How to Clean Seashells

Most of the time seashells have no critters in them when you pick them up at the beach. However, sometimes you will find one that still has a crab or snail in it. Believe me, if you don't clean it out, it's gonna start stinking!

There are different ways to do this:

Bury it - Dig a hole in your flower bed and bury the sea shell about 12 inches deep. Leave it buried as long as you can. In a few days the animal inside will be dead and should slip out. If you leave it much longer, worms and bacteria will eat the animal out of the shell and leave it clean.

Freeze it - Cover the shell with water and freeze it. When you are ready to clean the shell, thaw it out, grab hold of the animal inside and pull it out.

Boil it - Boil the sea shells in water. Remove with tongs, and using a towel, grasp the seashell and pull the animal out.

Microwave it - Cook the sea shells in your microwave, and grab the animal inside and pull it out. (This one will stink up your microwave)

Fresh water - Cover the seashell with fresh water (not salt water). Allow it to sit in the fresh water for several days, changing the water daily so it doesn't stink too bad. The fresh water will kill the animal and you should finally be able to pull it out.

NOTE: If part of the animal breaks off inside, your sea shell will really STINK! The best way I have found to get rid of any leftover animal matter inside the shell is to stir up a fire ant bed and put the shell in it. In a few days the shell will be as clean as a whistle.