Bones and skulls are often used to make jewelry or ornaments. If you find a bone, you can make it a unique addition to your home for a relatively low cost. Learn how to clean the soft tissue of bones, clean their surfaces, and soak them in water and hydrogen peroxide to make them appear white and bright. This process can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months and you should always wear rubber gloves before performing any work involving animal remains.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Cleaning the Software
Step 1. Wear gloves in any process related to bone cleansing
You should always wear rubber gloves, from when searching for bones, cleaning the soft tissue, to cleaning the surface. You'll be dealing with animal remains and their tissues, as well as coming into contact with some pretty nasty stuff.
Depending on the degree of bone decomposition, you may also need to wear a breathing mask
Step 2. Allow animal bodies to decompose naturally on the ground if you live in the countryside
If you find a body that you want to use, keep it on the ground for at least 2 to 3 months. If you can, stretch a barrier of wire around it to prevent other animals from eating the body. Examine the animal's remains once a month for the process of decomposition. Once most of the skin and flesh is gone, you can boil the bones to remove any remaining tissue.
Depending on the weather in your area, animal remains can take up to 6 months to decompose, so it's a good idea to have them checked monthly
Step 3. Soak the animal's body in water for several months so that it decomposes naturally
This process speeds up the decay process a bit more than simply laying the body on the ground. Put the animal's body in a plastic container or garbage bag and rinse with cold water. Place the body in a safe place and inspect it monthly to check for decomposition.
- Soaking bones that are mostly rotting is a great way to soften the joints and tendons, making them easier to cut.
- Remember, wear gloves when touching or examining animal bodies!
- This process will produce a very unpleasant odor for several months. If you live in a city or apartment, this option should not be done.
Step 4. Bury the bones or bodies if you are willing to wait a few months
This is an option that doesn't stink, but it will take a little longer to decompose. Leave the body on the ground for a day before burying it – this way, flies can attach themselves to the body and release eggs that turn into flesh-eating maggots after the body is buried. After burying the body, let it sit for 3 months before re-examining it.
If you bury an intact body, wrap the animal in chicken wire to keep the bones in one place
Step 5. Use a degreasing detergent to remove a bit of soft tissue
This is a great way to clean bones that you find in the wild where most of the soft tissue is gone. Purchase the powder at the department store (you can usually find it at the laundry detergent section). Put the bones in a plastic container, mix them with warm water, then add a little fat-removing detergent. Leave the bones for 3 to 4 days, then rinse thoroughly.
- Grease-cleaning detergents contain small amounts of enzymes that are capable of destroying soft tissues, such as fat, skin, and joints.
- You can use this method to clean any remaining tissue, regardless of the condition of the body when it was first found.
Step 6. Soak the bones in water to quickly clean the soft tissues
This is another option that smells bad, but is quicker than the other methods. Place the bones in a large saucepan and add water. Heat the water (don't let it boil!) and soak the bones until the meat falls off, usually 12 to 24 hours.
- Be careful not to hurt yourself – use tongs to remove the bone from the hot water.
- Drain the water outdoors instead of flushing it through the sink.
Method 2 of 3: Disinfecting Bones
Step 1. Purchase hydrogen peroxide with a concentration of 20% or more in bulk
Ask the nearest chemical dealer to find the product. If not, ask them to help buy one. Depending on the size of the bone and how often you do this, you may need a lot of hydrogen peroxide and so need to buy it in bulk to save money.
- Most of the hydrogen peroxide sold in pharmacies is packaged in small bottles and only has a concentration of only 2%.
- If you can't get 20% hydrogen peroxide, you can buy a hair development cream, which usually contains 40% hydrogen peroxide. You can buy it online or come to a beauty supply store.
Step 2. Work in a well-ventilated outdoor area, if possible
Cleaning bones takes several weeks to several months, and creates an unpleasant odor from the decaying process of the body. Don't work indoors and look for an outdoor work area away from the windows and doors of your home (and neighbors' houses).
If you live in a cold climate or the weather conditions are cold, you may need to work in a garage or shed to prevent the material from freezing
Step 3. Scrub the bone with soapy water after the soft tissue is gone
This may sound like an exaggeration, but cleaning the bones first will make them appear whiter and lighter. Use an old toothbrush and warm soapy water to scrub the entire surface of the bone to remove any dirt or remaining tissue. Do this outdoors or on a sheet of newspaper so it doesn't fall apart.
If you are cleaning large bones such as large animal skulls, use a washing brush instead of a toothbrush to speed up the process
Step 4. Soak the bones in soapy water for at least 12 hours to get rid of the oil
Fill a plastic container with warm water and add 15 to 30 ml of dish soap. Stir the water until foamy, then put the bones in a bowl. Soak the bones for at least 12 hours.
- Soaking the bones will release the oil in the fat, making them smell and look a bit odd even after they have been thoroughly cleaned.
- If you have time, soak the bones in soapy water longer – like 1 or 2 weeks. You can also change the soapy water every day to help speed up the process.
Step 5. Soak the bones in water and hydrogen peroxide for 24 hours
Use water and hydrogen peroxide in a 1:1 ratio and use the smallest container that can fit bone to save on hydrogen peroxide. Add enough liquid to cover the bones. Place a lid over the container to allow the hydrogen peroxide to work faster.
- The water will start to foam and give off steam. This is a sign that the hydrogen is at work.
- If the container you're using doesn't have a lid, you can put a piece of wood on top of the bucket and put some bricks on top to keep it from sliding.
Step 6. Make a paste of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda to clean large bones
Sometimes, you may find a bone that won't fit in the provided container. If this happens, prepare a large plastic bowl and add 160 grams of baking soda. Add enough hydrogen peroxide to make a thick paste. Put on gloves, then use a toothbrush to apply the paste all over the bones. Leave it on for 24 hours before rinsing it off.
You may need to repeat this process twice – once for the top of the bone and once for the bottom – depending on the shape and size of the bone
Method 3 of 3: Drying and Storing Cleaned Bones
Step 1. Place the bones outdoors to dry for a few days
Never place it over a radiator or other heat source as extreme heat can crack bones. If the bone still looks "dirty" after removing it from the water and hydrogen peroxide mixture, don't worry! Once dry, the color will look better.
If you can't leave the bones outdoors because of bad weather, place the bones on a newspaper spread out in a safe area
Step 2. Use tweezers or a pipe cleaner to remove any remaining soft tissue
Sometimes, you will find soft tissue in small crevices, even if the bone has been thoroughly cleaned. If this happens, use tweezers or other small tongs to remove it.
Make sure you remove any loose soft tissue from the bone immediately
Step 3. Use the bones as decorations, make jewelry, or give them as gifts
Giving a bone as a gift may sound strange, but there are many people who like it. Children who are interested in science may be happy with a gift of a skull or a set of bones, while adults can use it as a home decoration.
People even sell bones for quite a high price. Small raccoon skulls are sometimes priced at IDR 850,000, depending on their condition
Tips
- Bones and skulls can be attractive displays or even made into jewelry.
- Pay attention to your neighbors and family during the process of cleaning the soft tissues of the bones – this process creates an unpleasant odor. Work in outdoor areas as much as possible.
- Ask an adult for help if you are a child. Some of the work above involves the use of hazardous chemicals if not handled properly.
Warning
- Never apply bleach to bones. The substance will destroy the integrity of the bone and actually damage it.
- Wear rubber gloves when dealing with hydrogen peroxide. These substances can turn the fingers white and damage the skin.
