Clean the Shells
My seashells smell like the sea, how do I clean them properly?
- Be sure you have not taken a live seashell. Shells like the auger or whelk may have a little creature inside. Even if you remove the creature, the shell may still have a strong and unpleasant odor. Many beaches have restrictions on the taking of live shells so be sure to brush up on the regulations.
- Rinse them in fresh water to get the sand out. The best way is to get a large colandar and spray the shells with the garden hose. With your hand, rotate the shells so that they all get rinsed.
- Soak the shells in tap water and some bleach for an hour or so. Use 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of bleach (depending on how big the bowl and the number of shells).
- Drain the shells in a colandar and rinse with tap water.
- Let shells air dry. Visit the blog on the Secret to Drying your Seashells.
