A solution of triple phosphate Used as a wall cleaner and usually
available in stores that sell house paint is good as a rehydration
solution.  It also disintegrates dried clay, especially in an ultrasonic
vibrating solution.

On Mon, 12 Jun 2000 06:45:42 -0400 Sue Garrison <[log in to unmask]>
writes:
> You said:
>
> > Dear Conch-Lers, Most of these things including kitty litter are
> in the
> > book "Clean your shells".  I have to mention that leaving your
> shells in
> > alcohol will harden them and they will be very hard to remove
> later
> on........
>
>
> I had the same problem using kitty litter once (maybe I used the
> wrong
> brand??) I found a lot of larger shells on the beach after a storm
> at
> Atlantic City. They were still soft (with the animal in it) but I
> had no way
> to clean them & so I tried kitty litter. After I got home I found
> they were
> hard as a rock and I never did get all of the animal out of some of
> the
> shells.
> Sue Garrison