Welcome to the party TomS,
I use table salt and rub it in really good in a week I rubub it in again and again until I think the smell wont overpower my smeller.
When I think it dried all the way I use a wire brush only on the salted side to get any chunks of fat I missed.....and then take it to the air compressor and blow it off on both sides just in case there are ticks, fleas or any unwanted eggs or debris of any kind .....
Sometimes it will blow alotta loose underfur away.....and that seems to work for me.