Fabio Moretzsohn wrote:
> Dear Conch-lers
>
> I recently received some shells from someone who seems to be a big
> smoker. I don't smoke, and I don't care if someone does, but I don't
> want stinky shells in my house. I quickly closed the ziplock bag and
> container in which the shells came, and put them away. I'm sure some
> of you already experienced this problem, so I ask what is the best way
> to get rid of the smell? I supposed that just letting the shells sit
> in the open will improve the smell, but I wonder if there is any
> simple solution like rinsing the shells in something like ethanol.
>
> A similar problem is that of improperly cleaned shells, with pieces of
> the rotting animal still inside. The solution to get rid of the smell
> may be to rinse the shell and remove all of the tissue. However, since
> specimens with dried tissue are very useful for radular studies (and I
> use them often in my research), I prefer to keep the animal (or
> whatever is left) in the shell. Again, soaking the shell in ethanol
> and let it air dry may improve the smell, but not get rid of it.
>
> I would appreciate any suggestions.
>
> Thanks,
> Fabio
>
> -------------------------------------------------
> Fabio Moretzsohn, Ph.D.
> Assistant Research Scientist
> Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies
> Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
> 6300 Ocean Drive, Unit 5869, Corpus Christi, TX 78412-5869
> Phone: (361) 825-3230; Fax: (361) 825-2050
> mollusca [at] gmail.com <http://gmail.com>
> Please consider the environment before printing this email.  Think Green!
I have a rather simple solution, for the tobacco smoke only, and that is
to open the shells up and lightly spritz with Febreeze. I'd try that
first because rinsing them takes time and effort and dry time, and so is
more labor intensive. I
once had a pair of chairs reupholstered by a good upholsterer who was
also a heavy smoker. Awful-smelling chairs were the result. I used
Febreeze and while it took a week or two for the smell to completely
dissipate, I couldn't detect any odor after those few weeks. But you
could try the ethanol on a few.

Good luck,

Lynn

----------------------------------------------------------------------
[log in to unmask] - a forum for informal discussions on molluscs
To leave this list, click on the following web link:
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=conch-l&A=1
Type your email address and name in the appropriate box and
click leave the list.
----------------------------------------------------------------------