Cleaning of Seashells (Seashells Jewelry)

Seashells Jewelry

Before to start painting of seashells that we collected at the beach, first thing we should do is cleaning the seashells. There are several known methods for cleaning your live seashell specimens.

1. Burying: This is easiest way to clean the Seashells but will take about two months. Dig a hole somewhere in around your home or yard and bury the seashells about 18 inches (deep enough so animals will not dig them up). It shall need to remain buried until insects, larvae, worms, and bacteria remove all the tissue. The longer you leave them the better.
   
2. Freezing: Use a Ziplock bag and cover it with full of water, zip it and then place in the freezer. When you are ready to clean them, let the bag thaw at room temperature until completely defrosted.
   
3. Boiling: Boil the seashells in the pot with some of water for a few minutes (more seashells need longer). Use tongs to remove one shell at a time. So you don't burn yourself, grasp shell with gloves or a towel and gently pull out the animal tissue inside.
   
4. Heating: As long as you don't mind the smell in your microwave, this is an easy method. The time it takes to cook your seashells can really vary by microwave, so just try it until you figure out how long for each seashell. Grasp cooked seashell with gloves or a towel and gently pull out the animal tissue inside.

After that, the last step that we should do is bleaching the seashells. When no tissue remains, soak the seashells in a 50-50 solution of bleach and water. The length of time depends on the type of seashells and the quantity of seashells being cleaned. We must remove them after the "periostracum" is gone. The periostracum is the flaky, leathery covering that covers most live seashells. To make your seashells a nice finish and more shining, you can wipe them with mineral or baby oil.

Seashells Jewelry

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