I brought home clams from Corpus, and want to keep the shells...how do I keep them from smelling?

Question

I took a vacation in Corpus this past weekend. I brought back a lot of live clams. I boiled them and have cleaned them out, however they still smell really bad. I want to use the shells to decorate picture frames, and was wondering how to keep them from smelling. If you have an ideas or suggestions, they would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

Well, there are methods that involve burying them in the ground until the live matter is all removed, but you can also try immersing them in a 50-50 mix of bleach -water. the timing is a bit of trial & error.

Answer 2

Wash them again. Scrub them with salt. Dry them out, but not too quickly, or they'll split apart. Then, as much sunshine as you can get on them.

Answer 3

Maybe you could give them a coat of polyurethane.

Answer 4

If you can find a large ant bed, you can place them in the ant bed.  They will strip all of the "meat" off.  I do this with deer horns and it works great.  After a few days, you soak them in a solution of 1/3 bleach, 1/3 rubbing alcohol and 1/3 water.

Answer 5

Soak them in alcohol overnight, and then let them air dry outside overnight,

Answer 6

Have you tried chopping off their noses?