I have always used bleach to clean shells, they never got hurt.  John
 
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> From: Chris Brown <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Calcareous deposits
> Date: Friday, January 22, 1999 8:16 PM
>
> Question:
>
> One of the recent posts indicated a way to remove calcareous deposits
> was to soak the shell in full strength bleach.  I was under the
> impression that this was not a good thing to do - at least for anything
> other than a short period of time.  I've got a number of specimens I
> would like to clean up, but am afraid of damaging the colors.  Is there
> a school of thought that advocates preserving the shell in the condition
> in which it was collected - or is the general preference to clean them
> up as much as possible - or is it simply a matter of personal taste?
>
> Just curious,
>
>
> Chris