Cleaning and Preserving shells is important, here are a few steps and tips to help:
- Never use acid to clean shells!
- Most shells can be cleaned with bleach and some scraping, but shells that are glossy, like lettered olives, should not be handled this way.
- Animal or sea snail remains can be discarded by freezing and thawing or by microwave. Then it can be removed with a fork or pliers.
- An average beach shell can be sprayed with clear acrylic glaze to enhance color, repel dust, and prevent oxidation.
- To restore sand dollars, soak in 50 percent bleach solution for a couple hours, then let it dry in the sun. Then leave outside for a few days and wash in water to harden sand dollar.
- To restore starfish, soak overnight in rubbing alcohol. Dry between paper towels or in the sun. If the legs curl, press between plates while drying.