Q&A for How to Clean and Preserve Sand Dollars

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Where in California is the best spot to find sand dollars?

Community Answer

Morro Bay is good, just north of Morro Rock. Stroll up and down the beach, they are there for miles on end.

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Question

Do sand dollars live in Florida?

Community Answer

Yes. We get sand dollars when we vacation in Sarasota - especially at Siesta Key.

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Question

What is meant by 'a few'?

Community Answer

A few is typically around 3-5, but the term can also be used in a relative sense, meaning a small fraction of the total amount (e.g., if there's a million of something, you might consider a thousand 'a few'). If you're asking why the phrase is in quotation marks, it's just to draw attention to the fact that while it may seem like an insignificant amount to you, it can still have an impact, especially if many people do the same thing, which will add up.

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Question

How do I clean the glue from my brush?

Community Answer

Wash the brush gently and thoroughly with warm soapy water.

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Question

How do I get the holes in cleaned sand dollars? Mine do not have a hole to thread a ribbon to hang. What are some ideas to make a hole without damaging it?

Community Answer

I drill holes with a very fine tip bit, it works great! Clean and prep your sand dollars first, then drill the hole and string. The smallest sand dollars, a quarter-size or smaller, will use an even finer, smaller bit, but it still works. You can tie them on packages, make ornaments out of them or even jewelry.

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Question

Will baking soda hurt the sand dollars?

Community Answer

If the sand dollars are dead, then baking soda shouldn't hurt them.

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Question

How long does the sand dollar need to soak?

Community Answer

It takes a good four or five fresh water baths to get them clean.

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Question

Where can I find sand dollars?

Community Answer

In the piles of shells along the top of the sand by the ocean. They will be embedded in all of the other shells, so you have to look closely. Most of the time they won't be full, though.

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Question

Is there a spray for preservation?

Community Answer

Yes, there is a clear lacquer spray you could use, but it can make them shiny. Spray it after the glue has dried, though, as the glue seals all the cracks and holds it together.

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Question

Will the preserved sand dollars be strong enough to use for a necklace pendant?

Community Answer

No, the edges are too fragile and will break/chip off if strung in multiples. A pendant of one may last a while, but unless the thin edges are somehow reinforced, they will break.

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Question

Can I use a preserved sand dollar as a decoration in a freshwater fish tank?

Community Answer

No. After applying chemicals such as bleach and glue to your sand dollar, putting it in a fish tank is not a good idea, as the chemicals will dissolve into the water. If you can get a new sand dollar and clean it with only water, it should not harm the fish. If you chose to do this, make sure to disinfect the sand dollar with a non-chemical treatment first.

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Question

How do I make an angel ornament out of a sand dollar?

Community Answer

Get white fabric, then cut out wings, a halo and a dress, then glue them to the sand dollar and draw a face on it.

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Question

My sand dollars are full of very fine sand. Soaking for weeks got most of this out. However, there is still sand that darkens parts of the otherwise white dollar. How do I get the sand out?

Community Answer

Soak it again four or five times, then use a toothbrush or toothpick to gently brush the sand out. Remember to be very careful, so you don’t break the sand dollar.

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Question

I cleaned my sand dollars as instructed. Some are very white, but most have a rust color on them. How do I get them white?

Community Answer

If you examine it closely and it is rust, use a diluted rust remover to clean them. I had a similar situation and it worked wonders.

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