Mount Care

At Rocke Wildlife Studio, we sell a product for customer use that, when applied twice a year, deters insect infestation, makes cleaning easy, restores natural sheen, and repels dirt.

Wall Attachment:

• Your mount will look best at eye level and with adequate lighting.  However, avoid direct sunlight.
• Use a screw that has a large enough head to lock into the hanger where it will not slip off.
• Anchor your screw securely in a wall stud.
• Do not hold your mount by the neck when hanging it; you will push the hair backwards. Place one hand under the brisket (or panel) and the other on the antlers.

Cleaning:

Mammals with Hair:

• Dust weekly with a soft, dry cloth.
• About four times a year, sweep the mount down with a soft brush attachment on a household vacuum sweeper.  As long as you sweep in the direction the hair lies, you will not hurt your mount.  After you have swept your mount, you may use a soft cloth lightly dampened with water on the entire mount.  Do not do this unless you have just swept the mount, as otherwise you will turn the dust into mud.
• If needed, you may occasionally lightly dampen the cloth with water to remove all dust from the nose and eyes.

Mammals with Fur:

• Occasionally sweep the mount down with a soft brush attachment on a household vacuum sweeper.
• After sweeping, re-fluff the fur with a hair dryer on cool.
• If needed, you may occasionally lightly dampen a cloth with water to remove all dust from the nose and eyes.

Fish:

• Simply dust weekly with a soft cloth.  It may be dry or slightly dampened with plain water.
• Do not use paper products such as paper towels or tissues.
• Never use dusting compounds (such as Pledge) or products such as Windex or Sparkle.

Birds:

• Dust weekly.  The best thing to use is a wool duster.  If a wool duster is not available, simply dust with a soft, dry cloth.

Natural Habitats:

• Gently blow the dust out of the habitat using a hair drier set on cool.
• After many years habitats can be refurbished if necessary.

 
It is far, far better to keep up with the cleaning than to let it get bad and then try to get it clean again.

Things you should NOT do:

• Do not, on any part of your mount, use anything for cleaning besides water as described above.
• Never use dusting compounds (such as Pledge) or products such as Windex or Sparkle.  These may dull the gloss on the nose and eyes, soften paint where the finish work was done, and cause other problems as well.
• Do not hang your mount in direct sunlight, which will fade it over time.
• It is not recommended to have your mount over a fireplace that is used often.  The dry heat is hard on it.
• Avoid extreme temperatures, such as in an attic or a garage.
• Cigarette smoke will rapidly discolor your mount.

Try to keep people, especially children, from handling your mount.  Overmuch handling will result in oils from people’s skin getting on your mount.  If the hair gets messed up, sifting it back and forth with your hand will usually remove the problem.  If it does not, use a comb to get the hair back in line.  Then sift the hair back and forth to remove the comb lines.