Q&A for How to Clean and Polish Seashells

No. The vinegar will dissolve your shells because it is an acid and shells are calcium carbonate.

This would put a very thick layer on the shells and leave a sticky residue. You just want enough to soak into the microscopic pores and give a thin coat.

Mineral oil is much cheaper and more effective! Howard's cutting board oil is about $7 at Home Depot. It is mineral oil and vitamin E.

Yes, but it won't remove much. You need to do a process to remove stains and animal tissue.

Do not use olive oil on shells or stones! I tried and it stained them the color of the oil. If you would rather not use mineral oil or any petroleum based oil, try rubbing very small amounts of coconut oil on the shells and stones - it may be a little greasy at first but it does soak in after a while and leaves the shells looking natural.

Sunlight can act like a natural bleach, so it is possible for the colours to fade under strong sunlight. Best to keep shells in a shaded area. If you're putting them in the sun to dry up, be sure to monitor the weather and take them in when they're dry enough.

They smell bad because live creatures are in them or recently died in them. Soak them in hot water for around three hours, then refrigerate them until they don't smell.

No. It might help to clean them, but it will not shine them. You could use mineral oil to shine them, or very small amounts of coconut oil.

It depends on the environment of the shell and what's on the shell. Clean them regularly, and keep your shells out of bad atmospheres to keep them from developing any unwanted bacteria. Typically, shells don't have the right environment for bacteria such as mold to develop.

Yes, but it looks fake. Satin clear spray is the best paint, but I prefer to oil mine once a year or as needed for the best natural look.

Not a good idea -- that's like trying to kill a fly with a machine gun. You will just dissolve your shell.

Any cleaning product with bleach in it will ruin the color of your shell, so I don't recommend trying this.

Yes, you may use baby oil to shine the shells.

It depends on what you soak it in and how thick the tissue is. For example, if you have 2 shells, a small (quarter sized) and a large (fist sized) shell and leave them in 1/4 bleach solution overnight, you might find the small one easily broken when you try to scrub, while the larger one might be perfect.

Lightly sand it. It is very time consuming, but you do not want to destroy the mother of pearl. Start with around 400 grit and move up to 800. The goal is to remove residues without scratching the brass, or if you have a polishing wheel that would speed it up.

No, it will not dry the same. The shell will feel like Vaseline until you wash it again.

They can become smelly if they aren't cleaned, and may develop bacteria and mold growth.

It would be just as effective as tap water, but if you soak it in a saltwater tank, it would smell like the ocean. NOTE: for most shells not a good idea because the salt is often stubborn when trying to rinse off. But if you are doing it for crabs it would look naturally worn.

Identify what species or type of shell it is, and whether it is common or rare. Common and badly damaged shells have very little value except to be sold in bulk for crafts. If you have nicer, more uncommon shells, I suggest checking a website where shells are sold and see what they are going for.

If you can't see anything that looks like animal tissue, you can still check your shells by smelling them. One of the most noticeable signs of tissue in your shells is a gross, rotting odor. There are a few methods above to remove animal tissue that should also banish the smell.

Spray will not adhere to the shell after oil is applied. You only need to do one or the other.

Use the same method as if you just got them off the beach, but use less bleach, soak for 4-5 hours. Rinse them in plain water after soaking and allow them to dry overnight before using mineral oil to restore the shine.

No, if you use a cotton pad to apply the oil and don't soak them completely. The pores of the shells will absorb the oils and it will feel dry to touch.

You could always paint it, or apply a clear lacquer to bring out its shine.

No. While those products will certainly make your shell shiny, they will never dry out and instead leave the shell feeling greasy to the touch.

An overnight soak will get your shells nice and clean. If you are worried about the bleach destroying the color of your shells, either find a safer cleaning option or check them every hour or so to make sure they are not fading.

No. The oil forms a thin coat on the shell that will keep the spray from sticking.

As long as the Tide contains bleach, it will work to clean your shells much the same way as straight bleach. However, depending on what kind you use, it might leave them with a clean-laundry smell.

I believe peroxide will eat it off. It's worth a try, it definitely won't harm the shell.

A good scrubbing with a soft toothbrush should do the job. Just like the toothbrush removes plaque from your teeth without damaging them, it will help to strip away that outer layer while keeping the shell itself in pristine condition.