How to Clean Prickly Pear Skeletons

Prickly pear cacti are members of Opuntia genus of cacti and are common throughout deserts in North America. The cactus skeletons are made of large, fleshy pads that are pocked with spiny chollas. Under the chollas, pads and branches, the prickly pear cactus has a thin skeleton. Unlike the pads, which are rich in vitamins and antioxidants, the skeletons cannot be processed for food. They can, however, be cleaned and used for models, photography or other artistic endeavors.

Protective gloves
Sharp knife
Large bucket
Thermometer
Concentrated disinfectant cleanser
Powdered borax
Mild dish soap
Chlorine bleach
Soft scrub brush
Cardboard

Instructions

- 1
  Put on protective gloves and lay the dead prickly pear cactus pads down on a flat surface where you can work.
- 2
  Scrape the pads with the sharp end of a knife so that the spines and nodes come off of the pads.
- 3
  Rinse the pads in clean, cool water.
- 4
  Fill a large bucket with 2 gallons of water that you have heated to between 120 and 150 F.
- 5
  Add a drop of concentrated disinfectant cleanser and a cup of powdered borax to the water and mix.
- 6
  Soak the pads in the bucket for 10 to 15 minutes.
- 7
  Peel each softened pad away from the skeleton in layers. The pad is made up of many internal layers, and as you peel them away, more of the skeleton will be revealed.
- 8
  Scrub the skeletons with a soft dishwashing brush that you have moistened with warm water and mild dish soap.
- 9
  Rinse the skeletons in clean water.
- 10
  Empty the bucket and fill it again with 2 gallons of clean, room-temperature water. Mix in a drop of concentrated disinfectant cleaner, a cup of powdered borax and a tsp. of chlorine bleach.
- 11
  Soak the skeletons in the mixture for two hours.
- 12
  Remove the skeletons from the bucket and lay them out on a hard surface.
- 13
  Cover the skeletons with a layer of cardboard. Leave the skeletons for 48 hours to dry before removing the cardboard

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