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| Home > Science & Nature > Natural Florida > Beaches > Shelling > Cleaning |
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Sanddollar: Soak in fresh water changing the water frequently until it stays clear. Then soak in a Bleach solution of 50% bleach/ 50% water for a few minutes (some say soak them for an hour or more, but this will weaken the sanddollar and it may crumble). Then rinse with fresh water and set out to dry - drying in the sun is best. You can repeat the bleach /rinse /dry if needed but the sun will usually help to bleach the sanddollar to a whiter color. When complete you can harden and strengthen your sanddollar by painting it with a mixture of 50% elmers glue/ 50% water. |
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Seashells: If there is still any animal tissue inside (you will know if there is live tissue because you will smell it!) you can remove it by boiling, microwaving or freezing it. You can also bury the shell for several months or just leave it sitting outside somewhere for the insects to clean out for you. Sometimes just a high pressure sprayer will remove the tissue. To clean an empty shell simply soak it in a 50% bleach / 50% water solution. This will remove any algae or periostracum (a darker leathery type covering) that is on most live shells. Note that many shells have already lost this coating by the time you find them on the Florida beach shore and we find that many times a thorough fresh water rinse is all that is needed. If you use the bleach solution, soak for as long as it takes to remove the coating then rinse well. You can also use a stiff brush or toothbrush to clean it off better. Do not put olives, cowries or any shell with a shiny coating in the bleach solution as it may dull their finish. If the shell is chipped or rough and you'd like to smooth it out, a dremel tool works well to grind it down. We prefer to leave our shells natural. However, if you would like to bring out the luster and shine, after your shell has dried, you can rub baby oil (optional - add 1/3 part lighter fluid). You can also use mineral oil. |
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Sponges: You need to be careful when cleaning a sponge because many varieties have glasslike pieces that can cut you if you squeeze them with your bare hands. Clean them by thoroughly rinsing in fresh water and squeezing (not with bare hands) several times. (Same as you would clean a household sponge!) The more you rinse and squeeze, the cleaner it will get. Next dry them out in the sun. (Note: the odor is really hard to get rid of completely and forever.) |
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Seafans: Rinse thoroughly with fresh water and dry in the sun. Moisture may bring out the odor in them so once they are completely dried it is best to keep them someplace where the rain and moisture won't be. |
| Sea Urchins: You must be careful when cleaning sea urchins as they are spiny and delicate. It is best to dry them out real good in the sun for a few days to dry out the spines which can then be brushed off fairly easily. Then use a tool or pick to clean out the inside. Soak in Bleach for a few minutes then rinse thoroughly and set out to dry. | |
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Starfish/Seahorses/Other sealife: Preserve it by soaking it in 70% isopropyl alcohol for 1 or 2 nights. Then dry it out in the sun and be sure to weigh down the legs of the starfish so that they do not curl up as it dries. |
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Striped Burrfish: Preserve it by soaking it in 70% isopropyl alcohol for 1 or 2 nights. Then dry it out in the sun and be sure to weigh down the legs of the starfish so that they do not curl up as it dries. |
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Horseshoe Crabs: The inside/underneath of the horseshoe crab comes out pretty easily. |
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