2007