How to Preserve a Starfish for a Decoration

Last Updated: May 30, 2021

Starfish make for great decorations when you bring them home from the beach. To avoid stinking up your centerpiece, though, it helps to learn to preserve them properly, drying them out with alcohol and learning to display them properly. It's easy. See Step 1 for more information.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Preserving Starfish

1
Make sure the starfish you find are dead already. Of the nearly 1500 species of starfish in the world, they all have one thing in common: they're slow. It can be very difficult to tell if a starfish you find is living or dead, but you can look for a few key signs that you'll be paying tribute to the beautiful animal by preserving it, not killing it.
- If you come across a starfish on the beach, wait to touch it. Look at it closely. Is there any movement? Is there any bubbling from the sand underneath? If so, do it a favor by returning it into the water. Watch closely for several minutes to look for signs of life before picking it up.
- If the starfish is brittle and unmoving, it's dead and safe to take home for preservation and decoration.
2
Clean your starfish. An optional step before preserving the starfish is to take some time to clean it up for display. While not essential, some collectors like to submerge the starfish in slightly soapy water and dry it thoroughly before soaking in alcohol or drying in salt.
- If you want to do a pre-soak, dilute a tiny squirt of liquid detergent in several cups of water and soak the starfish to get it clean. Don't scrub or otherwise over-handle the starfish, which is fragile.
- Dry the starfish thoroughly in the sun, taking care to weigh down each arm of the starfish. They tend to curl up some as they dry, so it's important to flatten them gently between two plates to maintain a uniform flatness.
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3
Preserve your starfish with alcohol. Generally, most collectors will go straight to the alcohol soak, but do whatever seems appropriate for the specimen you've collected. When you get your starfish home, soak it in enough isopropyl rubbing alcohol to cover the starfish and leave it alone for 30-48 hours.
- Alternatively, some choose to soak their starfish in formalin, one part formaldehyde and five parts water. If you do this, be warned that the starfish will maintain a fairly strong chemical odor for a while until it dissipates somewhat. It might not matter if you're going to put it behind glass, but be aware. The process for this method is the same.
4
Dry the starfish in the sun. Whatever series of steps you do to prepare the starfish and whatever you soak it in, you need to let it dry very thoroughly in the sun before taking it inside. Especially hot sunny days are perfect for drying starfish and ensuring that they'll last.
- Weigh them down with plates (you shouldn't need to weight them with books or any extra weight) to ensure that the arms stay flat and even. Check on them regularly to make sure it's drying in the shape you want, if you want it to look a certain way for display purposes.^{[1]
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5
Try preserving starfish with salt. One easy alternative method of preserving the starfish is to lay it out flat on a plate and cover it with a generous sprinkling of natural sea salt. Top it with a plate to keep the arms straight.
- The salt crusting can work to suck any moisture out of the starfish and dry it out, preserving it quite nicely. You might consider doing this outside in the sun to avoid any smell and to dry it out more quickly.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Displaying Starfish

1
Keep them dry. Whatever you end up doing with your starfish, displaying prominently or using for a craft project, make sure it stays dry and has time to dry down to a lower level of stinky-ness. There shouldn't be a considerable odor, but it can carry with it the smell of the alcohol for a while after you preserve it. Keep it in a dry place and don't jostle it too much.
2
Create an ocean-life shadowbox. A common way to display starfish is alongside other shells, urchins, sand dollars and driftwood in a decorative shadowbox. This can be a nice accent to an office, living room, or other space, especially in houses near the beach.
3
Use it to accent a gift wrapping. Instead of a bow, use a starfish. Gluing a preserved starfish can be a cool way to highlight your gift-wrapping. You could also hang it with ribbon from a gift bag to liven up the package. Pair it with an ocean-themed present for an added touch.
4
Use it to decorate your dining room table. Creating an ocean-themed centerpiece for your table is a nice way to use your preserved starfish. Placing shells and starfish in a simple and elegant bowl looks nice on your table from Christmas to summer, reminding you of the beach.
- Glue starfish to napkin rings for a nice livening up of the place setting.
- Ornament wine glass stems with starfish by tying them gently to the glass with ribbon. Make sure you remove them before washing the glasses.
5
Fill a glass jar. One of the simplest and most elegant ways to display your starfish and other sea preserves is to just fill a glass. It looks nice inside or outside, in formal settings or on end tables. It's an instant reminder of sunny days and waves.
6
Create a starfish pin. Carry your starfish with you by creating a nice broach or a pin and wearing it prominently. Clip it to your beach bag or your purse, your scarf or your jacket.

Community Q&A

Question

Can I use bleach after I soak the starfish in alcohol?

Community Answer

Avoid using bleach as it will dull the coloring and break down the calcium carbonate that gives the sea star its structure. Placing the dried specimen in a freezer is a better alternative you can try after using the alcohol to further clean it without ruining it.
Question

Can I spray starfish and sand dollars bought from a gift shop in Florida with a clear spray to help from dust collecting on them?

Community Answer

Yes, you can but be aware that it may not work. Make sure the starfish and sand dollars are clean before applying the clear spray.
Question

I preserved my starfish by sprinkling it with salt and drying it in the sun. How do I remove the crusted salt?

Community Answer

It should be as simple as dissolving the salt. Try wetting a toothbrush with water and gently running it over where the built-up salt is.