I just recently found a sheep skull and was wondering what i should to to clean it up. Do you only have to boil it or should i bleach it… I really don’t know.

roadthrills:

Never boil and never use bleach. I’m not sure how those methods keep getting passed around. Both can seriously damage bone.

Depending on the state of decay, it’ll be easier for you to just put it in a lidded tub of water with some dawn soap or biological washing powder and let it sit somewhere warm for a while. If most of the flesh is already gone it shouldn’t take more than a few weeks. Remember to keep track of the teeth because they’ll probably fall out at some point. This is going to smell, so make sure you’ve got it somewhere it won’t be bothered.

After the flesh is off, you have the option of degreasing and whitening if you want. To degrease, you can use ammonia or heated water with dawn. I use ammonia because I find it’s easier, but remember not to mix it with other chemicals and always work somewhere well-ventilated. Also, ammonia has to be recycled at a chemical recycling center, you can’t just dump it down the drain. If you use dawn, the water has to be heated constantly, so if you have a heated bucket or fish tank heater, that would be your best option. With either option, this step takes a few more weeks.

If you want it whitened, you can put it in a bath of hydrogen peroxide overnight. You won’t get a very bright white unless it’s been fully degreased, though. I do suggest degreasing, because it preserves the bone longer and removes any oils that might come to the surface over time.

If you have any more questions, let me know. Good luck!