If I try to sprout BB's the results are something like a composite of the whole group. - Throw them on the compost heap and they sprout almost every time. Chuckle! Then wife pulls them out and complains about my carelessness.

When I throw my BB's on the compost heat they sprout with ease. My wife finds them and complains.
All the methods mentioned have been successful to some extent for me.

Rodrigo,

You are wise to be concerned about injuring the eyes on the BB. I do not wash the bulbs but first trim off all the roots with a sterile razor blade. I then carefully split each dry sheath remaining on the bulb, starting with the outermost one. Gently split the sheath at the mid line and pull gently upward and outward from the mid line. This way you can watch to be certain that eyes are not damaged inadvertently.

I then put the bulbs in an empty pot and allow to air dry for up to a week. This precludes having to treat the cut surfaces. Note however, that I am in CA and the humidity is low most of the time. Growers in high humidity areas generally have to use a fungicide.

CL