How To Clean And Preserve Acorns For Crafts And Decor

In this blog post, I will discuss the easiest way how to clean and preserve acorns for crafts and decor. I will share the best way to get rid of the signs of insects, the easiest way to clean dirt, and baking them on a cookie sheet. Searching for acorns and pine cones is a great activity for the whole family and is fun for little kids. Note: This blog post has been updated with information and images.

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Embrace the Season: How Northern NJ Brings Magic to Our Home

As the temperatures drop and fall strikes, acorn season begins. When fall strikes and the air begins to feel crisp we add touches of the season to our homes. Acorns, those symbols of autumn, can be an easy way for little kids to embrace nature. Especially, in Northern New Jersey. We have an abundance of these majestic trees.

How do I Clean and Preserve Acorns for Crafts and Decor?

The best way to choose real acorns is to collect them on a dry day. Next step, be sure there are no small holes or broken shell fragments. Small holes are a sign of insects. This is why it’s important to soak acorns in warm soapy water, to clean dirt off with a paper towel. The drying process, and baking for 2-3 hours in a single layer are important to be sure there is no risk of future insect problems. These are the best way to preserve these for a long time to come for decor and crafts. Acorns without caps can also be used adding natural and imperfect beauty to your craft projects and decor. If you find the loose caps let them soak too. Add the acorn caps back on top of the acorns using a bit of hot glue. 

Can I Collect Green Acorns for Crafts and Decor?

Green acorns can be collected too. The green color means they’re not ripe and sometimes they stay green and other times will turn brown after baking. As you will see in the pictures below a few stayed green while others turned brown and that’s what I love about nature. They are still part of nature and nothing is perfect when collecting pieces of nature. No acorn is the same right? It’s the same when collecting pine cones or even sticks from your yard. Don’t use a scooping action when collecting a lot of acorns. You will gather more dirt and debris than acorns.

How to Clean Acorns and Preserve for Crafts and Decor

Embrace  the Nutty Joy: The Charm of Collecting Acorns for Decor

If you have been following Cloches & Lavender you may be aware of my passion for acorns and adding pieces of nature to our fall decor. I have collected white oak acorns and red oak acorns for years. There’s nothing like strolling through the yard on a cool crisp day looking at these majestic trees and finding the best acorns. Acorns are a beautiful part of nature and last year was a mast year so the overabundance of acorns makes me and my best friend’s heart happy. It’s the little things in life that make us smile. Each of us considers ourselves a nut gatherer. A little nutty but that’s us! When we find a bunch of acorns we are overjoyed because this means it’s a mast year! 

Supplies Needed: How To Clean and Preserve Acorns for Crafts and Decor

• dish soap
• warm water
• sink or large bucket or large bowl
• paper towel or towel
• clear acrylic sealer

How to Clean and Preserve Acorns By Baking

Equipment Needed:

• cookie sheet or baking sheet
• oven set at 200 degrees f
• nylon brush or old toothbrush (optional)

Good Starting Point

Step 1: Good Starting Point for Crafts: Easy Way to Clean Acorns for Decor

After collecting the desired amount of acorns one of the best practices is to soak them in warm soapy water. This is the easiest way to clean dirt off acorns and any signs of little bugs.

Fill your kitchen sink, utility sink, a large bowl, or large buckets with warm soapy water. Soak acorns for 30 minutes. 

I have also heard of using a half cup of a half cup of vinegar but this is the most popular method and easy way to clean dirt from acorns. We have done this process many times and it works like a charm.

As an example of my love for nature and natural elements here’s a project that’s easy and you may enjoy.

Cindy’s Acorn Tip: I have collected acorns still attached to small branches from trees. Remove the leaves before soaking them. If they are higher up use a long pole or branch. This will help with acorn removal if they are still attached to a branch.  Bake these too, as you’ll see in the pictures is another gift from nature and perfect for seasonal decor.

How to Clean and Preserve Acorns?

Step 2: Most Popular Method: Drying and Preserving Acorns for Crafts and Decor

Begin the drying process and lay the acorns in a single layer. Bake them for 2-3 hours leaving with the oven door closed. Doing this removes all the moisture and does a great job of getting rid of any signs of insects using the most popular method.

• Some suggest lining the baking sheet with foil because of sap. In all the years we have been preserving acorns we have never had an issue.
• Some turn the acorns over halfway through the drying process however I don’t and they are perfect every time. I have an overabundance of acorns and use them in different ways for seasonal decor.
• After the timer goes off remove them from the oven and allow them to cool.

Sealing

Step 3: Seal Acorns With This Simple Tip for Lasting Beauty

• Add a coat of clear acrylic sealer to protect them and use them for crafts or decor for a long time.

Cindy’s Acorn Tip: I use a matte sealer Mod Podge sells a great sealer to keep these looking as natural as possible.

Storage

Step 4: How to StoreA Bunch Of Acorns Year After Year

The best practice for storing a lot of acorns:

• Use plastic bags or an airtight plastic container. 
• Make sure to store these in a dark dry space. 
• ​The basement or closet are the best ideas.

I store my acorns in a canvas bag in our basement which is a cool, dry, dark place. They look as beautiful as they did 20 years ago.

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Best Ideas for Acorn Removal: Gather Acorns and Avoid Little Bugs

• Collect acorns on a dry day and remove any wet leaves, there are a lot of acorns hiding underneath.
• Also, try to make sure not to gather any with small holes or cracks. This is a sign of insects and no one wants these little buggers around. Next, remove any excess shell fragments and grab loose acorn caps because once these are clean and preserved, add a dab of hot glue and add the caps back on top.
• You should try to gather prime acorns that are free from cracks and in optimal condition.

Cindy’s Acorn Tip: I don’t recommend using a scooping action because you will gather more dirt and debris than acorns.

Best Time to Collect Acorns

Best Practices: Harvesting and Preserving Acorns for an Acorn Craft and Decor

The best time to collect a lot of acorns from oaks as I said, is as soon as fall strikes. This is usually the beginning of acorn season. This will be the best chance for the best amount of acorns for collecting.

If these are still attached to the branches with leaves remove the acorns. Grab the acorns at the base and remove them from the branch. If the acorn caps come off save them. Soaking, air drying, and baking the caps with the acorns is an easy way to save them. Add a dot of hot glue and they are ready for any acorn craft and decor.

Clean And Preserve Acorns Before Using Them in Crafts Projects

Cleaning and preserving a large amount of acorns in a soapy bowl of water doesn’t take a lot of time and is a good starting point for removing dirt. This is the easiest way to begin getting rid of the risk of future insect problems. This is the beginning of having your real acorns for years to come. So grab your best rake, and plastic bags and read the best practices to have these as beautiful and long-lasting decor for fall and crafts.

Where Can You Find Acorns?

If you don’t have oaks in your yard, ask family, or friends, visit a nearby running stream, or parks to grab a bunch of acorns. You can find them on Etsy for a great price! Remember if you are visiting a park ask permission. I’m sure they will be fine with harvesting loose acorns but asking first is respectful.

Master The Art Of Cleaning and Preserving Acorns For Fall

Crafts

• Timing Matters: Collect acorns as soon as fall strikes for the best acorns. A good starting point is to collect acorns on a dry day using a scooping action. 
• Collecting Options: The easiest way to collect acorns is to use a small tractor, nut gatherer, lawn sweeper, lawn vacuum, riding lawn mower, shop vacuum, or power broom. Some of these options are costly. The best rake will work for collecting a bunch of acorns for most normal-sized yards.
• Best Ideas Budget-Friendly: Use a long pole or branch to reach acorns that are attached to branches that are too high. I spent a lot of time moving wet leaves and collecting real acorns. (NOTE: move any wet leaves to avoid slipping and getting hurt)This is the best way to collect the best acorns and enjoy the outdoors while searching. 
• Imperfections Add Character: Don’t hesitate to gather acorns with missing acorn caps. They contribute to the natural charm of fall.
• Gentle Collection: Avoid scooping acorns to prevent dirt accumulation. Collect acorns without cracks or small holes.
• Pre-Soak: Soak acorns in warm, soapy water to clean dirt. You want clean acorns for your craft projects and decor. A nylon brush and an old toothbrush can help with the cleaning process.
• Baking: Bake acorns on a cookie sheet in a single layer at 200°F for .2-3 hours. The oven door should be closed. The drying process eliminates moisture and any sign of insects, leaving them perfectly preserved for a long time. 

Sealing and Storage

• Sealing: Apply a clear acrylic sealer in matte to protect your acorns while maintaining their appearance for a long time.
• Storage: Keep your preserved real acorns safe in an airtight container or plastic bags in a dark, dry space. This ensures their longevity for future projects and decor.
• Creative Uses: Let your imagination run wild with acorns. Use them for wreaths, centerpieces, garlands, an acorn craft, and more for your seasonal decor with natural beauty.
• Beyond Acorns: Explore other nature-inspired crafting ideas, from pine cones to leaves, and discover possibilities to enhance your seasonal decor.
• Embrace the Season: Preserved acorns make a magnificent addition to any home, celebrating the beauty of nature and the changing seasons.

Which Trees Have Acorns?

Trees That Have Acorns

• Oaks are majestic trees and the acorn is the fruit of these trees and are mostly found in the northern hemisphere.
• There are hundreds of species of oaks around the world, with 90 different varieties native to the US. 

White Oak Acorns vs. Red Oak Acorns

Difference Between Red Oaks and White Oaks

• Acorns from White Oaks are going to be longer in length but smaller in diameter. 
• Red Oaks produce acorns the exact opposite, shorter in length but larger acorns in diameter.
• So, this explains why the acorns my husband brought home while on his morning run are the widest and biggest acorns I have seen since I became a “nut gatherer”. 
• It’s common for every 3rd year to be a heavier crop so this answers a question I didn’t realize.

This explains why our oak trees have better years than others.

Weather Affects a Mast Year 

Reasons For Thin Long and Wider Acorns 

• Some species of oak trees have large acorns and the reason that acorns come in different sizes is not clear.
• A mild winter can often mean more acorns since white and red oaks can produce more of them when they start creating seeds in the spring. But a harsh winter or a springtime freeze can be a risk of future acorns and lead to very little production, and sometimes none at all.
• This is the one thing I have never been aware of and makes sense. We are in a high elevation in NJ I now understand why some years are better than others and why the oaks dropped more acorns. Having a spring freeze is a common issue where we live and affects the acorn crop.

I can’t imagine not having an acorn crop in our home because these trees are everywhere. My bestie and I love to search for acorns. And the great thing is we both have the same affection for nature and acorns.

Cindy’s Acorn Excitement: Last year it was a mild winter. I’m excited because my best friend who still lives near our old home says this will be a mast year. I’m so happy. Acorn season is slowly beginning there. She’s going to for the best and biggest acorns. Next year I will have new clean and preserved acorns to share.

Why Begin Collecting Acorns Now?

1. Get Crafting: Don’t wait any longer! Gather the best acorns, follow the simple steps outlined here, and create an acorn craft to add nature to your home. They are Free! Unleash your creativity and bring your fall decor ideas to life!
2. Share Your Creations: We’d love to see how you’ve used preserved acorns in your fall decor and craft projects.
3. Explore Nature for Crafts: If you enjoy incorporating natural elements into your craft projects and decor, why stop at acorns? Explore other nature-inspired crafting ideas. From pine cones to leaves, and sticks from your yard. These are free!

Enjoying Nature: How to Clean and Preserve Acorns for Crafts and Decor

Incorporating the beauty of nature into your decor with acorns adds a touch of rustic elegance.

Following these simple steps on how to clean and preserve acorns does a great job and ensures that the natural charm and these tiny treasures are perfect to use for a long time. As the cool autumn breeze ushers in a season of coziness, preserved acorns will serve as a constant reminder of what nature has to offer. So, whether you’re crafting, decorating, or simply savoring the sights and sounds of fall, these are symbols of nature that surround us. I look forward to sharing my next blog post for an easy craft, cooking, or decorating idea with you. 

Happy crafting and decorating!

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