Clean Seashells

Finding seashells at the beach is a lot of fun and bringing a few home can make them great souvenirs. The shells you find might be dirty or covered with algae and barnacles. They can also have a natural coating called periostracum that looks like a leathery film. Some shells might still have live sea creatures inside. When you find these at the beach they may look okay at first, but they can develop a bad smell over time if not properly cleaned. After you wash them, seashells can be beautiful items to display in your home.

Steps

Cleaning Live Seashells By Burying

  1. Bury seashells in a hole in your yard. The best part of this method is that worms, insects, and bacteria will actually clean your shells for you. Just be sure to bury them deeply enough to prevent animals from smelling them and digging them up. About 18-24 inches should be fine.[1]
  2. Mark the place where you buried your shells. Leaving a marker is important so you can find the the seashells later.
  3. Just wait. Over time, insects, worms, and bacteria will break down the organic material inside the seashells. The longer you leave the shells buried the cleaner they will get.
    • Burying live seashells is the easiest way to clean them but it will take time.

Cleaning Live Seashells By Freezing

  1. Place seashells in a bag. Choose an airtight bag. Fill it with water until the shells are covered. Make sure to seal the bag tightly.
  2. Put the bag in your freezer. Leave it until it has frozen solid. It might take up to a couple days to freeze.
  3. Let the bag thaw. Remove the bag from the freezer and let it thaw at room temperature. Wait until the bag is completely defrosted.
  4. Pull any sea animals out. They should come off the inside of the shells easily with a gentle pull.[1]

Cleaning Live Seashells by Boiling

  1. Place seashells in a large pot. Cover the shells with water. Make sure the pot has a little space remaining so that it does not boil over.
  2. Bring the water to a boil. Let the shells boil for several minutes. If you are boiling a lot of shells or very large shells you might need to wait a couple extra minutes.
  3. Remove shells from the water. Take them out one at a time using tongs. You will need to use tongs because the shells will be very hot.
  4. Pull any sea animals out. Hold the seashell using a towel and pull gently on the sea animal to remove it. Using tweezers to remove the organism might help if it is too hot to use your fingers.

Clean Live Seashells by Microwaving

  1. Place seashells in the microwave. Cook them for a few minutes.
  2. Use trial and error. The time it takes to microwave your shells will vary depending on your microwave and the size and quantity of shells.
  3. Remove the shells. Use tongs or a towel to take the shells out, they will be very hot.
  4. Pull any sea animals out.Hold the seashell using a towel and pull gently on the sea animal to remove it. Using tweezers to remove the organism might help if it is too hot to use your fingers.
    • Microwaving is the fastest way to clean live seashells but it can also produce a smell that some may find unpleasant.[1]

Cleaning Dead Seashells

  1. Soak the seashells. Put them in a 50/50 solution of bleach and water. Make sure to wear gloves and safety goggles when mixing the water and bleach.
  2. Let your shells sit. Leave them to soak until they look clean. There is no set time to clean each shell, it depends on the size of the shell and how dirty it is.
  3. Remove the seashells. Take the shells out of the bleach solution and rinse them with water. Wear gloves to protect your hands from the bleach solution
  4. Scrub the seashells. Remove any remaining barnacles and other material off the surface. Use a dental pick, a water pick, a toothbrush, or even a grill brush if your seashell is large.[2]

Cleaning Dead Seashells in a Dishwasher

  1. Put seashells in the dishwasher. Place them in the utensil basket so that they don't move around too much.[3]
  2. Add soap. Put a small amount of dish soap in the soap dispenser.
  3. Run the dishwasher. Set it to run through a regular cycle.
    • This method may not work as well as soaking in a bleach solution and hand scrubbing to remove material. Cleaning seashells in a dishwasher is best for removing light dirt and sand.



Tips

  • For a permanent shiny "wet look," you can paint the shells with shellac or clear nail polish. Water-based polyurethane, thinly applied with a sponge, will work nicely, too.
  • If you want to give your seashells a shine, then rub them with mineral oil. Baby oil has a pleasant scent, but only for the first year or so. After that, it breaks down chemically and smells rather unpleasant. Use mineral oil, which is the same thing as baby oil, only without the scent.
  • After following a method for cleaning live seashells, you will still need to follow the steps for cleaning dead seashells.
  • Clear spray paint is faster and easier than clear nail polish.

Warnings

  • Bleach is a caustic chemical and can burn your hair, eyes and skin. The fumes can also cause lung injury. Use only a diluted amount, make sure you work in a properly ventilated area, and wear safety gear including gloves and goggles.
  • Check local rules and regulations for the area where you gather seashells, because some localities prohibit the collection of live seashells.[1]

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 http://www.seashells.org/liveseashellscleaning.html
  2. ↑ http://www.seashells.org/deadseashellcleaning.html
  3. ↑ http://www.marthastewart.com/272287/washing-shells

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