[Nhcoll-l] Cleaning out shells

[Simon Moore]

As an add-on to Paul’s suggestion I would add some lab. surfactant to the water so that it’s about 3% concentration, this will help to rehydrate the contents and it helps if the water is at least warm. Make sure the shower is working for afterwards!

With all good wishes, Simon.

Simon Moore MIScT, RSci, FLS, ACR
Conservator of Natural Sciences and Cutlery Historian,
www.natural-history-conservation.com 




On 05 Aug 2016, at 18:51, Callomon,Paul <prc44 at drexel.edu> wrote:

> Soak in warm water for a few hours, then use a water-pik or a thin hoze nozzle to blast out the remains. Do this in a sink or tub of water and keep the shell and the nozzle submerged. Wear old clothes. Cancel any dates that evening.
>  
> PC
>  
>  
> From: nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu [mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Karen Morton
> Sent: Friday, August 05, 2016 1:44 PM
> To: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
> Subject: [Nhcoll-l] Cleaning out shells
>  
> Dear List Members,
>  
> Does anyone have any advice for the best way to clean out old shells?  We received a donation of fossils and marine shells, and we are discovering that many of the shells are not exactly empty of their former residents. 
>  
> We have already run everything through our freezer to make sure there weren’t any live pests included, so now we just need to try to get the contents out of the shells.  They don’t smell too wonderful!
>  
> Thank you.
>  
> Sincerely,
> KAREN MORTON
> Collections Manager
> Perot Museum of Nature and Science
> P 214.756.5722 | karen.morton at perotmuseum.org
>  
> 2201 N. Field Street, Dallas, TX 75201
> P 214.428.5555 | F 214.428.5892| perotmuseum.org
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