Should You Wash Pumpkins Before Decorating With Them? Here’s What You Need To Know

Tips

• Wash pumpkins with warm water and dish soap to remove dirt and mold.
• Fill a sink or bucket with 1 part bleach to 10 parts warm water (about 2 teaspoons of bleach per quart of water).
• Put on gloves, submerge pumpkins, and wipe off dirt with a soft cloth.
• Let pumpkins soak for an hour. If mini pumpkins float, flip them halfway through.
• Remove pumpkins and wipe dry with a clean towel.
• Optional: Seal pumpkin with a thin layer of petroleum jelly.
• Keep pumpkins out of strong sunlight and bring them indoors on hot days.
• Wipe pumpkins down with the bleach mixture before carving. After carving, soak the jack-o-lantern in diluted bleach for an hour, then dry.
• Avoid setting pumpkins on wet ground or concrete. Place them on dry surfaces.
• Seal jack-o-lantern cuts with petroleum jelly. Use electric candles because petroleum jelly is flammable.
• Fill a spray bottle with the bleach mixture and spray outdoor pumpkins every few days or after rain.
• Protect pumpkins from critters with a peppermint spray (diluted essential oil or peppermint soap).