How to clean old elk ivory?

[HydeParkHunter]

(I can not believe I'm the first to ask this on Rokslide, but I honestly searched for a previous thread and came up empty.)

I have a couple pairs of old elk ivories, and one fresh-ish pair, that I never properly cleaned. Just removed and set aside still with tissue and meat bits. I want to clean them up, but I don't want to use anything that changes the colors on them or alters that smooth texture of the tops.

Google AI result talks about soaking in simmering water for a couple hours (or shorter in boiling water), then using cloth or your fingernails to remove the softened tissue. Then goes on to describe using chemical cleaners and bleaches which I know I don't want to do.

Can somebody confirm the plain hot water soaking and cloth rubbing will do the trick without damaging them? Thank you!

 

[Spencerhunts]

My taxidermist swears by just throwing them in your pocket. Especially with some loose change. Kinda like a DIY rock tumbler. I did it with one of mine and the occasionally would use a knife and shave off bits that I could. Seems like the ivory is pretty tough and doesn’t get damaged by the scraping if you are careful. Turned out pretty good


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[Rogue Bay]

I have used plain hot water for years. I put them in a coffee mug about 1/3 full of water, microwave for 1 - 2 minutes, then scrape with my thumb nail. They come cleaner than any other method I’ve tried.

Edit: you may need to repeat if they don’t scrape clean the first time.

 

[JMundy84]

My dad has used the pocket full of change system for 50+ years and it's worked every time

 

[goathunter]

I've used simmer method before with success. This year it seems to have hardened the flesh onto the ivories. Not sure what I did differently. Trying the pocket change method - I'll probably lose them...