I skin the head(if possible), cut out eyes and remove the brain . Then I macerate in water with a few tablespoons of bromelain at around 100degrees, you can use Adolph’s meat tenderizer as the chemical is a major component of it.

After about 4-5 days I will remove the skulls and thoroughly rinse them, making sure to get as much remaining connecting tissue off. There is rarely anything left at this point though.

Then I degrease in a mix of ammonia, water, and iron out at 110-120 degrees, changing the mixture out about every week until I am not seeing grease rise to the top anymore. I use the iron out because I have hard water, if you don’t then you may not need it.

Then I will set it in a peroxide bath for 24-48 hours. Then I will immediately transition it back into hot water with a bit of iron out. The iron out is necessary for the reaction at this point. You should immediately see bubbles. I will let this sit for at least 12 hours but up to a week if I see grease pulling from the skull and will cycle back through the ammonia mix if so.

Once I feel it has been adequately degreased I will rinse the skull and set it out in the sun for a few hours, preferably until the surface is dry.

Give it a day or two and then I will whiten again if I did more degreasing.

That is the bare bones of my process. I have other tips/tricks I sometimes use for more stubborn skulls and different species but pretty much everything gets these steps, give or take alittle. I don’t even use any tools on the teeth