Fall is upon us and this is a good time to talk about easy to: clean and preserve pinecones recipe card using this fail-proof method.

Our neighbors have pine trees, and they dropped their pinecones. Knowing that I love decorating and crafting they asked if I would like them. Of course, I said I’d love these! So, we grabbed them all and can’t believe how many I brought home!

Why Clean And Preserve Pine Cones?

Cleaning and preserving pinecones can help maintain their natural beauty and prolong their lifespan. Pinecones can collect dirt, debris, and insects over time, which can make them unsightly and cause them to deteriorate faster. By cleaning and preserving pinecones, you can remove any dirt or debris and kill any insects that may be present, ensuring that the pinecones remain in good condition and last longer.

Additionally, preserving pinecones can help maintain their natural colors and textures, making them more aesthetically pleasing and suitable for decorative use. Preserved pinecones can also be used in a variety of crafts and DIY projects, such as wreaths, centerpieces, and ornaments.

Overall, cleaning and preserving pinecones is a simple and easy process that can enhance their beauty and extend their usefulness. If you enjoy crafting or decorating with natural materials, cleaning and preserving pinecones can be a worthwhile investment of your time and energy.

What Can I Do With Pinecones?

Pinecones are versatile and can be used in a variety of ways. Here are some ideas:

• Decorate with them: Pinecones can add a natural and rustic touch to your home décor. You can place them in a bowl, vase, or on a tray as a centerpiece. You can also add them to wreaths, garlands, and other seasonal decorations.
• Create a scented potpourri: Pinecones can be used to create a fragrant potpourri. You can add essential oils, cinnamon sticks, and dried fruit to the pinecones for a natural and fragrant touch.
• Use them in DIY projects: Pinecones can be used in a variety of DIY projects. You can make bird feeders by covering them with peanut butter and birdseed, or create ornaments by painting them and adding glitter or other embellishments.
• Use them as fire starters: Pinecones can be used as kindling for your fireplace or outdoor fire pit.
• Use them in floral arrangements: Pinecones can add texture and interest to floral arrangements. You can add them to bouquets, wreaths, and other arrangements.
• Make pinecone crafts: Pinecones can be used to create a variety of crafts, such as pinecone animals, pinecone wreaths, and pinecone garlands.

These are just a few ideas for what you can do with pinecones. With a little creativity, there are many ways to incorporate pinecones into your home décor and DIY projects.

Why Use Pieces From the Food Market?

Use Pieces in the Home From the Food Store

I absolutely love using natural elements in our home for fall and the holiday seasons.

• It’s budget-friendly
• Nuts, oranges, apples, and pears to name a few adds color and speak volumes for the cooler months ahead.

Scatter pieces from nature around centerpieces and add them to bowls and vignettes. Be careful loved ones may steal your props to enjoy for themselves as a snack.

If you have been following Cloches & Lavender you are aware I enjoy decorating with pieces from nature in our home. Especially for the fall and holiday seasons so sharing how to preserve pinecones is a must.

Bonus: Learn how to save acorns too. It’s so simple to do and these are gems from nature and look beautiful in any home decor for fall throughout Christmas! I share all the details you need for this easy process.

If you can’t save acorns this is a great shop to purchase them already finished. However, these are free in parks and the yard, and saving these acorns is faster than the pinecones so it is so worth the effort.

Have Acorns? Here’s an Easy Way to Save these for Years to Come

Saving Acorns for Décor

By the way, you may enjoy this post where I share how to preserve real acorns for years. Here I share my love of acorns. I have a collection of hundreds and I share how to clean and preserve these fall gems. My collection is going on for 20 years now. So, it should be no surprise I’d share how to preserve pinecones.

You will see my large collection of preserved acorns and preserved pinecones in home tours for fall and Christmas. 

I also enjoy decorating with walnuts and dried artichokes too. Using pieces from nature speaks volumes about embracing fall and the beauty it offers for home décor and crafts.

You may also enjoy seeing how I incorporate dried oranges into my fall and holiday décor. Besides being pretty dried oranges are nature’s gift. When oranges are dried, they smell fantastic, and mixed with pinecones for example makes a beautiful combination as well.

I share how to make dried orange slices and clementine.  I also share how to use dried oranges when decorating the home seasonally. By the way, you will see pinecones used here too. Be sure to take a look for some inspiration.

Incidentally, how to preserve pinecones is easy to do and well worth the effort.

Cleaning and Preserving The Fresh Cones

Step 1: Soak Them in Dish Detergent and Warm Water

The first step, cleaning the pinecones to preserve them using dish soap. I made sure to remove any pine needles and visible dirt.

Because I have a large sink in my laundry room, cleaning the pinecones before using them was an easy job. 

I filled the sink with warm water and 1/4 teaspoon of dish soap and added the cones to get clean. After the soapy water covers the cones let them soak for 30-45 minutes, this begins the cleaning and preserving process.

Wear rubber gloves when preserving fresh pinecones because of the sticky sap. My gloves are covered in sap.

In the meantime, grab a large towel.

Letting the Fresh Pinecones Dry

Step 2: Let the Pieces Dry Completely

Remove the pinecones from the soapy water and rinse well. Here, use a large bath towel to gather the excess water. Let the cones begin air drying overnight before the baking process to preserve them. Also, before settling in for the evening, turn the pinecones over so the other side air dries so they will be ready to preserve in the morning.

Adding The Pinecones to The Oven to Reopen

Step 3: Adding These to the Oven

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Next, use a cookie sheet, lined with parchment paper before adding the cones for this easy craft. I used four large baking pans because in total we had 78 cones.

Also, it’s especially important to place pine cones in a single layer.

Because the fresh pinecones are going in the oven to preserve, this is when they will open back up.  As a result of the pinecones opening, it’s important to leave room in between each one to account for them getting wider. 

This process is important to get rid of pesky bugs.

I also advise beginning slowly with the first sheets. For my first baking sheet, I set my timer for 15 minutes. I did this because I didn’t want them to burn. So, to be on the safe side I wanted to see how the preserving process was going to work.

Since I have so many pinecones to preserve, I knew I was going to do the baking process six times. So, after the first round of baking, I began setting my timer for half an hour. Now I knew this was the perfect amount of time for the pinecones to completely open. During this process, it’s quite amazing seeing the cones close and open again.

This is also why I say take advantage of nature when decorating your home for fall and the holiday season. It’s not only free but is truly amazing to watch.

Letting the Pinecones Cool to Add to Home Décor

Step 4: Cooling the Pieces Before Adding Them to Decor

After taking the pinecones from the oven, I did add parchment paper to a cooling rack. Here, I let them cool as the next baking sheet was in the oven.

If you don’t want to preserve pinecones, purchase them here on Amazon. These are affiliate links.

Lastly, I didn’t feel it was necessary to add spray varnish. I love the natural look of nature. Spraying them is optional so you decide what works best for you.

Here, you can see the preserved pinecones I added to an antique French crate for a natural touch. 

 

I hope you enjoyed learning easy to: clean and preserve pinecones recipe card and will think about trying it for your fall, Christmas, and winter décor.

Pinecones work well for any decorating style. And these work great for wreaths, ornaments, centerpieces, and more.

Do you enjoy decorating with pieces found outside too? Do you collect pine cones and/or acorns too? As I said many times pieces found in the yard are the best because they are free! Will you use pinecones in your decor?

A FEW OF MY FAVORITES!