Okay, I must admit, I’ve been a little pumpkin-obsessed this season. Or haven’t you noticed? Whether it’s pumpkins in this natural and neutral fall tablescape, falling in love (again!) with this roundup of 12 modern ways to decorate pumpkins, or sharing on FB how to create botanical pumpkins in this video by Garden Answer – I am just loving pumpkin decor this autumn. And while I tend to focus my energies on how to craft and decorate with pumpkins, there is also the practical business of making sure they last! That’s why today I thought I’d share these 2 super easy tips on how to make pumpkins last longer.
(This post contains an affiliate link at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure policy).
Tip #1: Clean & Disinfect with a Bleach Solution
Whether you are picking the pumpkins yourself or purchasing them from your local grocery store, pumpkins are a dirty business!
When you bring your pumpkins home, give them a bath first. But not just any bath will do. You should prepare a bath with the following mixture:
Bleach + Water + Dish Soap
(measure 1 part bleach, 10 parts water + a couple of squirts of dish soap)
The bleach kills off the bacteria and help the pumpkins last longer by keeping mold at bay.
Soak the pumpkins for at least 20-30 minutes (turning your pumpkins over halfway through).
Remove, rinse and dry well.
Tip #2: Spray an Acrylic Matte Sealer To Make Your Pumpkins Last Even Longer!
Yes! This may come as a surprise, but spraying a light coating of an acrylic sealer is a simple yet effective way to provide another layer of protection, particularly if you plan on placing your pumpkins outdoors.
(This is the Acrylic Sealer I’ve used. It’s one of my fave crafting products, too. Win-win 🙂 )
Some folks spritz their pumpkins every few days with a bleach/water solution, but I prefer to spray a sealer on them and then leave them be 🙂
As always, happy decorating!
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