How to Clean a Conch Shell
Conch shells come from a species of sea snails called marine gastropod mollusks. They come in varying shades from pink to white and golden brown. People use conchs as decoration, as an instrument and as food in different parts of the world. If you've gathered a conch shell from the beach it will undoubtedly be filled with sand and microorganisms. It could also have barnacles attached. You can clean the shell easily to remove all detritus and debris so that the shell's true beauty is on display.
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Things You'll Need
- A container deep enough to submerge the shell
- Liquid chlorine bleach
- Firm toothbrush
- Dental pick
- Wire brush with a twisted wire stem
Instructions
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Submerge the shell in fresh water and allow it to soak for half an hour. This will allow you to wipe away the sand inside and other debris once you remove the shell from the water. Throw the dirty water outside; pouring it down the drain could cause a clog.
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Rinse out your container and fill with an equal amount of water and bleach to submerge the shell again. Allow it to soak for several hours. The bleach will kill microscopic fauna and remove any smells that the shell might emit. It will also loosen barnacles and other attachments.
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Remove the shell from the bleach, rinse with fresh water, and use your pick and brushes to remove any debris that might be on the shell, as well as anything that might be inside it. If there are any stubborn barnacles, soak the shell overnight in water and bleach and use your instruments again to remove what is still clinging to the shell.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit large whitish conch shell image by Carpenter from Fotolia.com
