How to clean your shells ? Everything to know about cleaning shells ! Shell Collection

How to clean shells using bleach. This video will teach you how to clean your seashells from A to Z ! No need to use acid. Bleach treatment is explained and filmed. How to get rid of algae and corals. Which shell families can be cleaned and which must not be ! Another Video (short) can be checkd there : www.youtube.co...

[@anguished0]

Do you have any tips on cleaning pterynotus? Ive been trying to scrape off the coral on the shell but have been unsuccessful

[@SeashellsMineralsChannel]

Well, murex shells are really hard to clean. But the best mean is to use an ultrasound shellers tool. The best ones cost around 400€ but one may find cheapest ones. As a cone collector I don’t have much problem but I know several friends that told me that this method is just THE method. The shells are fully cleaned and you don’t damage the shells!

[@RodCooper-g5n]

I'd just use water, possibly a little bit of washing up liquid, and an old toothbrush

[@SeashellsMineralsChannel]

Hi, if the shell still has it’s periostracum, you can’t clean it and remove the periostracum with water.

[@cherylmillard9329]

Don't use metal in the bleach, it can be highly reactive if it's not a high quality stainless. Plastic or glass would have been better since this is a video for beginners.

[@SeashellsMineralsChannel]

Dear Cheryl, thanks for your kind comment. That's true, though if you take care about the tool you use and about the strenght you use, they won't be any damage, I use this method for more than 20 years and I've never damaged any shell. Thanks for commenting this video ^^

[@cherylmillard9329]

It's not about damaging the tool, some thirty years ago I was using bleach to clean some shells, the bowl was food grade stainless as was the tool, the two combined caused "electrolysis" due to three components, the salt water from the shells the two metal objects and bleach together caused a reaction. Well a hole was eaten completely through the bowl. My boyfriend's mother who was an impossible complainer had something new to cry about although I bought her a brand new bowl, lol. Anyway that was my interesting experience.

[@SeashellsMineralsChannel]

It's very interesting as a testimony! Indeed, it is important to avoid using metal containers, I never use metal, as on the video elsewhere but bins in plastic. After I think the electrolysis has taken a while. For my part I advise instead of using bleach concentrated on a short time (maximum 1:00). Thank you for this testimony ! If I had this experience before I would gladly put in the video as advice but the comments are there too to increase knowledge! Thank you Cheryl!

[@SeashellsMineralsChannel]

Dear Shellers, I made a shorter footage at : kzbin.info?o=U&video_id=M3m4RY-VYWY

[@SeashellsMineralsChannel]

And another one at : kzbin.info/www/bejne/hofHk6COpatqra8

[@martineastburn3679]

Muriatic is to strong and will dissolve shell itself and your finger if you get into it. We used Clorox original version - pure. The chloride in it will create HCL (pure version of Muriatic [ pool acid ] )with water in it. Use as is. It will etch your skin and is very painful in cuts. Caution - use rubber gloves. And aprons.

[@marysmith1757]

you could've wrapped all this up in 2 minutes....

[@SeashellsMineralsChannel]

Hello, I recognize that the video is too long but it was one of my first and I did it without editing, live and English is not my native language at all! It's a feat for me to have been able to last for the duration. Since new videos on the subject have been published but shorter of course. That said I very much doubt that you can in 2 minutes make me a montage with all the information distilled in this video. I'll be curious to see your footage...

[@marysmith1757]

figure of speech-- However way, it could've been shortened a lot but it was your first vid etc. It was informative but started skipping some parts. THnx anyways

[@SeashellsMineralsChannel]

Thank you for your comment. I'm glad the video is informative, that's exactly the point. Share information. In this one I really talked about a lot of things about shells and their cleaning. In the following, I focused more on cleaning. But really it's very hard to get straight to the point when it's not our native language :) We want to say something and we share in other subjects ... On the other hand the advantage for beginners is that there is most of what you need to know ... :)

[@SeashellsMineralsChannel]

This one is much shorter (15 minutes) : kzbin.info/www/bejne/g2TQZYWPYruMjbs

[@cherylmillard9329]

Your videos are interesting and informative!!

[@SeashellsMineralsChannel]

Thank you very much !

[@lass-inangeles7564]

Very interesting to know this! Your French accent is charming, esp the way you say 'Horrible'! Thank you for a detailed video. I would shorten it a lot though, there is too much repetition and its too long. I'm American, so of course, we like things to the point and fast. You should always wear glasses yourself. You never know if you suddenly slipped, or had a strange unexpected accident that spilled bleach on your face. Also gloves. With regard to dental tools, you can buy them cheap on Amazon for dog teeth cleaning. Merci bien!

[@SeashellsMineralsChannel]

Hello and thank you for the comment ! Great if my accent is not painful to hear! This video liked a lot but of course it is too long. It was one of my first videos though and it is recorded live without interruption. It has been very difficult for me to talk so much time. If I could do it in my mother language, it would have been much faster, it's obvious. There are plenty of tips and stories that I could not tell for lack of vocalbular. The last videos are rather contemplative ... so it avoids me to talk :) I'll be shooting new adventures soon speaking your language and I will try to limit myself in time :) If I had made the videos in French, it would not have never been able to reach enough people. So English will remain the official language of my channel! See you soon DAVID

[@ScaryFear]

Thanks for the great info. I was worried about bleach dissolving my shells but I think leaving them for a hour is a good idea. Not too long and it should work. Would this work also with fish bone that smells? I don't want to dissolve it. By the way the dental tool is called a Dental Explorer tool and people also use them for clay sculpting. They can be found on Amazon not too expensive if you don't have a dentist friend. I got a giant melo shell today. I love it but it will probably need some cleaning.

[@SeashellsMineralsChannel]

Hello, one hour = no risk. Use strong bleach. Same for fish bones : bleach and alcohol.

[@ScaryFear]

@@SeashellsMineralsChannel Great to know. Thank you. I just posted a video about a big Heavy Baler shell I got. You might like it.

[@LarryShone]

Very interesting and useful video! How do you polish the murex? It is not smooth like the others so would be tricky to polish with the oil.

[@SeashellsMineralsChannel]

Yes you can polish with the oil as well. But it has to be totally cleaned before (remove all the incrusting stuff).

[@gregclift1017]

Bonjour, J’adore votre vidéo. Would baby oil do the same thing as mineral oil? Or will it hurt the shell? Merci bien :)

[@SeashellsMineralsChannel]

Hello, thanks for comment, baby oil is fine (the one without parfum)

[@GiuliaLovegood]

Nice one! Thanks! Cheers from brasil♡

[@SeashellsMineralsChannel]

Thanks for your comment!

[@leslierogers6678]

Hello, I recently found some very large, very old, seashells while cleaning out my grandmother's house. Can you offer me some wisdom on how to clean these up and keep them in good shape? One of them appears to be cracked and drying out if this is possible. Also, my uncle who has lived there alone for over twenty years and is a heavy smoker. They smell of tobacco smoke and are brown. I would not want to act too quickly and damage them. Can you offer a solution? Thanks!

[@SeashellsMineralsChannel]

Hello, please send me the pictures with google + :)

[@julieselden7932]

ohhh what are you talking about? I love your accent!! Love the video too, thanks for showing us how to do this.

[@SeashellsMineralsChannel]

Many thanks Julie ! I will surely keep making tutorials and videos about shelling ! A lot more to come soon. I try to make one footage per week. Thanks for my accent :)

[@talykiss1]

Hi, where do you throw the used bleach?

[@SeashellsMineralsChannel]

That depends if your country has somewhere to throw it. In most countries there is no way or recycling, and bleach, acids, etc... are thrown in piping. So neutralize it with a lot of water first.

[@colleenfaed1160]

Hi, I am in Austalia and have enjoyed this video on how to clean shells

[@SeashellsMineralsChannel]

Thanks a lot for your kind comment ! You live on the right place for shelling!

[@85mattluna]

I have a purple top tiger cowrie shell I found in Maui. What is the best way you would recommend to clean and restore it? Thanks!

[@SeashellsMineralsChannel]

Hello, cowries are naturally polished. If it's not shiny then you can't bring back the original looking. Cowries must me found "fresh dead". You can varnish it but it's not natural.

[@85mattluna]

Seashells & Minerals Channel do you think muriatic acid would help?

[@SeashellsMineralsChannel]

Not for cowries. Only varnish

[@85mattluna]

Seashells & Minerals Channel will muriatic acid ruin cowrie shells?

[@85mattluna]

Seashells & Minerals Channel when the shell is wet it looks shiny but when it dries up it turns white. Thanks!

[@leoamendt4578]

Verry interesting video's

[@SeashellsMineralsChannel]

Hello Leo, many thanks for your kind comment ! David

[@mckennaallen2283]

Can you use vinegar to dissolve the coral/crustose algae growth?

[@SeashellsMineralsChannel]

Hello, of course but do not forget that shells are made of calcareous stuff meaning that any acid will damage shells...

[@LarryShone]

I would not use vinegar because it is an acid. Bleach is alkaline, just like the shell material

[@amandafacundo8492]

thank you for this!

[@SeashellsMineralsChannel]

You are welcome Amanda

[@hawkie333]

A buffer would be better than the picking.....

[@fgfg633]

What do you think of using muriatic acid to clean shells?

[@SeashellsMineralsChannel]

Hello, you may use it on shells that you cannot restore even after bleach/oil treatment. It's soft acid so it's not very dangerous. I do not collect very old shells so I never use it. Though on murex it's very powerful.

[@kylekustka]

@@SeashellsMineralsChannel by very powerful do you mean very effective or very harmful

[@SeashellsMineralsChannel]

Hello, I mean it works pretty well 😀

[@foodiediva1]

My problem is i broke a glass dish that was holding 2 cups of various beautiful seashells dropped on my bathroom floor while inside it. should i throw them all away for fear of getting glass shards in my hands or is there a way to clean to make sure no glass pieces are on or inside any shells from the broken glass jar? I tried to clean broken glass pieces out of pile of shells as much as i could but scare tiny shards of glass may still be mixed in pile of shells. I thought about putting them in a basket and shaking it may dislodge any leftover tiny pieces of glass but then shards will go in basket. Any suggestion? I am setting the shells aside before i handle them to see if there is a solution these dhells a small and beautiful but not worth cutting my hands on. Help me make a sensible decision anyone. Thsnks.

[@SeashellsMineralsChannel]

Hello, this is not really related to a shell topic. Though, i suggest that you clean each shell one after the other. So you can check that no more shards are inside them. Check by shaking them above your trash and after also in water as water can enter your shels and get the smallest shards out. bye

[@foodiediva1]

@@SeashellsMineralsChannel Sorry i did search yt for how to clean shells so your channel came up. Yes that was my first idea to clean them im not sure if the glass broke up shattered but you never know. Thank you so much.

[@SeashellsMineralsChannel]

Foodie Diva I’m sure you’ll manage to clean them, just a question of time and a lot of patience! 👍

[@geezergamers7101]

I just came the Bahamas and brought back a Helmet Conch. It has a thick layer of white calcium on the outside, the underside is perfect. Should I start with the bleach soak? I love the sound of the waves in the back round.

[@SeashellsMineralsChannel]

Hello ! Helmet conch can be bleached so why not but bleach won't solve calcium. Did you try to add minral oil to your shell ? Can you show an image ?

[@geezergamers7101]

@@SeashellsMineralsChannel I took pictures, but I am not sure how to upload them. I have it soaking in Bleach now.

[@SeashellsMineralsChannel]

Ok, send the image to [e-mail] after soaking