How to Preserve Starfish as Decoration

The starfish that you pick up at the beach can become a great decoration. To keep starfish from stinking, you need to know how to properly store them, dry them, and learn how to display them. This is not very difficult. Let’s start with step 1 below.

Table of Contents

Preserving starfish

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Pick up dead starfish. The nearly 1500 species of starfish in the world all have one thing in common: they are very slow. It can be difficult to tell if the starfish in your hand is alive or dead, but look for the signs to make sure you respect this beautiful creature by preserving it, not killing it.

If you come across a starfish on the sand, don’t rush to touch it. Look at it closely. Did you notice any movement? Do you see any bubbles rising in the sand beneath it? If so, please do the favor and drop it in the water. Observe closely for a few minutes for signs of life before picking up the starfish.
If the starfish looks brittle and doesn’t move, it’s dead and you can take it home to preserve and decorate.

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Wash starfish. Washing starfish is a step that you can choose from prior to storage. Although not required, some collectors prefer to soak starfish in dilute soapy water and dry thoroughly before drying by soaking in alcohol or salting.

If you want to wash the soap first, you can mix a little dishwashing liquid with a few cups of water and soak the starfish in it to clean. Do not scrub or stir a lot. Starfish are very fragile.
Dry the starfish in the sun to dry, pressing down on the starfish’s wings with a plate. The wings of starfish often curl up as they dry, so you need to use a stopper on top to keep them flat.

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Preservation of starfish in alcohol. In general, most collectors will put starfish in alcohol right away, but you can do whatever you see fit for the specimen you collect. Use enough alcohol soaked starfish to submerge and leave it like that for 30-48 hours.

Some people prefer formalin, a solution of one part formaldehyde and five parts water. If you choose this way, the starfish will still have a strong chemical smell for a while and then the smell will subside. This probably doesn’t matter if you display starfish in a glass frame, but you should be aware. The treatment process with these two chemicals is the same.

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Dry starfish in the sun. No matter what steps you take before storing and what chemicals you use to soak, you still need to dry the starfish in the sun to dry before bringing it home. Sunny days are a good time to dry starfish and help preserve it for a long time.

Use a starfish stopper (you don’t need a book or heavier object) so that the starfish’s wings are flat and even. Check from time to time to make sure they dry to the shape you want, depending on the purpose of the display. ^{[1] X Research Source}

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Try preserving starfish with salt. Another simple method to preserve starfish is to place the starfish on a plate and cover with plenty of natural sea salt. Place a saucer on top to flatten the starfish wings.

The salt coating on top has the effect of drawing moisture inside, helping the starfish to dry out and be well preserved. You should consider doing this method outdoors in the sun to avoid odors and to help the starfish dry faster.

Starfish display

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Keep starfish dry. Whatever you’re planning to do with the starfish, display it outdoors or craft it, it’s important to keep it dry to minimize odors. The smell of starfish is not so strong, but there is still a hint of alcohol after some time of preservation. You should leave the starfish in a dry place and not touch it much.

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Make a box displaying the life of the ocean. Arrange starfish with sea urchins, shells and driftwood in a glass frame. This can be a nice decoration for the office, living room or other spaces, especially in homes near the sea.

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Gift box decoration. Use starfish instead of a gift wrap. A dried starfish glued on the gift box will help the gift stand out. You can also use ribbon to hang the starfish in the gift bag for extra vibrancy. Comes with a sea-themed gift that’s great.

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Decorating the dining room table. Use starfish to create an ocean-themed accent for the dining table. A simple but elegant plate decorated with shells and starfish would be a great decoration for a table with a bit of sea air, whether it’s Christmas or summer.

Attach the starfish to the napkin ring to make the dining table more fun.
Decorate your wine glass by tying starfish to the ribbon around the base of the glass. Remember to remove the starfish before washing the glass.

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Decorate glass jars. One of the simplest and most beautiful ways to display starfish and other marine life is in a glass jar. Indoor or outdoor, in a formal place or on a small table, the sofa head is beautiful. A touch of reminiscent of waves and sunny days on the beach.

Advice

Store starfish in a glass jar after the preservation process.

Things you need

Starfish
Small box
1 cup salt
Glass containers

Steps

Preserving starfish

Starfish display

Advice

Things you need

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