How to Clean Abalone Shells

Abalone shells are the shells of sea snails. The shells are oval in shape with a mother of pearl inner lining. This lining, also called the nacre, has an iridescent glow that makes abalone shells highly prized to display, use in jewelry, or use as an inlay on furniture and for other decorative purposes. To bring out the glow, the abalone shells must first be cleaned.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Abalone shells
• Soft toothbrush
• Knife or stiff brush
• Bucket
• Water
• Hose
• Muriatic acid
• Vaseline or mineral oil
• Soft cloth
• Gloves
• Well-ventilated area
• Tongs

1. Remove any barnacles from the abalone shells using a sharp knife or a stiff brush.

2. Soak the abalone shells in a bucket of water. Allow them to stay in the water for several days to gently remove grit and dirt. Use a soft toothbrush to help remove additional grime.

3. Wearing gloves and working in well-ventilated area, use tongs to place the abalone shells in a bucket with muriatic acid. Muriatic acid can be purchased at hardware stores such as Home Depot. Use enough acid to cover the shells. Leave the shells in the acid for about 15 seconds. Then remove the shells with the tongs.

4. Hose the abalone shells off thoroughly and allow to air dry.

5. Using a soft cloth, rub Vaseline or mineral oil into the shells to enhance the luster of the nacre and the beauty of the external shell.

Tips & Warnings

• Muriatic acid can be very dangerous if not used properly. Do not mix with any other acid and be sure to read the label. Do not leave the shells in the muriatic acid too long or you will damage the shells. Take care working with muriatic acid. The fumes can be harmful and it can damage your skin.