We soak our shells in bleach all the time .... except cowries and naturally
shiny shells.
Have never had a problem with losing color.   Don't suggest you soak them
for a long time.  It doesn't take much to losen up stuff on shell...then
pick it off with dental pick or exacto knife.
 
BC
 
Chris Brown wrote:
 
> 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
 
--
Jim and Bobbi Cordy
of Merritt Island, Florida.
 
Jim Specializes in Self-Collected
Caribbean & Florida Shells
 
Bobbi in Shell Creations