Cleaning and Preparing a Gourd
March 5, 2016
Jennifer Schu
Cleaning and preparing gourds for your project can be as varied as decorating the actual gourd can be.
Every gourd artist has their own methods. I prefer the method of covering the gourd in moist garden dirt in a bucket for a few days. The moisture and enzymes in the dirt loosen the mold on the outside. (Use only whole gourds for this method). Using a copper or metal pot scrubber and water, the surface will come clean easily. Put the gourd in a cool dry place to dry for several days. Drying them in the sun may cause cracks from drying too quickly.
Because the gourd is wet, I work outside and I wear gloves, I am not worried about wearing a mask when cleaning the outside of the gourd using this method. But remember to work outside or in a well ventilated area and wear a respirator or face mask when cleaning the inside of gourds to protect you from the mold inside the gourd.
Listed below are some quick links to instructions on how to clean the inside and outside of your gourd.
Every gourd artist has their own methods. I prefer the method of covering the gourd in moist garden dirt in a bucket for a few days. The moisture and enzymes in the dirt loosen the mold on the outside. (Use only whole gourds for this method). Using a copper or metal pot scrubber and water, the surface will come clean easily. Put the gourd in a cool dry place to dry for several days. Drying them in the sun may cause cracks from drying too quickly.
Because the gourd is wet, I work outside and I wear gloves, I am not worried about wearing a mask when cleaning the outside of the gourd using this method. But remember to work outside or in a well ventilated area and wear a respirator or face mask when cleaning the inside of gourds to protect you from the mold inside the gourd.
Listed below are some quick links to instructions on how to clean the inside and outside of your gourd.
Cleaning the Outside
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-clean-a-hardshell-gourd/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiXqUdIwbYA
http://www.wuertzfarm.com/gourd-cleaning.html
http://www.wandasgourdart.com/Cleaning-Gourds.html
http://emptyeasel.com/2009/11/19/how-to-clean-small-ornamental-gourds-for-use-as-christmas-tree-ornaments/
http://www.karendittman.com/2008/07/you-gotta-clean-those-gourds-and-prep-before-painting/
http://vickiehenderson.com/cleaning_gourds.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiXqUdIwbYA
http://www.wuertzfarm.com/gourd-cleaning.html
http://www.wandasgourdart.com/Cleaning-Gourds.html
http://emptyeasel.com/2009/11/19/how-to-clean-small-ornamental-gourds-for-use-as-christmas-tree-ornaments/
http://www.karendittman.com/2008/07/you-gotta-clean-those-gourds-and-prep-before-painting/
http://vickiehenderson.com/cleaning_gourds.htm
Cleaning the Inside
