Inside: Want that carved pumpkin to last? Check out the easiest way to preserve a carved pumpkin or uncarved pumpkin! You probably have everything you need at home.
I know it is only September, but October and Halloween are just around the corner.
If you are carving pumpkins you want them to last! You can easily preserve carved pumpkins and help them last to the end of October.
Why This Works
The bleach in the mix below will help kill off bacteria and fungus on the pumpkin. By getting rid of bacteria it will slow down the deterioration of the pumpkin.
How To Preserve A Carved Pumpkin
With just a little bit of your time, you can preserve a carved pumpkin (or uncarved) to make sure it lasts through the Halloween season. Follow these easy tips to preserve a carved pumpkin.
You will need a few things to start preserving your pumpkin.
Items Needed To Preserve Pumpkins:
- bucket (large enough to hold a pumpkin)
- water
- bleach
To preserve a carved pumpkin you will need a bucket big enough to hold your pumpkin in, some bleach, and water.
If you are going to carve the pumpkin you will want to start with that. Then once the pumpkin is carved you can preserve it.
Bleaching Pumpkin To Preserve
Step 1: Place the pumpkin in the bucket and pour a cup of bleach into the bucket.
Step 2: Next, add enough water to cover the pumpkin.
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Step 3: Let the pumpkin soak for about 24 hours in the bleach solution. The pumpkin will soak up some of the bleach water.
Note: The bleach water will help kill off and prevent any bacteria or mold from growing on your pumpkin.
Step 4: You can carefully remove your pumpkin from the bleach water and dump out any water in the pumpkin.
Step 5: Wipe down the outside of the pumpkin and you can now use your pumpkin. Your pumpkin will be preserved and ready to make it through the Halloween holiday.
Tips: I have heard some people say that they use a 50/50 bleach to water spray to spray down their pumpkin every couple of days, but I haven't tried it.
It may just help preserve your pumpkin for a couple of extra days. If you want to preserve a carved pumpkin even longer you can always try spraying it down after doing the original bleach soak.
Preserving a carved pumpkin is such an easy trick and will help give you an extra week or so to display your carved pumpkin. You can easily preserve a carved pumpkin in a day and you probably have what it takes to do it already.
You can easily enjoy your pumpkin before and during Halloween without worrying about it rotting before Halloween.
Want to know how to make other fruits last longer? Check out how to store apples so they last for months.
Nancy says
Question/clarification:
The pumpkin is carved and then you do the bleach mixture? I wasn't sure.
Julie says
Yes, you will want to carve it first and then do the bleach mixture.
Barbara Graham says
Why did I not know this trick when my kids were little? LOL! I'll pass it on. thank you!
Julie says
Thank you for sharing!
Sharon Bledsoe says
Great idea!!! You never cease to amaze me! Thanks!
Julie says
Thank you so much!
Cindy @ Smart Family Money says
That's a great idea! I'm going to try that this year. My husband and I usually got a little crazy with our fancy pumpkin carvings, but our beautiful artwork rots in just a few days.
Lindsey Mozgai says
I've never tried to preserve a pumpkin before, we might have to give this a try this year!