To restore lustre, ivory and tortoiseshell can be wiped with a little almond oil, but again be very careful when applying this, and we would not recommend uisng almond oil on inlay. Always contact a professional if you have any doubts about how to clean or care for an item.Click to see full answer. Also question is, how do you restore a turtle shell?Once you think the turtle or tortoise is 100% gone, put the turtle shell in a solution of Borax, water, and salt for 1 hour. Rinse the turtle shell after that, then put it in another solution of vinegar and water for 1 hour. Rinse it again and let it dry.Beside above, do tortoise shells decompose? A turtle’s shell will eventually decompose, but at a much slower rate than its flesh, innards, and organs due it being made of bone and keratin. An average turtle shell left in average conditions will take about 50 years to fully decompose, about the same amount of time it takes human bone to decompose. In this regard, is it legal to sell tortoise shell? Selling turtle shell has been banned since the 1990s, and buying turtle shell products is illegal in most countries. Turtle shell products continue to be sold illegally in many Central American and Southeast Asian countries, and this has posed a threat to the population of this endangered species.How do you clean a tortoise shell?Fill a container with lukewarm water so that it covers the entire plastron, and a few centimetres of the carapace. Let him soak for 15-20 minutes. This allows him to rehydrate and also softens any hardened dirt.