first I simmered the skull for a short amount of time, just to loosen the big chunks. then took it to the carwash and blasted it good, which helped alot. Then I put it in a bucket with some water and let it sit....well this lasted for about 5 days and the water is really smelly. I had to dump it and put some clean in there( I know this kind of defeats the purpose, but I don't have anywhere else to leave them except the garage ) Well three day later its stinkin to high heaven again. Another trip to the car wash to blast em some more.
Well even after blasting them the second time the darn things are reaking. So I finally broke down and simmered them again with some oxy clean and dawn dish soap. So far the smell is better, but after you macerate them like you're actually supposed to how in the world do you get rid of the rancid smell? Will the peroxide solution remove it?
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lid on the container and put it outside !
Maceration to me is the best way to preserve the intricate sinus structures in the skull. I've never blasted anything with a power hose from a car wash, but I guess if it works for you. replacing half the water is the best because you don't want to throw away the bacteria. They're the critters doing the work for you. I definately takes time. If you stay patient, and do what marc says put a cover on it and put it outside let nature take its course. After a month or so in optimum warm weather your skull will be clean of all the flesh. If you then put it in a bucket (I use a 5 gallon, with lid) add dawn dish washing detergent and let it soak in that solution for a while. I use a toothbrush rinse it with clean water and continue the soak. For me this helps with the preliminary degreasing (removing the fat from inside the bone). when I'm satisfied that the skull is as clean as I can get it I place it in a solution of White Gas. Some people use acetone, Etc. White gas works for me and I have had no deterioration of tooth enamel in the process. I usually let it soak for a week or two. It depends on the skull you're cleaning, bears, javelina tend to be greasier then say Deer or Goats. Anyway...don't put your skull directly into the sun to dry afterwards because the mosture in the teeth will cause the teeth to crack. I learned that one not to long ago with a friends prize brown bear skull. I had alot of explaining to do. Let the skull dry slowly in a controlled fashion. I whiten the skull using hydrogen peroxide in water. I'm not an advocate of the 3% solution, but its readily available at any drug store. Anything stronger requires Haz Mat shipping over 16 oz, or something like that. you can use the Sodium Carbonate/Hydrogen peroxide mix and paste it on. After its all said and done and you have a nice clean and whitened skull treat it with a fungicidal sealer/krylon/regular floor wax, your choice and you will a nice piece... No smell!
Good Luck!
Definately invest in a bucket with a lid. I have to keep my maceration bucket in my sister's backyard as I live in an apartment in a very populated area of Houston. She'd freak out if I let it get really putrid smelling in her yard so after I put the skulls (w/ large chunks of meat taken off) in the bucket w/ some water I put a lid on it then duct tape all around the seam of the bucket and lid (to keep smell around the bucket to a minimum). Since I live in Texas it doesn't take long at all for the heat to get those bacteria going. After about a month I go back to my sisters when she is at work and dump half of the water out of the bucket, lightly hose off the skulls (no sense in blasting them hard as you could lose teeth or nasal bones like that) add some fresh water to the bucket and reseal the whole thing back up. After about another month or two I'll return (again, when sis is at work..hehe) and clean out the bucket and get my skulls. Usually by this time there is not much smell to the skulls so I just soak in peroxide to whiten, then let dry in the sun.
Lisa Stanley