Living so close to the beach, there is one thing our home never lacks for, and that is seashells! It seems like every time we go to the beach, we end up bringing a pocketful of shells back home. Apparently all that time collecting seashells has paid off though, because not only do I have an abundance of shells to decorate my home with, but I also know how to clean seashells the right way (aka get rid of the gunk and smell)!
Since we live on the coast, we are lucky enough to have our pick of beaches to explore. One beach in particular is an absolute treasure trove of seashells. I’m talking big, huge seashells in amazing condition just ripe for the picking. Who can resist such a find? Not me!
Seashells are perfect for crafting and displaying in home decor, and best of all they’re one of nature’s many free craft materials, so I am all about it!
The very first time my husband and I explored this particular beach, we were going for a run. We didn’t have pockets to put shells in since we were wearing workout clothes (I know, tragic). But of course I wasn’t about to let that stop me from taking part in the smorgasbord of shells at my disposal.
Needless to say, I started falling behind, and when my husband finally turned around to see what was going on, there I was, trying to catch up while carrying huge fistfuls of shells. Where there’s a will, there’s a way! š
The one drawback to picking up seashells fresh from the beach is that they’re a little dirty, and they can have an odor to them. I suppose it only makes sense… there were once creatures living in them!
I used to rinse my shells with water after bringing them home to clean them, but I noticed after a few days the shells would start smelling again. So after a little experimenting, I learned how to clean seashells to get rid of the smell and ensure they last for years to come!
Materials Needed to Clean Seashells
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- Seashells
- Bucket/bowl of water
- Old toothbrush
- Bleach
- Clear acrylic spray or mineral oil (optional)
How to Clean Seashells
1. Mix bleach into your water. You really only need a small amount, about 1 TBSP of bleach per gallon of water. I recommend starting light on the bleach, as you can always add a little more later if your seashells are still smelly or dirty.
Remember when you’re using bleach to keep it in a well-ventilated area and if you’re clumsy like me, wear gloves and clothes you don’t mind getting a bleach spot or two.
2. Let the seashells soak in the bleach/water mixture for a few hours.
3. Rinse the seashells off and use an old toothbrush to clean out the crevices and any gunk left behind on the seashells.
4. Once the seashells are dry, you can spray them with a clear acrylic spray or rub some mineral oil on them to bring out the colors and add a little shine. This step is optional, but it’s a nice finishing touch if you’ll be putting the shells on display.
And there you have it, squeaky clean seashells that will last for years to come! Seashells are such a beautiful and versatile craft medium. They look great displayed all on their own, or you can also get creative and use them for crafts. My favorite summer decor is to display seashells in my apothecary jars.
So, now that you know how to clean seashells the right way, how will you display them in your home? I’d love to hear about it in the comments! If you enjoyed this post, check out the links below for craft, DIY, and home projects and tips!
Great tips! I always love how pretty shells look in home decor but they are so dang dirty! š
Thanks so much, Amanda! Seashells are some of my favorite home decor as well, and this definitely helps make sure they’re nice and clean!
Hey….hon thanks for the tips we just move from up north to Orlando. I notice you didn’t mention “the particular beach” do you mind sharing that info as well my 10 and 11 year olds love love love shells like to take them to explore and be amazed.
God bless
She’ll Beach, a.k.a. Sanibel Island is one of the best beaches for shelling in the US. I just went there in April 2018. It’s just a little SW of Orlando. It’s a bit of a drive but it’s worth it. Good luck.
Thank you so much for the information on cleaning shells! My older brother, who loves to go sea shelling, had a destination dream to go to Sanibel Island, so he & my sister-in-law invited my husband & myself to go with them a few years ago. We live in the Northeast. Oh my! It was such a treasure find!!! Some of those shells are displayed year round & I hope to visit again someday. š
After you wash them let them dry real good. But a baby hair brush and lightly brush the shells the colors will apear. It’s like magic .It may take a little polishing depending on the kind of shell, I have done this with all shells and they get so bright and shiny. The baby brush is the tool to use. But they have to be dry before it works. Also it works on crystals and some rocks.
The best way is CLR. Let them soak in water and a little CLR and they will whiten in a minute. Great for not having to scrub for days.
Hi! I just bought a bottle of CLR, but Iām a little scared to use it. I soaked seashells in bleach yesterday and it didnāt take the calcium off. Do you think there would still be traces of bleach on the shell, and enough to cause an interaction with the CLR?
I tried CLR at one time. It will eat right through the shells. I ruined quite a few shells that way.
Just moved to Florida and was having the same problem. I love your idea & itās very similar to what I did!
BUT I also found a little secret… HYDROGEN PEROXIDE! Itās amazing! Kinda gross too, but it dissolves all the stuff that was ever living in or in the shells – best part? We didnāt even have to scrub them!
Happy seashelling š
Awesome idea! Iāve put bleach I. My water for years but I found a few new critters on the beach and the bleach isnāt cutting it and yes of course I took them ānot Aliveā
Happy Easter everyone. I live in the Gulf of Mexico in a small town called Port St.joe Florida. I am surrounded by beach. I was hit by Michael and our town is now rebuilding after being flooded by 12 ft surge. I make crosses out of shells and sell them at the farmers market . they go for 15.00 to 100.00 dollars. I make real big ones if people order them. I love the ocean and searching for sea shells. they are best here after a big storm. well happy searching ya’ll.
My family just got back from a week at Mexico Beach, FL. Our favorite happy place. Took a boat out to the tip of Cape San Blas and came back with beautiful shells. Will probably stay at the gulf side of the cape next trip. LOVE the area, including PSJ!
We were in Port St Joe for the first time in June!! We fell in love!!! So much so that we stayed another week in July on the Cape!! But both times it wasnāt the right weekend for the market!! But we WILL BE BACK!!
We are just heading home from Port St Joe Bay, we camp at Indian Pass Campground for Christmas and Anniversary!! We love it. I ALWAYS leave with shells.. Love your post.
Well, you can always teach an old dog new tricks! This is a great idea. I don’t have many shells but the few that I do have… well let’s just say they could use a good cleaning. I love they way the colors of the shells pop after you add the top coat.
So glad I could teach you a thing or two, Mary! š You should definitely give this a try with your shells. I’m sure you have a few good finds from those beautiful beaches of yours!
Since I’m an old Florida Native I’ve learned a thing or two about seashells over the years. Here’s my favorite way to clean them cause I’m lazy.
I don’t even try to get all the bits of the previous tenant out of the shell. I just take all of them and put them near the most accessible Fire Ant or Bull Ant mound. After a week or so by the nest and in the Sun I collect spotless shells that will not stink. I wash them with regular dishwashing liquid to get the ant pee off and I’m good to go.
Here in Florida ant mounds are never far away so this works well for many things. Like when I went suddenly to the hospital for over a week and came home to my favorite roaster moldy and overflowing with worms. Yu-eey Yuck!! The ants ate the crud off and I didn’t even have to scrub.
I’ve done that too with shells from hermit crabs found in the gulf by Galveston Island. Works great, the ants are the best little workers at this. LOL
The shells we got only had dead crabs or pieces of crabs in them.
I love this hack! Iām in Alabama, and ants are plentiful. Iāll definitely be trying this soon!
Loving these great ideas! Any ideas for cleaning sea ferns? they are the stinkiest! i’ve done the bleach water soak. wanted to hear of any other ideas as well. Thanks for the hacks and keep lovin’ nature’s gifts. . .
What useful tips Celeste! I’ll definitely pin for later.
Thanks so much, Linda!
That’s easy and useful! Shells can stink for years (I was collecting as a child).
Does chlorine discolor the shells?
Yes, shells can definitely smell for a long time! As long as you dilute it enough, the bleach shouldn’t discolor the shells. If you’re worried, you can always test it out on 1 or 2 shells beforehand to see how they turn out. The acrylic spray also helps bring out the colors afterwards!
If you find a shell that still has something living in it, please let it be. If you must remove shells from the beaches it is really best to stick with those that have been tossed up above the high tide line, such as after a storm. Shells are part of the ocean ecology and many small ocean critters make use of them.
Definitely agree with you, Katherine! Always check shells for living creatures first, as you really don’t want to be taking them out of their natural habitat. Going beach combing after a storm is a great way to find some of the best shells, too.
Hi! Thanks for the tips! What about sand dollars? They are so fragile, should I bleach them as well? Or is there a better way to clean them?
Kimberly, for sand dollars you can use a similar method. I would recommend using a flat bottomed dish to soak the sand dollars, and be careful not to leave them in the bleach mixture for too long, as they’re really fragile. I’d skip the toothbrush scrubbing part, and definitely seal them with a clear acrylic spray or something like Mod Podge when they’re dry. Hope this helps!
Using clear nail polish also brings out the shells natural look. But remember if you are drilling holes in shells to wear a respirator, goggles and gloves. Shell dust is very toxic. Once it gets in your lungs it will not get out. It can also get into cuts. I clean my shells with hydrogen peroxide and water and let it soak in the sun for a couple of days and clean with a tooth brush or some pointy tools/awls/picks depending on shells. Keep Shelling.
Great tips, Barb! I didn’t know about the shell dust! I typically just leave my shells as is to put on display, but I know some people do drill them to wear as jewelry and other projects, so that’s super helpful to know!
Yes, the shell dust is really bad for you. Iāve seen people on YouTube drilling without the breather and thatās really dangerous. I always use the breather when using my Dremel in my shells for making jewelry.
I saw a lady on TV who lived in Sanibel, Florida and she recommended muric acid. 1/3 cup of muric acid and 2/3 cups of clean water..Dip each shell into mixture count to 3 and take shell out and deposit it into a bowl of plain water and lay out to dry. MUST use a utensil to handle the shell dipping and taking out of the muric acid/water. Hers were beautiful after cleaning..No need to bring out color..It was done by the acid.
That sounds interesting, Janet! I’ll have to give that a try sometime. Thanks for the tip!
Won’t the acid destroy some of the color?
Yep. I have watched the videos using the acid. It brings out the color. Careful to use plastic utensils and leave shell in acid no longer than 3 seconds.
I would like to try the Muriatic acid, but can’t find a supplier that sell it in quantities less than a gallon. It is VERY toxic and I don’t want to keep it around.
They sell it by the gallon at Home Depot. Iām not sure where you live but thatās where I get mine down here in Florida.
Amazon sells a quart
I use the muriatic acid also … it’s spectacular! But, no hands/fingers, metal tongs (that will rust eventually)… don’t do it in the sink if it’s metal!!! it will turn black and you will NEVER get it out. Takes all the calcium off the shell and any other debris stuck to it.
I also use muriatic acid for my shells. I dilute it down to about 3 parts water to 1 part acid. If you leave the shell in the acid too long, it will do the same thing as CLR-eat right through the shell. The colors that come off with the acid seem to be stains from algae, rust, etc. The natural shell colors remain.
Glad to hear about dust. Did not know about the dangers. Love to work with shells, have been
Making cards and framing shell designs. Very well received. Picked up shells wherever we
Travelled. Fun craft indeed.
Shells from your travels make very lovely keepsakes, Elizabeth! I’m sure they look beautiful in your home!
I live in the Northeast. We just went to the beach and I used vinegar full strength to clean and help get rid of calcium buildup. I let them sit in the vinegar for one day then cleaned them. They looked great.
Be careful with muriatic acid and vinegar, both can destroy the shells in very little time. Be sure to rinse in fresh running water afterwards or they will disintegrate very quickly.
We got fresh conch shells on vacation (we got to eat the fresh conch!) and were told to use coconut oil after cleaning to keep the shells color. It worked great!
I’ve never heard of using coconut oil, Lydia. I bet that helps with the smell, too! š
I found a sand dollar on a beach, Meidera, Fl. ( I live in Vermont ) that was 6″ across, but only 1 /2 there. So I put a layer of smaller whole sand dollars over the top, 4 in all, and put another row of smaller sand dollars, 4 in all, and then I put 4
Coquina shells in different places, red, purple, etc. I have it on a plate stand and love it. Joyce
I’d love to see a picture of that, if one can be posted here.
That sounds just beautiful, Joyce! That’s such a creative way to salvage a beautiful sand dollar!
Hi, what is a sand dollar?
Here is what a sand dollar looks like.
https://goo.gl/images/b5eQbn
Muratic acid works very well but is dangerous to work with if you don’t know how to use it. It is okey to use on craft shells but if you have a scientific collection it is a no-no to use. Theresa
Thanks for the input, Theresa! It’s definitely best to do a small test beforehand on anything you plan to use harsh chemicals on!
I was wondering where you got the glass jar in the picture? I can’t find that exact shape anywhere. Thanks!
Dana, the jar was a gift, and I’m not quite sure where it came from. I haven’t been able to find anything exactly like it anywhere, either! If I find out where it’s from, I’ll be sure to update the post!
Try Home Goods, especially ones in FL
Hi Dana . The glass jar is a cotton swab display . They come in different sizes and shapes . You can find them in a home decor store like Marshallās and others like it . I hope Iām not a year to late to have helped . š
Hi Diane, you can always ckeck any craft or department store, maybe even the dollar store that sells flower arrangement supplies. Good luck. Kelly
Dana,
Try Dollar Tree. If you don’t have one near you, you can go to their website.
In the UK I would suggest Poundland, same thing only different.
Aunt B
Walmart also carries apothecary jars online.
Very interesting. I love collecting shells too. I boil mine in a pan for about 15 mins. I have several glass bowls and jars to display my shells and I have just purchased a lovely glass champagne cooler. My shells look great. How do I post a picture?
Regards
Donna
That’s an interesting way to clean shells, Donna! I’d love to see a picture! You can e-mail it to celeste {at} decorbytheseashore {dot} com or post it on my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/decorbytheseashore/
I too live very near several beaches and since I already know my weakness for shell collecting, I always carry a gallon size zip lock baggie with me on my daily walks. š Shells are beautiful and bountiful treasures from the sea and displaying them in glass jars I buy from the Goodwill is one of my favorite ways to enjoy them. I have made shell angels for friends which were well received, but this year I chose to create Christmas decor for my office by tucking shells among the branches on an artificial pine wreath and adding a raffia bow and an adorable seaside wooden chair ornament I found at Walmart. I gave the wreath away to an admirer so I could create another one from my never ending supply!
Hi Celeste! Maybe you and your followers can help me with a dilemma. I recently came back from a lovely shell-heavy vacation, and in sorting through my booty, Iāve found a number of complete and whole kittenās paws! Now, they are definitely very thoroughly deceased, thereās no question of that. But Iāve tried freezing them for a couple of days. Iāve boiled them to, well, death. And they will. Not. Open! Iām sure thereās something organic inside and I sure donāt want to use them in a craft project if theyāre going to start reeking. They havenāt yet and itās been a week, but still… So the question is, how do I get the blessed things to open up? Theyāre too small for hammer and chisel work! Help! š“š¤Æš
My own recent experience with kitten paws is similar to yours. I tried using an exacto knife to open some. Every one I managed to open was already empty. Other than some water I was soaking them in, nothing came out. I stopped trying to open them after 10 finally opened without any leftovers in it. I wouldn’t worry about them.
I learned from a friend that an interesting way to display a collection of shells is to sort keeping like shells together. Put each group into a container, perhaps an assortment of glass jars of different heights. I layer by putting largest on the bottom, working from largest to smallest on top. I love little tiny shells and have a small open crystal bowl I put them in. My favorite though is a heavy crystal bowl shaped like a clam shell (Home Goods in FL). I put an assortment of my “favorites” in this bowl.
Great tips on here for preserving shells and cleaning. I just found a horse conch egg shell casing on beach and brought it home. It is drying but don’t know how to get smell out?? I don’t want to ruin it. The smell is not real bad just a bit fishy. Any suggestions?? It has shriveled some since drying so isn’t as nice as when first picked up.
Try using vinegar. I soak my shells in a 1 to 1 ratio of water and vinegar for a week or so and rinse them and soak again with same solution. Once they are free of smell I use muriatic acid (a gallon can be bought a Loweās or Home Depot in the paint section) to bring out the shine. You just dip them in the acid for a few seconds and tmen I to clean water. I have towel to lay them on to dry. Once they are dry, I spray them with polyurethane and they are really pretty.
I hope you didn’t use muriatic acid on the egg shell casing. It would destroy it. Best thing to get the smell out would be to just let it dry in the sun for several days. That should work.
Very useful , thank you
I have heard Honey Moon Island is also a great place to collect shells. I havaent been there yet but it is on my list of beaches to go. I live in the Tampa area so I have alot of beaches to chose from. I am trying to find some star fish that have been sept up in the sand. I plan on making picture frames with them.
I didn’t find many there. But did get to meet a huge rattlesnake at the beach shower!
I just picked some up after a huge series of tides yesterday. Pass a grille
I want to clean oyster shells & preserving the pearlesence on the inside is important. Will any/all of these methods work with that qualifier? (It seems like bleach would dull the pearly finish.)
I purchased a house on Pacific coast and a large jar of shells were left at house. The jar had a cork lid, so the smell was contained, till I opened to go thru the shells. I did put them all in another container and poured the bleach in. Once I started to drain, I started noticing very tiny white pellets. One of the shells was a type of starfish that had small protrusions all over. I had purchased another similar one at the shell shop. That is what the pellets were, it had dissolved in the bleach. All the other shell, were fine.
I use mutating acid all the time and I use it in a 1 to 10 ratio with water. To clean shells drip them in the solution and remove after the count of 5. Don’t leave thin shells like pink tellins in more than count of two. They will dissolve! Some shells you DO NOT want to do this way are sharks eyes, olives or fighting conch. It will dull the surface. To clean these shells I put them in my ultrasonic jewelry cleaner with a little Simple Green. Removes the smell wonderfully. Love shelling!
I boil my shells for a short period before bleaching them, killing any microscopic critters.
My family and I travel to SW Florida every other year for a shell collecting adventure. We are both collectors of excellent examples of all shells found and supplies for crafting. This year we had our week on Palm Island, an island 2 hours north of Sanibel Island. Sharks teeth became our focus while beach combing there. We took a day trip to our favorite beach on Sanibel, Bowmans Beach, where in the past we have had our best days shelling. We were so disappointed, as good shells were so scarce. Olives were found, but many had been in the surf for a while.
We had an opportunity to talk to a marine biologist at the Matthews Shell Museum on Sanibel. He shared with us that mollusks are not laying eggs( I usually see egg casings this time of year but not this visit) due to the increased temperature of the ocean. He was concerned that if this trend continues, Sanibel and the SW coast of Florida will cease to be the shelling mecca that it has been for decades. It is a sad thought that climate change is changing the life cycle of many of our favorite shells along the east and gulf coasts.
We were at Bowman beach April 2018 and now June 2018. It was so very different. I found so many shells in April and very little in June. We’re going back next month and taking my daughter. I hope it is a little better then.
How would you suggest cleaning a starfish, in order to use it for decorating??
The way I did starfish on guam was to put on the roof. About a week they die off and the smell stops. And u can put them in a sandbox. The ants will help u out and no smell there ither
Thank you for the info I am making a gift for my sister with shells we collected on a trip to Myrtle Beach, SC.
Ok. So I love, love, love the jar you used in your picture. Do you know where I can find one like that?
Margaret, the jar was a gift, and Iām not quite sure where it came from. I’d recommend checking Home Goods, as they usually have things like that. Good luck!
My husband works industrial construction so he (and a lot of times WE) get to go to numerous beaches a year. We always make time to go and gather seashells. I absolutely LOVE seashells lol this past September we had a house fire and although all of my seashells and even the glass bottles they were in survived, a lot of them are covered with soot. I really hope this works for my seashells and thank you so much for the advice!!
ALL sea shells are made of 100% calcium, so leave them in dilute acidic solutions for a short period of time. If you leave for too long the whole shell can dissolve. As far as strength, muriatic acid is stronger than bleach, which is stronger than vinegar.
I use 100% bleach for 2 minutes and then into plain water. Will repeat as needed until I get the look I want.
Will the bleach take away any of the natural color and/or pigmentation? I have purple ones and would cry if they got ruined!!
I want to attach the seashells to the bottom and edges of a bird bath that I’m gifting to my mom. How can I keep them from deteriorating in the weather? I live in Central Oregon. Thank you in advance
Hi I vacation in Florida as often as I can. My favorite beach is forever going to be Panama City Beach. Mexican Beach 2nd. Recently I went a little further south to Sarasota and Bradenton. I’ve collected almost 20/ pounds of shell’s this trip. My sister and I experimented with muriatic acid and water mix. It cuts every bit of grime! Works amazing! You just need a tad of acid to water mix. Then a straight water rinse and your shells are prettier than you ever expect! Hope this helps. Great she’ll hunting to all of you š
My family took a weekend trip to South Bay WA. My 9year old Granddaughter collected some seashells She washed them off then poured bleach and dishwashing liquid on them and scrub them with toothpaste.Then she used my Claire nail polish to shine them.I ask her how she knew what to do. She told me Grandma GOOGLE is my best friend.Lol
Will the bleach ābleachā the colors? We have a lot of shells that have reds, purples and black in them.
I recently bought a big chandelier made of Sea Shells and they are very dirty. Will it hurt them if I use the shower head to get the chunks of dirt and debris off before soaking?
Thank you very much Linda
When I went to the west coast of Florida Bradenton
Beaches I got some beautiful sea shells &
I also went to Sanibel
Island got some beautiful shells there !
LBI New Jersey āā love love love shells and I will be filling 2 lamps with them ā- sand first and then the shells
Hi there. Reading all these terrific methods of cleaning shells and wondering if what Iāve been doing all these years is enough?
I just wash them with dish washing soap getting into every nook and cranny with Q-tips if necessary. I donāt take any of thereās any critter parts remaining. Then I lay them out and spray with Lysol.
Think thatās enough?
Thanks!
Bonnie