One of our favorite parts of Halloween – aside from the mountains of candy, of course! – is carving our pumpkins. Carving pumpkins in my house is a pretty big affair. We usually make a pretty big night of it, and all of the grandparents join in festivities.
After all of that work, though, bacteria, fungi, and the elements can cause a Jack o’ Lantern to break down and rot. If you carve too early, Mr. o’ Lantern may not even make it to Halloween night.
The good news is that there are steps you can take to make your carved pumpkin last longer. Follow these tips and you carved pumpkin should last several days or even weeks. (If those nasty pumpkin smashers don’t get to them fist, that is!)
1. Wait to Carve
It can be pretty tempting to carve your pumpkins early, but it’s best to resist that temptation. Wait until a week or even a few days before Halloween before you put the little orange dude under the knife.
2. Wash Before Carving
It’s a good idea to wash your pumpkin thoroughly before carving it. Brush off any dirt and wipe down the outside with a mild bleach solution. This will not only make your pumpkin look prettier, but it will also kill any germs on the outside that speed up the deterioration.
3. Soak Carved Pumpkins in Bleach
After carving your pumpkin, fill a large bucket or sink with a mild bleach solution. Submerge your carved pumpkin and soak it for several hours or even overnight. This will help kill and prevent bacteria and fungus that causes mold and rot.
4. Spray Inside of Carved Pumpkins With Bleach
Keeping bacteria and fungus away from the exposed flesh is an imperative step to help make carved pumpkins last longer. Take a few moments each day to spray the inside and outside of your carved pumpkins with a bleach solution. You can also use a disinfecting bleach cleaner, like Clorox Clean-Up. Just be sure to dry your pumpkin as much as possible afterward, since pooling moisture can cause it to rot faster.
5. Avoid Using Candles
There’s no doubt that a glowing, flickering Jack o’ lantern adds the final creepy touch to a Halloween display. Intense heat from a candle can damage the inside of your carved pumpkin, though. Opt for a flameless candle, small flashlight, or even glow sticks instead.
6. Keep Carved Pumpkins Cool and Dry
Finally, you can make a carved pumpkin last longer by keeping it cool and dry. Bacteria and fungus flourish in warm, wet environments. Bring your carved pumpkins inside on unseasonably warm or rainy days. Keep them in the basement, garage, or other cool area.
What other tips do you have to make carved pumpkins last longer?
