Pumpkins and gourds signal the advent of fall, a season whose hallmark celebrations are Halloween and Thanksgiving. These tips might help you keep the pumpkin decorations and their cousins looking good throughout the season.
First Things First
When you bring these fruits home, wash the dirt off each and sanitize them. Mold spores present on their surfaces and throughout your home promote spoilage. Wipe each pumpkin and gourd with a cloth dipped in a bleach-water solution to kill any mold spores and bacteria already on them.
Store the gourds and pumpkins in a place that has good air circulation and a temperature between 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit with humidity between 50 and 75 percent. Your basement or garage may be ideal places. However, if you notice a a musty smell in these spaces, you may have a mold problem that would prematurely rot the fruit. More importantly, though, mold in your garage or basement is a health hazard for your family. Mold indicates a humidity and moisture problem that should be checked by an HVAC pro.
Carving the Pumpkin
It’s best to hold off on making the carved pumpkin decorations until the last minute. When you do, make sure the knives and spoons are clean. Spray the inside of the carved pumpkin with a mix of bleach and water to prevent premature spoiling.
Displaying the Pumpkin
Heat and temperatures below freezing speed the decay process. If possible, use a battery-operated LED light inside it if temperatures are warm. If they’re below freezing, display the pumpkin with a candle inside it as long as it’s out of the reach of children and flammable decorations or costumes. Use care if you place it indoors.
Pumpkin decorations go hand-in-hand with fall and with a bit of care, you can make the most of them. For more information about mold and your home’s air quality, contact Hartman Brothers Heating & Air Conditioning, providing HVAC services for Fort Wayne homeowners.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in New Haven, Indiana and surrounding Fort Wayne area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about home comfort and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 260-376-2961.
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