Whether you’re planning on making crafts from shells you picked up at the beach or are simply buying wholesale seashells in bulk – you’ll always want to make sure that you clean your shells. Why? Not so much because there’s any real danger or hygiene issues associated with dirty shells – but rather that shells have an underlying, brilliant beauty that given some care and attentiveness – can make your crafts really pop. 

Today, we’re going to talk about some of the ways you can clean shells, eliminate any prospective odors and really bring a next level shine to your next craft project. Let’s jump right in!

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Bleach
• Water
• A glass or plastic bowl
• A disposable/extra toothbrush
• A little dish soap
• Paper towels for drying
• Mineral oil (For food only. Avoid olive oil and/or vegetable oil)

We generally recommend mixing both equal parts bleach and water in a container. Toss in your seashells and let them stand for one hour. Once you’ve given it some time, remove a few of the shells and take a look at whether or not they’re still dirty. If they are, put them back in for another 10-15 minutes. It not, it’s ok to proceed to the next step. 

What you’ll want to do is fish out your seashells and lay them on a towel. Toss the water/bleach mix and fill up a separate container with warm soapy water using the dish soap we mentioned earlier. Wash your shells off – and make sure you get all of the remaining dirt and crud removed from their surface. In between dunks, use your toothbrush to get into all the small, hard-to-get-to crevices. 

Rinse them one last time and then leave them to air dry on a paper towel. Give it an hour or two. When your shells are dry, it’s then time to add the mineral oil. Again – avoid cooking oils like Vegetable or Olive oil. Put a tiny bowl of mineral oil off to the side and lightly buff your shells with said oil. 
And there you go – some shells that will really bring a ton of shine to any room! From there, it’s really up to you. Use the shells as crafting items – whether it’s frames, mirrors or set pieces. Some even like using them as a centerpiece decoration all in a bowl together. Whichever you choose we promise – they’ll look great!

So whether you pluck your shells straight off the shore or purchase wholesale seashells in bulk – we always recommend that you clean them in this way and manner. You’ll help to uncover  beauty that few things can compare to. Good luck!