HOW TO MAKE YOUR PUMPKINS & GOURDS LAST LONGER WITHOUT BLEACH You may have seen various ways to preserve your pumpkins to make them last longer for the season. What is my method of preserving pumpkins? I give them a good wash with Dawn Dish Soap.
What is my method of preserving pumpkins? I give them a good wash with Dawn Dish Soap.
If you have a scrub brush for dishes, it works well. Add some Dawn Dish Soap and give the pumpkin a good gentle scrub.
Smaller pumpkins and gourds tend to float. Therefore, you will want to periodically turn them. For larger pumpkins, I will use my garage sink or a large bucket to soak for 30 minutes
Allow your pumpkins to air dry before styling them.
The main reason is that I like to dispose of my pumpkins in a compost pile or in the woods for wildlife. Bleach is toxic. You do not want it in the environment. Especially for wildlife to eat it. I enjoy recycling the pumpkins for wildlife. When you are carving your pumpkins, save the pumpkin seeds for birds. Let them dry out and then sprinkle on the ground or put in the feeder. Cut up or break the pumpkins into smaller pieces for the deer, cows, pigs, or chickens. They enjoy pumpkins along with the squirrels.
For more information and other quick tips, please check out my blog.