How to Bleach Oyster Shells for Decorating

Bleach oyster shell using basic household supplies.

When you make handmade decorative accents for your home, you can end up spending a lot of money at a craft-supply store on the materials for your project. For example, you may buy bleached oyster shells for a beach-themed home accessory. Instead of buying pre-bleached oyster shells, bleach your own oyster shells using a few basic materials that can be purchased inexpensively from a supermarket. This enables you to make beachy home accents on less money.

Things You'll Need

• Rubber gloves
• 2 buckets, 10 gallon
• Bleach, unscented
• Long-handled spoon
• Towel

Instructions

1. Put on rubber gloves to protect your skin from the bleach water.

2. Fill a 10 gallon bucket halfway full of water.

3. Pour 1 cup of unscented bleach into the water. Stir the solution for 1 minute using a long-handled spoon.

4. Place up to 2 lbs. of oyster shells into the bleach water and push the shells under the water using the long-handled spoon. Allow the shells to remain in the bleach water for 30 minutes.

5. Rinse off the bleached oyster shells under clear water for 2 minutes, then lay the shells onto a towel to air dry for 3 hours.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep bleach out of the reach of children.

References

• Profit Frog: Ash Trays from Oyster Shells
• How to Clean Stuff.net: How to Clean Seashells