Did you arrive to a home covered in eggs and wonder what to do when your house gets egged? If this happened to you, we understand the frustration of cleaning the eggs and finding who’s responsible for it.
You should contact law enforcement immediately to file a report when someone eggs your house. After reporting the vandalism, you should clean the cracked eggs before they dry on your walls.
When someone eggs your home, it’s best to take swift action to prevent it from happening again. Keep reading further to learn what to do when your house gets egged and how to stop it for good.
Why Do People Throw Eggs at Houses?
Egging has been a mischievous prank that people have played on neighbors for decades. With an inexpensive carton of eggs, someone can throw and crack eggs on someone’s walls, roof, and vehicles.
While eggs don’t cause damage to a property, they are difficult to clean after they dry and develop a smell. Similarly to someone “TPing” a house with toilet paper, the cleanup is the most frustrating part of the prank.
However, egging someone’s house is an act of vandalism and a punishable crime. If you can identify who egged your home, you can sue them for property damages. In many cases, the person will receive significant fines for their actions.
4 Steps to Clean Eggs Off a Home
If you want to get the eggs off your home, there are specific cleaning instructions you need to follow. Following these four steps, you can quickly clean up if your house has been egged.
Step 1: Pick Up All Egg Shells
Before scrubbing the egg residue, pick up all the eggshells around your property. If you try pressure washing or scrubbing the eggshells, they will break into more pieces and make them harder to clean.
Walk around your property with a garbage bag and throw all of the eggshells you see in the bag. We recommend you do this immediately so the eggs don’t dry and become harder to clean for you.
Step 2: Pressure Wash or Power Wash the Residue
Once you remove all the eggshells, you can start cleaning all the egg yolks on your property. If you want the fastest way to remove egg residue, a pressure washer or power washer is the best tool.
The high water pressure will loosen the egg and remove stains on your house. You should clean the property in a downward motion, helping to clean all property surfaces. You can rent equipment for the day if you don’t own these tools.
Power washers are the best option, as they produce warm water for cleaning applications. Warm water helps the egg residue slide off the surfaces and makes cleaning faster for homeowners.
Step 3: Use Cleaning Solution For Tough Spots
While a pressure washer or power washer should remove most of the egg, there may be some leftover spots you need to clean. If you notice some spots you can’t reach with the equipment, you can scrub them by hand.
Some of the best cleaning options for home exteriors are:
- Household Detergent
- White Vinegar
- Non-Bleach Laundry Detergent
- Dish Soap
However, if you want an ideal option, you can use a cleaner made for your siding material and paint. Some household cleaners can stain siding materials and remove paint. With a specialized option, you can have peace of mind you will achieve the best results.
Step 4: Carefully Clean Windows
We understand your frustration if you open the curtains to a window covered in eggs. However, it would be best if you didn’t use a power washer on a window, as it can break the glass. It’s best to use a glass cleaner and squeegee.
With water mixed with glass cleaner and a bit of scrubbing, you can remove all of the eggs from the window’s glass. For second-floor windows, you can purchase a telescopic pole to reach the windows.
If you don’t want to clean the eggs yourself, a professional cleaning company can also help. The cleaners will have the equipment and knowledge to provide an efficient cleaning service for your home.
Should You Call The Police If Someone Eggs Your House?
If you notice your house has been egged, you should report it to the police. However, you should contact them through the non-emergency phone number. While you may be shocked about the incident, you are not in immediate danger.
Once law enforcement arrives, you can file a police report about the situation. A police officer will likely ask you when the incident happened, what the damage was to your property, and if you saw the suspect.
If you have a home security system, you can provide them with footage of the incident. With any evidence they can find, the police will look to identify the suspects. Be patient with this process, as law enforcement needs time to develop a case against suspects.
After the police have enough evidence to convict someone of a crime, they proceed with legal action. The severity of the fines will depend on the property damage, so you must document the evidence.
How to Deter People From Egging Your House
To avoid being a repeat target for this frustrating prank, you must deter people from egging your property. These security methods will make someone think twice about choosing your home.
Install Security Cameras
One of the best ways to deter people from egging a house is with high-quality security cameras. When someone knows security cameras are recording them, they are less likely to commit a crime.
There are numerous security camera options to choose from, with each providing clear security footage. You should invest in several security cameras for your home to capture all possible angles.
Additionally, you can use the camera footage to give law enforcement evidence of someone egging a house. The crime is easier to solve when you capture crucial information like the suspect’s face and vehicle license plate.
Add Motion-Sensor Lighting
When someone is looking for a house to egg, they will typically choose one that’s not well-lit at night. With the help of the darkness, a criminal can throw eggs at the house and not be spotted by the residents.
Motion-sensor lighting is an excellent way to improve night vision for cameras and deter people. Well-lit properties give people nowhere to hide, and they won’t take a chance of the homeowner spotting them.
If someone walks near the motion sensors, the light automatically turns on and alerts you of their presence. There are various lighting options, with our favorite being solar-powered lights that require no extra wiring.
Buy Warning Signage
Intimidation is a great way to scare off teenagers looking to egg a house. One of the simplest ways to have someone second guess themselves is with warning signs. A person will likely skip your home if there is a sign that’s easy to see.
Some of the most effective sign options have warnings, such as:
- Beware Of Dog
- 24-Hour Monitoring
- Do Not Enter
- Security Cameras In Use
Once someone sees the warning, they will usually change their mind. However, you should also back up the claims of security cameras. Capturing footage if your house gets egged is important for solving the crime.
Put Indoor Lights on Timers
If someone is searching for a target to egg, they typically choose a house with nobody home. When nobody is home, the chances of confrontation are low, and they can leave the area without a trace.
You can set a light timer to trick the neighborhood into thinking you are home. With the indoor lights set at a timer, they automatically turn on and give the impression you are home whenever you want.
If you work late or are on vacation, you can set the timer to turn on when you typically are home. From 5 PM to 12 AM is a great choice that doesn’t utilize too much extra electricity for your property.
Frequently Asked Questions
If your house has been egged, it’s typically from a group of mischievous teenagers who want to play a prank. In most cases, there isn’t any malicious intent, and they think it’s funny–which is frustrating for you. However, once you bring the police into the matter, it won’t be funny to them anymore.
While throwing eggs at your house, some eggs may land on your roof and crack. Since roofing systems are very rugged, you can utilize a pressure washer for the job. However, if you don’t want to climb on your roof, it’s best to consult with professionals. A professional pressure washing company can help you clean the egg from the roof.
Egging has been around since the Middle Ages. A prisoner was pelted with eggs as a form of shaming and embarrassment. However, egging a house has been a recent phenomenon for people looking for a prank. The most common time when a house gets egged is around the Halloween season.
Conclusion
If you are wondering what to do after your house got egged, you should call the police and clean the property quickly. While some people think this is a harmless prank, it can result in serious legal troubles if caught.
Don’t be a victim of egging. Prepare your home with security cameras and outdoor lighting to deter them from egging your property.