There are many different ways of cleaning skulls and bones for Osteological shows and trophies.
Here are a couple of them.
* Maceration - This step involves submerging the bone in water and leaving it to naturally decompose. You end up with great quality clean bones but it can take a very long time and is very smelly!
* Boiling - Another very common method of cleaning bones but is very risky. With this method you can damage bones, boil grease into bones and damage valuable delicate nasal bones. If done incorrectly you could end up with badly damaged, greasy and flaky bones. It can also shrink bones!
* Dermestid Beetles - A way used by many as it is very efficient. These beetles eat dried meat and are very delicate in their work. Even the smallest bone is left in perfect condition when these little critters are done. You are left with perfectly cleaned perfect conditioned bone on any size animal from a Gerbil to a Giraffe.
Only trouble is, if any escape your Taxidermy collection is in trouble, as are your leather shoes!
Beetle Cleaned Wolfhound Skeleton
Ethel.
Polecat