How to Seal a Sand Dollar
Sand dollars are popular as beach souvenirs because they resemble coins or cookies with their round, flat shape and feature a five-pointed star in the center. Just like many other things that come from the sea, they were once part of an animal, most specifically a type of sea urchin, and can be made into items such as jewelry. If you want your sand dollar decoration to last, you will need to properly clean it and seal it.
Instructions
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Fill a clean bucket with tap water and submerge the sand dollar until the water turns brown. Remove the sand dollar, dump the water and repeat this process until the water no longer turns brown but stays clear. This ensures that the sand dollar is clean and most of the organic material and remains from the sea urchin have been washed away.
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Pour 3 cups of water and 3 cups of bleach into the bucket -- an equal amount of each so there will be enough to cover the sand dollar. Soak the sand dollar in the bleach water for 15 to 20 minutes only. Any longer will cause the sand dollar to break down. This removes any remaining bacteria and speeds up the whitening process.
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Dab the sand dollar gently with a paper towel to remove excess moisture. Place it on another dry paper towel in a sunny window for three days, until it is completely dry. The longer you leave the sand dollar in the sun, the whiter it becomes.
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Pour some clear nail polish in a disposable plastic cup and dip a paintbrush into the nail polish. Brush the clear nail polish on one side of the sand dollar, making be sure to get the edges as well. Wait 20 minutes for it to dry before adding another coat. Wait 45 minutes to 1 hour, turn the sand dollar over and repeat on the back.
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References
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images
