I seem to get this question very often, “how do I clean my seashells?” I only collect seashells that are on the beach. But, when I was a child my uncles went diving and they were known to collect some of the living seashells. They used to bury them in the back yard, by doing that the ants or other insects will have a feast on the sea creature. It took several months before we were able to rinse it out and be able to admire the shell. I’ve heard of freezing, boiling, and even bleaching the “live” seashells to get the sea creature out.
If you are like me, and you only collect “dead” seashells, here are six easy steps that you can follow:
1. Soak the seashells in a 50-50 solution of bleach and water. The length of time depends on the type of seashells and the quantity of seashells being cleaned. It usually takes at least 24-48 hours.
2. If there are still barnacles and other matter on the seashells, you can use an instrument, such as a dental pick, to chip off the material. Other useful tools are a toothbrush, grill brush, wire brush or a water pick.
3. Rinse the shell thoroughly in running water. Scrub gently with an old toothbrush and mild dishwashing soap.
4. Don’t forget to allow the shell to dry completely.
5. If you want to give your seashells a nice finish, you can wipe them with mineral or baby oil. Use a soft rag to rub mineral oil onto the shell and let it soak in for a few hours.
6. Finally, wipe the excess oil off and now you can enjoy your beautiful treasure!
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