How to clean a sand dollar.

**SWGB** · 05-22-2009, 12:30 PM

Since I've watched people struggle with sand dollars for years I figured I'd post my tried and true method.

Keep them in salt water until you get home. This cuts down on the stink. Throw them in a fire ant hill and if necessary stir it up a little. Those little boogers will strip the shell clean. Then after about 2-3 days set the remainder in the sun.

I've watched so many people just dump bleach on the poor guys. Not only does this not work as effectively, it simply bleaches the guts inside without removing them. Nothing like the stench of rot and bleach. It also diminishes the shell and makes it more fragile.

If you are on a short vacation and simply must have it clean and white before packing and leaving then you have two options:

1.) Stay longer
2.) Buy some at a shell warehouse in PCB.

**ItzKatzTime** · 05-22-2009, 02:15 PM

DON'T....let it float gently back to the sandy bottom. If it's already dead then give it a burial at sea and buy them ready to go at a beach store!

Be

**Snerd** · 05-22-2009, 09:01 PM

Better yet, only pick up pure white ones! They are so very special when found perfect and not so special to kill them and bring them home.

**SWGB** · 05-23-2009, 11:35 AM

Originally Posted by ItzKatzTime

DON'T....let it float gently back to the sandy bottom. If it's already dead then give it a burial at sea and buy them ready to go at a beach store!

Be

Where do you think I got my tried and true method? That's how they do it. I guess I could be causing unemployment among the sand dollar bleaching world.

In fact almost every shell, starfish, seahorse, and other dried creatures at shell stores are killed. There isn't a secret beach scouring team that finds these. They are remnants from fish factories and fishing vessels.