This is very important. I got a staff infection from shells I collected one time. I had no idea it could happen and I grew up around the beach. Two surgeries on my hand and lots of meds later I recovered. I had a small blister on my hand and it got into that.
Those soft tissue infections are almost guaranteed if you cut yourself on a living shell. Oysters are especially sharp and carry heavy bacterial and viral loads. Much harder to get staph from a dead shell unless there was already a break in the skin. It’s rare but it happens
Be careful! The acid will completely eat the shell if you leave it for too long. In my experience the shells never come out shiny when using this acid 😕
carsoncaidenmemaw I just got back from Sanibel! One of the best beaches is right off the bridge between Captiva and Sanibel. I went early afternoon but I'm sure you can find even better ones in the morning. Have fun! Thanks for a helpful video!!
Did you ever do a video on what you did with the shells? I have a lot of collected shells and would like some ideas for what to do with them. Thanks for showing how to cleaning them!
My daughter just sent me a box full of sand dollars from Cali! Yay! I’m from Texas so I’m “Fixin’” to clean them with a little bleach and a dime of dawn😜
yay !!! lol im so glad more and more people are posting i just started collecting a few years back and want to know all and any info i can get on it ! thank you fr the post
Muriatic acid is extremely dangerous. The fumes are also very irritating to the lungs. I would think you could use a much less harmful product. What are you doing with the acid when you are finished with it??
It’s just common pool acid. And it’s been diluted again by a factor of 3 or 4. Use it outside with the breeze blowing the fumes away. Neutralize with household baking soda and it’s no longer acid
I’m a Californian and I never in all my life cleaned shells with anything other than water. I am curious why you clean these shells with acid. I have many beautiful, shiny shells that came straight from the beach that have been rinsed off with water only. Is this something that people do in certain areas of the U.S. or other countries ? I’ve found that they really don’t need cleaning. Empty seashells (and the key here is EMPTY) will only need a rinsing or two in plain old water to remove the sand. My shells never smell bad. That will happen if there is something dead inside. Don’t collect living shells and you won’t have that problem!
On the East Coast the shell colors are faded because of a hazy coating of calcium deposits. The acid dramatically revives the color. Then a thin coating of mineral oil keeps them lustrous. If your shells are already shiny from the beach these steps obviously aren’t needed
The shells only smell if there is living organic material attached or within. You must have found shells with hermit crabs inside or seaweed attached. Attached barnacles are living as well. If you store them wet it’s even worse. Dry them in the sun and indirect carefully for living tissue next time
To dissolve the calcium deposits that is often found on shells. Trouble is shells are also made of calcium so care is needed. Personally I use bleach diluted which is an alkali so doesnt affect the shell at all
Mark Lester Leal i would not try it, maybe there still is some acid on them it will kill your fish. If shells are wet they don’t lose their colour. So i would suggest just rinsing the found shells with water and put them in your tank. Not with acid
This is very important. I got a staff infection from shells I collected one time. I had no idea it could happen and I grew up around the beach. Two surgeries on my hand and lots of meds later I recovered. I had a small blister on my hand and it got into that.
Paula Jarman yikes! How scary!
Those soft tissue infections are almost guaranteed if you cut yourself on a living shell. Oysters are especially sharp and carry heavy bacterial and viral loads. Much harder to get staph from a dead shell unless there was already a break in the skin. It’s rare but it happens
I really liked that little shell 🐚 😌✨
it works just as fine with vinegar. I guess is less toxic for the environment.
Muriatic acid is easily rendered neutral with household baking soda. Environment saved
I agree. That way the kids can be involved, too. I would think it's also better on the budget. 😊
I’ve never had luck cleaning shells. I’m looking forward to trying this trick.
Be careful! The acid will completely eat the shell if you leave it for too long. In my experience the shells never come out shiny when using this acid 😕
Thanks for sharing. I will be going to Sanibel Island in June. And I have a lot of shells from years gone by!
carsoncaidenmemaw
I just got back from Sanibel! One of the best beaches is right off the bridge between Captiva and Sanibel. I went early afternoon but I'm sure you can find even better ones in the morning. Have fun!
Thanks for a helpful video!!
How do you neutralize the acid and dispose of it after this project?
baking soda
Instead of the acid, u can also use vinegar
Source?
I have shells from Turtle Beach to clean, too! Thanks!
Turtle beach had wonderful shells :)
Here is an easy version of this vid just soak them in soap water for a minute or more then take them out and wash it with plain tap water
This video is for when you rinse them in water bit then the colors fade again upon drying
It is my understanding that the acid should be diluted to 3 parts water to one part acid. The shells should only be dipped for 3 seconds.
Her solution was too dilute. It barely bubbled. That’s why the dip was so long
Did you ever do a video on what you did with the shells? I have a lot of collected shells and would like some ideas for what to do with them. Thanks for showing how to cleaning them!
Carol Carratt make jewelry from them and research how to grow crystals from salt....crystals would be beautiful around seashells
My daughter just sent me a box full of sand dollars from Cali! Yay! I’m from Texas so I’m “Fixin’” to clean them with a little bleach and a dime of dawn😜
Hydrogen peroxide is a better choice. Bleach makes sand dollars even more brittle and prone to breakage
How to do like a clam shell that’s got like the crust it kind of flakes off to reveal the really pretty pearl will this acid work ?
What ratio of vinegar? Do you need to add another ingredient to make it work. Please respond
Cool video!
Where to dispose the acid after using it?
I placed it in a jug and took it to my brothers business where they dispose of it.
Neutralize with household baking soda
yay !!! lol im so glad more and more people are posting i just started collecting a few years back and want to know all and any info i can get on it ! thank you fr the post
Thank you for watching and hope my video could help you :)
Thank you wondered how to clean them😁
Would it not be efficient to do dish soap and water and then do a 70-90% alcohol spray and lay out to dry in the heat?
No. That method doesn’t remove the white haze that fades the colors. Need acid in some form - not alcohol
Muriatic acid is extremely dangerous. The fumes are also very irritating to the lungs. I would think you could use a much less harmful product. What are you doing with the acid when you are finished with it??
Yes! I am also wondering if there is an alternative...
Add a base to neutralize
It’s just common pool acid. And it’s been diluted again by a factor of 3 or 4. Use it outside with the breeze blowing the fumes away. Neutralize with household baking soda and it’s no longer acid
What do you do with the acid when you're finished?
Neutralize with household baking soda
Did you ever post video of the craft you made from the shells??
I’m a Californian and I never in all my life cleaned shells with anything other than water. I am curious why you clean these shells with acid. I have many beautiful, shiny shells that came straight from the beach that have been rinsed off with water only. Is this something that people do in certain areas of the U.S. or other countries ?
I’ve found that they really don’t need cleaning. Empty seashells (and the key here is EMPTY) will only need a rinsing or two in plain old water to remove the sand. My shells never smell bad. That will happen if there is something dead inside. Don’t collect living shells and you won’t have that problem!
I'm not sure. The people that I rented the condo from told us how to clean them so that's what I did.
The acid will “eat” the cloudy calcification off of the shell but it will also completely dissolve it if left for too long.
On the East Coast the shell colors are faded because of a hazy coating of calcium deposits. The acid dramatically revives the color. Then a thin coating of mineral oil keeps them lustrous. If your shells are already shiny from the beach these steps obviously aren’t needed
How do you dispose of the acid?
Neutralize with household baking soda
Thanks for sharing I will be useing theses tips and makeing a dollar tree list
This is so cool, but where'd you find the shells? They're so beautiful!
From a Beach
@@aaravdiwakaristhebest Btw not every beach has shells
She explained where in the first minute of the video
Very nice thank you 🤗🤗🤗
How to clean n control thoes smells which I brought from sea...I hve cleaned 90% thn too it's very bad smell
The shells only smell if there is living organic material attached or within. You must have found shells with hermit crabs inside or seaweed attached. Attached barnacles are living as well. If you store them wet it’s even worse. Dry them in the sun and indirect carefully for living tissue next time
Why using acid on shells for bringing or whitening? I'm confused
It takes off the white film of stuff (calcium?) that doesn't come off with scrubbing using soap and water.
Acid removes the calcium haze that masks the shelf’s true colors
You should NEVER use metal with muriatic acid. You can use plastic tongs. (plastic and glass containers are OK)
I use metal tongs to dip my shells in acid. They are aluminum. There is no reaction. Tongs show no corrosion or wear. You worry too much
When i watched jaws, quint, boiled shark jaws ;)
Did you mixed the acid with the water?
To dilute to add water to the acid. Never the other way around
What do you do with the acid afterwards? And it worries me that acid is so easily available these days!
Acid isnt poison. Lemons are acidic. Would they just stop selling lemon juice and vinegar because it's acidic?
@@BombDame this kind of acid is!
Many things are harmfull. It is a persons own duty to keep themselves and those around them safe
@@BombDame but there is a rise in acid attacks on people! Good grief...
@@LarryShone wow! They should just ban everything in the world that is potentially dangerous!
im cleaning turtle beach shells now!!
Why acid?
To dissolve the calcium deposits that is often found on shells. Trouble is shells are also made of calcium so care is needed. Personally I use bleach diluted which is an alkali so doesnt affect the shell at all
Can i put it to tropical fish tank after cleaning?
Mark Lester Leal i would not try it, maybe there still is some acid on them it will kill your fish. If shells are wet they don’t lose their colour. So i would suggest just rinsing the found shells with water and put them in your tank. Not with acid
It can also change the hardness of the water and add calcium. Not a good idea
No
Hi how to clean a coral??
Clorox and hot water do the job, let the shells sit overnight, rinse it and repeat the process again
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Unfortunately that method can permanently bleach the color from some varieties of shells. The acid always enhances the colors. That’s the point
What kind of acid do u use
Pool acid = muriatic acid = hydrochloric acid
Thanks
Anyone else here collect sea shells 🐚?