Culture Holidays How to Preserve a Carved Pumpkin By Jenn Savedge Jenn Savedge Writer University of Strathclyde Ithaca College Jenn Savedge is an environmental author and lecturer. She’s a former national park ranger who has written three books on eco-friendly living Learn about our editorial process Updated October 03, 2024 Treehugger / Adrienne Legault Culture History Travel Sustainable Fashion Art & Media Holidays Community Whether you usually spend three minutes or three hours creating your Halloween pumpkin, you probably wish it would last longer than it does. Never fear! You can follow a few tricks to keep your pumpkin looking stellar, ideally through Halloween night. But first, keep in mind that carved jack-o-lanterns have a shelf life, so even if you take measures to preserve them, they're going to meet their end eventually. Don't buy your pumpkin too early! The earlier you buy and carve it before Halloween, the longer the forces of natural decay have to do their work. The suggestions below will give you the best chance to keep your carved pumpkin looking amazing and fresh until Halloween. Warning Some of these solutions may be harmful to animals. Ensure you keep wildlife and pets safely away from your pumpkin. Also, dispose of your carved jack-o-lantern properly to ensure hungry creatures aren't tempted to eat it. Treehugger / Adrienne Legault In the battle to preserve your Halloween pumpkin, you're fighting mold and dehydration. So heed the following advice to prevent your pumpkin's enemies from ruining your creation. Cleaning Your Pumpkin Treehugger / Adrienne Legault Wiping with a little bleach is the best way to clean and preserve your pumpkin after carving. Bleach kills mold and will prevent mold spores from attacking your pumpkin. You can completely submerge your carved pumpkin into a solution of three tablespoons of bleach to three gallons of water or use a spray bottle filled with water and a small amount of bleach to treat the carved areas. Let the pumpkin air dry after bleaching. You can also try tea tree oil diluted in water as an antifungal and anti-mold fighter. But remember that tea tree is a powerful essential oil (the smell suggests this). Just as you can use tea tree as an insect repellant, you can embrace it in the garden and harness its power to keep mold away from your pumpkin. But, if you opt for tea tree, keep the pumpkin out of reach of children, pets, and other animals. Some people are extremely sensitive to this oil, so test your diluted solution and proceed with caution. Lubricating Your Pumpkin Treehugger / Adrienne Legault Unless you want your pumpkin to look like a shrunken head, you may also need to apply a water-repellent lubricant to the cut areas to keep them from drying out. Petroleum jelly or vegetable oil will help your pumpkin retain its moisture and look its best for as long as possible. Using a store-bought pumpkin preservative spray like Pumpkin Fresh, which contains fungicide (to kill the mold) and lubricants (to keep the pumpkin from drying out), may also keep your pumpkin fresh for longer. Treehugger / Adrienne Legault You can try the lubricant method if you need to preserve an uncarved pumpkin too. Wipe your pumpkin with one of the above-mentioned substances to extend its life. A word to the wise: If you plan to eat your pumpkin after carving it, don't apply any of these tips except for the one suggesting you not buy and carve your pumpkin too early. Carve your pumpkin close to Halloween so it won't sit out for long. And, if you plan to roast the seeds or any of the flesh, carve away any spots that look moldy before you start to cook.