Some questions about seashells...

[Rikuchan]

Every summer my family takes a trip to the beach. My mom and I always pick up shells while we are there but, we don't know the best way to clean them. I am trying to gather as much info as possible before we leave next month.
What I need to know:
1.) What is the best way to clean them while still preserving the natural color? Alot of the sites I checked suggest soaking them in 50% bleach/water. My mom and I are afraid that the bleach will cause them to lose their color.
2.) What is the best way to transport them home from the beach? I would like to get them home in one piece and without them stinking up the car.
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[Red_Quatre]

My uncle and his family live in Florida so they do alot of shell collecting. I think they scrub their shells to get all the major stink and sand off them then they boil them. I'm not sure if they bleach them or not, but I have heard alot about people bleaching their shells with no major problems.

About getting them home....maybe sealing them in plastic bag to keep the stink out before you can clean them will work. As for keeping them in one piece? Wrap them in paper towels before you put them in the baggies might work.

Hope I helped, good luck with you shells.
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[NorseGodOdin]

For transporting them without stinking everything up, clean out the clams from between the shells.

For cleaning without a loss of color just soak them in water.