Grey House Harbor
  • Home
  • about
  • contact

Sep 30 2014

how to clean pinecones

Posted by hayley
Tweet

There are some advantages to living on the East Coast. Namely, trees. Had I wanted pinecones in San Diego, my choices were to either drive an hour out of town to collect them au natural or spend $5/bag to purchase some at a craft store. Here, I just walk to the grove of trees at the end of my street and take what I want. And of course I have my little helper spot the winners.

how to clean pinecones  greyhouseharbor.com

You may think a quick brush off and they’re good to go, but I would highly recommend a thorough cleaning if you plan to use them in your home. Let’s just say that what appeared to be fairly clean pinecones were actually harboring two baby crickets, several tiny spiders and a hand full of worm thingys. Gross.

how to clean pinecones  greyhouseharbor.com

Begin by filling a bowl or sink with warm water and a cup of white vinegar. Soak the pinecones for 30 minutes.

how to clean pinecones  greyhouseharbor.com

how to clean pinecones  greyhouseharbor.com

Rinse off and let them air dry in the sun if you can. I also cleaned some funky seed pods we found this way.

how to clean pinecones  greyhouseharbor.com

how to clean pinecones  greyhouseharbor.com

how to clean pinecones  greyhouseharbor.com

You’ll notice that even the pinecones that were full when you collected them will close up. This is because moisture and cool air causes the scales to contract.

how to clean pinecones  greyhouseharbor.com

If you want them closed, then you’re golden. But if not, line a cookie sheet with tin foil and space them out. The tin foil is important because you don’t want any leaking sap to ruin your pan.

how to clean pinecones  greyhouseharbor.com

Bake the pinecones at 200° for an hour. This removes the moisture and pulls the scales back open. It also kills anything that may have survived the vinegar bath!

how to clean pinecones  greyhouseharbor.com

If after an hour they aren’t totally open, don’t fret. Take them out and allow them to dry at room temp for a day or so. They will eventually become full, lovely pinecones ready for you to glitter, glue or do with as you please!

how to clean pinecones  greyhouseharbor.com

Tags: diy, diy crafts, fall, how to clean pinecones, tutorials
CONTINUE READING >
7 comments


I'm Hayley. Wife and mother by day, DIY enthusiast by night. Fueled by sweet tea and jelly beans, I own power tools and know how to use them. Consider yourself warned.

featured on button

New posts delivered fresh to your inbox!

Follow on Bloglovin

Recent Posts

  • big ‘ole magnet board / job chart
  • a collection of caps a collection of caps
  • a new chapter a new chapter
  • treasure rocks treasure rocks
  • missing grams missing grams

 

S P O N S O R S - & - F R I E N D S

Categories

Archives

Follow

Follow on Bloglovin

Recent Posts

  • big ‘ole magnet board / job chart
  • a collection of caps a collection of caps
  • a new chapter a new chapter

disclaimer & copyright

All opinions within are exclusively and honestly mine. I do not commit to posting positive reviews of any promotional items I may receive. However, if the product or service suits the interests of my readers I may feature it and denote such compensation.
All content © greyhouseharbor.com 2015.