How to Bleach a Gourd

Now you can make your gourds a little lighter.

Gourds, small non-edible fruits very similar in appearance to pumpkins, are often used for decoration during the fall months of the year. Growing in a variety of colors including yellow, orange, green and brown, they can be lightened in color to suit a particular theme you would like to attain. With some commonly found household materials you can easily and quickly change existing gourds to fit a different theme by bleaching them lighter.

Things You'll Need

• Chlorine bleach
• Water
• Bucket
• Towel
• Scrubbing brush

Instructions

1. Mix one part bleach with 10 parts fresh water in a bucket. This activity is best done outdoors to avoid the inhalation of bleach fumes.

2. Soak a towel in the bleach and water solution and then drape it over the gourd, ensuring that all surfaces of it are covered with the wet towel. Soaking the gourd directly in the bleach solution can make it become soft, while covering it will only alter the color.

3. Remove the towel after 15 minutes and then set the gourd in direct natural sunlight to dry. Sunlight will accelerate the bleaching process.

4. Repeat the process as necessary, scouring the gourd with a scrubbing brush to further bleach and alter the color of the gourd.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear a respirator or face mask if you are at all susceptible to mold spores.

References

• University of Illinois; Gourds; Jennifer Schultz Nelson; September 2007