Tools for cleaning are pretty straight forward. I like to use a copper pot brush for getting
deeply ingrained algae off... I check for periostracum "fastness" to make sure it's not going
to scrape off by gently rubbing a portion of the left valve which will be in the back. This is
also a very useful tool to create light and dark effects on pigtoes and monochromatic brown species.
For getting out mud and etc from the beak and cardinal teeth, or really doing pressure on a spot, a toothbrush seems
best. The other pot brush works well too for pesky marks along the lateral teeth, but typically
flings water everywhere, so I don't use it all that often. I also have a nylon bristle pot brush,
but I couldn't find it (which tells you something :)
I like to use the scissors to chop off the hinge ligament, and then really scrub the dorsal surface to
a shine with the copper brush.
