If you’ve been egged, you know how frustrating and time-consuming it can be to resolve. Also, there’s the question of why it happened to you in the first place – was it just some random kids playing a prank or is there something more sinister going on?
Try to remove the egg from your property before it dries as it can typically be hosed off if it hasn’t set. If the egg is dry you will generally need warm water and a mild detergent or soap and a scrubbing brush depending on the surface material you’re cleaning.
Egg contains both mildly alkaline and mildly acidic components that can damage a surface if it is allowed to dry and set.
What is egging and why is it done?
Egging is the act of throwing a raw egg(s) on someone else’s personal property, often a house or vehicle. It’s a prank that causes damage and grief for the person affected since they’re left to clean up the mess. While egging often occurs around Halloween, it can occur at other times too.
Why use eggs?
They are easy to find, cheap to buy, they make a mess and they are difficult to clean up.
While it’s an act that is often seen as a prank committed by kids, it’s also generally seen as an act of vandalism especially if causes damage to the property affected. Depending on where you live and the circumstances (i.e. the victim and perpetrator), charges might be filed against those who did it. They might be ordered to clean up the mess themselves or pay for the work to be done.
Can egg on a house cause damage?
Egg has a high moisture content so they usually aren’t difficult to remove when wet. The problem is that eggs will dry and if you’ve had your house egged, you might not realize until the next day or later when the egg has set.
A raw egg(s) thrown on the side of a house can be difficult to remove once dry. Dried egg can stain surfaces and even remove paint. Eggs white are mildly alkaline and egg yolks are mildly acidic. Egg yolk is runny and can drip and then dry in cracks and crevices on a wall.
Depending on the material on the exterior of your house, dry egg can cause some damage either by leaving the dried egg in place or from the removal process.
How do you remove egg from house siding?
The best time to remove egg from your home’s exterior is when it’s still wet and if possible, a hose and/or carefully used high pressure washer can often be enough to do the trick depending on your siding.
But if the egg has dried, there might be more work involved. Here are some common materials found on the exterior of homes and what you might experience removing dry egg from each:
| Exterior Home Material | Egg Removal Instructions |
| Brick | Brick has a rough surface and is porous and thus absorbs moisture. Egg can seep into cracks and crevices. Start by gently scraping the dried egg with a dull knife. Then try washing the egg with warm water mixed with non-bleach detergent. Brick is hearty so you can also try scrubbing with a hard-bristled brush to remove it. |
| Aluminum | Aluminum siding is generally smooth to the touch and is also non-porous. A power washer is your best bet to remove dried egg from aluminum siding. Short of that, use a mixture of equal parts warm water and vinegar with a few drops of dish detergent. Apply the mixture to the affected area repeatedly and scrub the area with a brush. Repeat as needed. Some people will use hydrogen peroxide in place of vinegar but this can bleach the color. |
| Wood | Wood is porous and depending on the situation (is the wood treated or stained?) might impact how difficult it is to remove dried egg. Begin by hosing off what you can to at least loosen the dried egg. Then use warm water with non-bleach detergent and scrub the remainder off. Rinse and repeat as needed. |
| Stone | Manufactured stone veneer products are generally porous but also very durable. Try using a hose to loosen dried egg and then use warm water with a non-bleach detergent to scrub it. Use a high-pressure water machine if needed. |
| Stucco | Traditional stucco is extremely porous and will absorb moisture. It can be smooth or semi smooth with a wide range of textures. The sooner you clean dried egg from it, the better. Smooth surfaces can be washed with a warm water and mild detergent mixture and then scrubbed. Rougher-textured surfaces might require use of a pressure washer along with a mild detergent mixed in hot water. A mild cleaner like Oxy Clean is known to be useful if required. With rougher textures, more work might be necessary to clean the various bumps and uneven surface. |
| Cement | Fiber cement siding can be porous and will let moisture in, if the back surface is moisture permeable. Having said that, you can also choose options that are water resistant so it depends on the brand. You can choose options with a smooth and wood grain side as well. In general terms, you can use warm water with dish liquid along with a sponge and scrubbing brush if necessary. While you can use pressure washing if needed, water and dish liquid generally does the trick. Concrete can stain easily so it’s best to deal with the eggs as soon as possible especially if the concrete in question is untreated. |
How can you prevent future eggings to your home?
Installing a visible, good quality security camera(s) along with a sign that denotes its presence is often the easiest way to prevent many types of vandalism to your home or vehicle. Often, vandals and thieves just look for easy targets and won’t bother if they see something like a camera that could be used to ID them or as evidence against them.
A Ring doorbell or other similar device could be handy but vandals may not egg your house by walking all the way up to your doorstep. They’re more likely to throw the eggs from a distance – near the sidewalk or road for example – so they can make a quick getaway. So make sure any cameras can pick up activity in front of the house, too.
Because eggings and other forms of vandalism tend to occur at night, install motion detector lights which when activated can be enough to scare someone away especially if you also have the aforementioned security cameras. Flood lights and outside lights left on over night might help too.
Also, consider filing a police report as it’s possible that other people have experienced the same, maybe even your neighbors. While police might not do much for one complaint, if numerous incidents are reported they may be forced to act.
Final thoughts
Depending on the material of your home, you can use a number of methods to clean off egg without doing damage. Clean egg off your property as soon as possible ideally before it has had a chance to dry.
If you install security cameras to protect your property, don’t go cheap. There are plenty of cameras available on the market but many don’t work well at a distance or at night.
If a person is going to egg your home, chances are they will do it from a distance so they can quickly run away. They will also tend to egg at night when it’s dark and quiet. Many cheap cameras offer grainy unusable images at best in these conditions.