Collecting Pine Cones in the Fall
How to Prepare Pine Cones for Craft Projects
by Jane Lake
Once you have gathered pine cones in the fall, you’ll want to clean and dry them properly to use in crafts.
Here are two methods of preparing your pine cones. The first method offers a way to dry pine cones in an hour or two, using a low-temperature stove oven, while the second involves washing the pine cones clean; both methods will prepare the pine cones for future pine cone craft projects.
Oven Baked Pine Cones:
Supplies:
- Pine cones
- Oven
- Parchment paper or foil
Spread pine cones on a parchment paper or foil lined cookie sheet and place in 200°F, or lower temperature oven until all the cones have opened.
Drying will usually take an hour or two, depending on the size of your pine cones.
Don’t try to rush the drying; remember, the slower the drying process, the less brittle the pine cones will be.
Washed Pine Cones:
Supplies:
- Pine cones
- Sink
- Warm Water
- Antibacterial dish soap or household cleaner
You can wash pine cones, rather than baking them in the oven, to clean them up for crafts. These is best done in a large sink, such as a laundry tub.
Plug the sink drain and place the cones on the bottom of the sink. Add a generous amount of antibacterial dish soap, or all-purpose household cleaner, then cover the cones with very warm water. Allow the pine cones to soak for about half an hour, stir them in the water, then rinse well.
If sticky sap remains, repeat both washing and rinsing steps.
Spread washed pine cones on plastic bags or newspaper and allow to air dry completely.
Lori says
I painted my pine cones white on the tips. What is best to use to make them shine, I’m not sure what is the best to use.
Hilda says
Please Help! With cleaning Pinecones of sap
I just put my pinecones in water to clean:
1. Soaked in strong vinegar & dishwashing detergent for 45 minutes.
2. 2nd Rinse: 30 minutes in dishwashing liquid.
The pinecones are super sticky. I am drying on cookie racks.
How do I eliminate the sap without baking? (I usually bake my pinecones but wanted to try washing to preserve the natural color. Baking changes the color.)
Thank you!
Jane Lake says
Did you use hot water? It sounds like you’ve tried the usual tried-and-true methods, so I’m not sure why the pine cones are being so stubborn about giving up their sap. All I can suggest is increasing the amount of the dishwashing liquid and trying super hot water to help melt the sap away.
Hilda says
Hi Jane, thank you for your response-it’s much appreciated! If you have a moment, I have another quick question…
I did not remove the sap from the pinecones since I didn’t realize that hot water was called for.
However, the cones are drying & opening nicely and do not feel very sticky. Is it okay to spray paint as is to preserve the natural color or is baking still recommended?
Thank you again!
Hilda