Our Wassail Horns are made from real animal horns. Animal horns are made of a natural material called keratin – the same type of stuff that makes up the structure of your hair and nails – and with proper care will serve you for decades to come. We recommend hand washing your horn with soap or vinegar and a sponge or soft-bristled bottle brush. If you have a combo, unscrew the tip so that you can flush water all the way through and get the threads clean. Leave the tip out until both the Horn and tip have completely dried before putting them away. Store your horn out of direct sunlight to avoid fading and weathering. Be sure your Horn does not get damp while in storage, mildew damage is irreversible.

          For long term maintenance your horn will appreciate yearly polish with a citrus oil. We recommend that you use an oil which is safe for use on wood, such as Pledge, or any type of oil that is designed for use on keratin. With a yearly coat of oil your horn will keep its luster and bright colors for many, many years. It will also prevent the horn from becoming dry, brittle, and cracking.

          The mouthpieces, tips, and embellishments of our Wassail Horns are made with various metals which may develop a natural patina over time. While some customers are proud of the age and miles their horns wear, you can restore the original shine of the metal with various metal polishing techniques such as polishing with a fine grit sanding sponge or a cleaner such as Brasso.

          For the safety of your horn, keep it out of reach of pets. Some pets, mostly dogs and birds, will consider it a new chew toy.

 

 

Tips & Tricks

 

01. Rinse your horn after use.

• The best way to keep your horn from getting funky is to rinse your horn after you are done drinking. This prevents it from forming a sticky residue on the inside and makes it easier to clean later.

 

02. Hand wash only.

• Do not put your horn in the dishwasher. This destroys the horn, we cannot replace or repair the horn if this happens.
• Do not soak the horn fully submerged in water. Although the inside is coated with a food-safe epoxy, the outside is natural horn and will eventually start to absorb the water and smell like a wet dog. Soaking only the inside of the horn is okay.
• When washing, we recommend warm water, a gentle dish soap such as Dawn, and a sponge or soft-bristled brush. A soft-bristled bottle brush may come in handy for longer and curvier horns.

 

03. No boiling hot liquids.

• The combination and drinking horns are coated on the inside with a food-safe epoxy, so you can put warm liquids in your horn.
• Please be mindful of the temperature – if it is safe to drink then it should be okay, HOWEVER if it is close to – or at – boiling then it will warp and/or damage the horn. We cannot replace or repair the horn if this happens.

 

04. Do not over tighten tip.

• The horn tips only need to be lightly hand tightened. Any tighter and the threads may be messed up as the mouthpiece and tips are made from a relatively soft metal. Damaged threads may cause a leak.

 

05. Keep out of reach of pets.

• Pets, especially dogs, may attempt to use your horn as an expensive chew toy. We highly recommend keeping your horn out of reach as we cannot replace or repair your horn if your pet chews it up.

 

06. Store or display out of direct sunlight.

• Extended sunlight can dry out your horn. This can result in discoloration and/or flaking. Storing out of direct sunlight and regularly polishing will help keep your horn looking good.

 

07. Polish regularly with citrus oil.

• We recommend an annual polish with a citrus oil such as Pledge to keep your horn shiny. Regularly polishing and storing out of direct sunlight will help keep your horn looking good.