How you can make Halloween pumpkins last longer with simple household mixture
Are you fretting that you've purchased your Halloween pumpkins too early and they'll start to soften or decay before the ghostly celebrations kick off?
Don't worry, a gardening expert has a handy tip to ensure your large orange squashes last - even beyond October 31 if you so desire. All Hallows' Eve may still be five days away, but today (October 26) being National Pumpkin Day, we thought it's the perfect time to share the top tip.
Gardener Michael (@themediterraneangardener) shared on TikTok how to guarantee a "longer display" at your home, explaining: "Whether you picked it from a pumpkin patch or a supermarket, give it a good wash - you can do this with normal washing up liquid."
Showcasing his metod in a clip, he continued: "Next, dry it off and mix one tablespoon of bleach with one litre of water - I put mine in a spray bottle. If you're going to carve your pumpkin, do that now - cover your carved or uncarved pumpkin."
"If its [already] carved, spray the inside and carved edges as well - this gets rid of mould, mildew and other unwanted stuff. It'll keep your pumpkin looking fresh that little bit longer."
In the caption to his video, meanwhile, Michael also explained the science behind his method. "I'd always encourage people to use the flesh and seeds first when carving pumpkins first, do this after," he penned. "If you're concerned about using a bleach solution - the solution will break down rapidly when exposed to the elements, turning into salt and water meaning there is nothing harmful left over."
He further added: "If you're putting your pumpkin outside and you're worried an animal might eat it, wait until the solution has dried on the pumpkin. This way the bleach will have done its work and then will have broken down into salt and water."
One animal lover, concerned about the safety of wildlife eating the bleached pumpkins, asked for clarification. "The bleach solution breaks down into salt and water once dried so it’ll be fine - just a little saltier," Michael clarified. Other TikTok users questioned the safety of bleach, suggesting vinegar as an alternative.
However, Michael highlighted the property in bleach that makes it more effective. "Vinegar is a great cleaner, but its not a disinfectant, which is what you need for this job," he explained.
