Should You Wash Pumpkins Before You Display Them?
Pumpkins come straight from the field, and they bring some of the field with them. Dirt, mold spores and bacteria ride along on the skin. So it is fair to ask whether you should wash them before they go on the porch. The short answer is yes, as long as you dry them well afterward.
Why washing helps
Molds are everywhere outdoors. Utah State University Extension explains that molds are fungi that release lightweight spores that travel through the air, and that infected pumpkins shrivel, soften and grow fuzzy gray mold. Cleaning the skin removes some of what is already there before it has a chance to get started.
Washing also lets you see the pumpkin. Mud can hide a bruise, a crack or a soft spot. Once the skin is clean, it is much easier to spot a problem and set that pumpkin aside.
How to wash a pumpkin
Start with plain water and a soft cloth or brush to remove dirt. Virginia Cooperative Extension suggests washing with cool, soapy water. Be gentle around the stem, and do not scrub hard enough to scratch the skin, since scratches and cuts are where decay begins.
Then wipe the pumpkin with a weak bleach solution to kill mold and bacteria on the surface. We use about 1 1/2 teaspoons of bleach per gallon of water, the mix University of Georgia experts recommend. Wear gloves, work outside or in a ventilated space, and keep the solution away from kids and pets.
Sources do not agree on strength
You will see stronger mixes suggested. Virginia Cooperative Extension and Kansas State University suggest a 10 percent solution, about one part bleach to ten parts water, and that figure shows up often for carved pumpkins. We stick with the gentler mix for whole pumpkins on a porch, since it is easier on hands, clothes and porch surfaces. Either way, more bleach is not a substitute for drying.
Drying matters most
This is the step people skip, and it is the most important one. Virginia Cooperative Extension and Iowa State University Extension both stress letting pumpkins dry completely after washing. A pumpkin that goes out wet, especially on its bottom, starts out behind. Set washed pumpkins on a towel in the sun or in a breezy spot for a few hours, turning them once so the bottom dries too.
A simple routine
Brush or rinse off the dirt
Wipe with a weak bleach solution
Dry completely, bottoms included
Look the pumpkin over for soft spots before it goes out
When to wash
The best time is right after you bring pumpkins home, before they go on the porch. Pick a dry day so they can dry outside. If you bought a small pie pumpkin to cook later, skip the bleach on that one and just rinse it with plain water before you cut it.
What washing will not fix
Washing cannot save a pumpkin that is already soft, cracked or bruised. That is why it pays to pick a good pumpkin in the first place, with a firm stem, a hard rind and no soft spots. Washing also does not replace good placement. Keep pumpkins off wet surfaces and out of strong afternoon sun.
If you are carving, clean your tools as well. Utah State University Extension recommends sterilizing spoons, knives and carving tools before use, especially between pumpkins. For a whole pumpkin, a gentle wash and a full dry is enough. Our post on how long porch pumpkins last covers what else helps.
Questions about your pumpkins?
If you have a pumpkin question we did not cover here, we would be glad to help. Call or text us at (513) 409-0005, or send a message through our contact page. We are a family-run business right here in the Springboro, Dayton and Cincinnati area, and we are always happy to talk pumpkins.