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Preserving the Life of your Jack O Lantern...

By
Real Estate Agent with Springer Realty Group RS305712

Halloween Pumpkin Carving was always a tradition around our house.  Spending hours carefully carving those faces.  Each person meticulously personalizing their pumpkin.  Then we would proudly display our crowning achievement on the porch and what would you find a couple days later?  A shriveling rotting mess.  This year I came across this suggestion for preserving your hard work for a little longer...

Here are the simple steps:

  1. Remove dirt: Wipe the exterior surfaces of the pumpkin clean using a damp cloth.
  2. Make a bleach solution of1 tablespoon of bleach (typical brand name "Clorox) per quart of water and put it in a spray bottle.
  3. Spray the pumpkin inside and all cut areas of the pumpkin with the solution. This will kill much of the surface bacteria and mold that cause rotting.
  4. Let it penetrate and dry for about 20 minutes
  5. Next, rub all of the carved or cut surfaces with petroleum jelly. This will keep out new bacteria and molds as well as dramatically reduce the dehydration!
  6. Wipe away excess with a paper towel

This process should extend the life of your pumpkin for 1-2 weeks. 

Joanna Cohlan
Fresh Eyes For Your Home - Chappaqua, NY
Designing, Decorating & Staging Westchester Homes

Faith, thank you so much for those tips-I have given up on carving pumpkins for that very reason-they don't last-but now I am going to try it with your home remedy!

Oct 21, 2011 01:22 AM
Lori Gardiner
RE/MAX River's Edge - Bristol, RI
GRI, SRS, ABR, e-PRO

Hi Faith,

Great post...thanks for the tips. I use to carve with my kids...but now they are 20 and not interested anymore. So I buy the painted ones...lol.

Oct 21, 2011 01:26 AM
Carol-Ann Palmieri
RE/MAX Executive Realty, Al and Cal Realty Group - Franklin, MA
"Cal" the Real Estate Gal

Hi Faith.    Thanks for the tip.   We will give it a try!

Oct 21, 2011 01:43 AM
Daniel H. Fisher
www.FisherHermanRealty.com (704) 617-3544 - Charlotte, NC
MCRP - Charlotte Real Estate, NC or SC

This is an interesting tip. Scraping out more of the flesh from the inside also seems to help.

Oct 21, 2011 02:03 AM
Diane Grady
Endless Summer Realty - Saint Augustine, FL

Awesome!!! I will do this.  Thanks for the great tip. We are pumpkin carving this weekend!!!

Oct 21, 2011 02:11 AM
Debbie Cook
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc - Silver Spring, MD
Silver Spring and Takoma Park Maryland Real Estate

Very timely post and good tips.  No more unsightly pumpkins at my house after Halloween anymore!

Oct 25, 2011 11:41 PM