We're collecting pine cones today, how do I clean them?

[Squtternutbaush]

I've noticed lots of pinecones around recently so thought I'd take the DC's to collect some to use in December for decorations but I've never done this before and figure I should de-bug them.

Not keen on the idea of baking the bugs though so any other suggestions?

Clean them?

Maybe, pour some boiling water on them?

Ensure they dry properly afterwards though.

Dunnoe, I was told I should clean them somehow to get rid of sap, animal pee and bugs.

Makes sense but I don't know how to do it other than baking them and the thought of roasting spiders is not appealing :o

I can honestly say I've never cleaned a pine cone in my life.

Are you going to sell them?

Boil them up or wash in very hot water so they open up, and then put in low oven to dry out?

You do not need to clean them!!!

They will not be covered in animal pee. Wild animals tend to pee and then bury it so you're fine there. They are fairly likely to have lots if earwigs in them. What you do is, put them in a carrier bag when home and shake bag lots. Then put down and leave for few mins. The earwigs will climb out of the cones into the bag searching for a less shakey home, you take cones out of bag, put bag outside so that earwigs run away, jobs a goodun. Or if like me you have cats, you don't bother doing that, you just empty cones onto kitchen floor, let the cats in and they spend the afternoon catching all earwigs that emerge and eating them. Also saves on cat food

Also you didn't need to bake them?! They are already dry and hard. They should be open when you collect them, don't collect closed ones as they are likely to still be sappy, and this is sticky and annoying but also food for squirrels and mice so leave closed ones.

We live surrounded by pine trees, and I've never cleaned one in my life either. If you are worried about bugs, just shake them.

If you follow the animal pee thing through logically, you'd have to wash every bit of sand, grass and soil your children might ever touch. Seriously, dont bother

Thanks everyone, I have no idea what I'm doing so asked a friend who runs kids nature groups who gave me the advice to bake them perhaps she's just overly cautious. Generally I don't bother about pee, bugs, dirt etc outside but inside gives me the creeps!

I'm not planning on selling them just getting together some things for Christmas decoration crafts so think I'll just shake bugs out and maybe spray them a bit just to be sure :)

Yes, you could spray them with something...bug spray, antibac, varnish...take your pick!

Wow, do people really think they should clean pine cones? This is actually one if the saddest things I have read for a long time.

Eugh I HATE earwigs!!

Why in god's name do you need to spray them??

coalscuttle I agree, how totally disconnected we have become from nature. Who cares if there are a couple of earwigs in them fgs .

Coalscuttle you must lead a very privelaged lifelife if this upsets you

Its to get rid of bugs I hate the things and don't fancy them in my home I don't care about anything else although the sticky stuff doesn't sound particularly pleasant either!

Oh just buy some plastic ones and be done with it

Err... Life not life life obviously.

Like I say I was advised to do this by a friend I didn't realise it was a cardinal sin to not want earwigs in my home!

If you put them in the full sun on a tray or better still any paving slabs etc in your garden that get nice and warm, all bugs will leave for fear of drying out.

Ants can be seen running for cover carrying their maggots if you spread out the compost from old pots in the sun.

I feel a bit mean, but I don't want ants in my reporting.

Thanks Elephants I'll try that, just worried about being overrun by crawlers :o

Do you have a steam cleaner...I've never cleaned a pine cone, but I would imagine the steam would kill the bugs.

I read recently that if you dip them in melted lard and roll them in bird seed that they make lovely bird feeders.Thought this would be a great gift for grandparents/great uncles/aunts etc.

Yep, and if you dip them in melted wax (you could add rosemary or sometjing else scented) they make great fite lighters! :)

• fire lighters.

I have collected a fair few bit by bit, popped them into transparent ziplock bags for a couple of days and then given them a shake. Only found a couple of bugs.

A few.years ago, i collected a handful, put them in pretty glass jars for decoration, packed hem away for th following year, got them out 365 days later.... along with millions of tiny maggoty-wormy-looking things crawling all over them, he box and its contents.

Bleurgh!

Since then, i shake and vac then just spray them with laquer - the ones I make decs out of and want to keep.

I thinks itv sad that people are so out of touch with the natural world around then that they can't bring a simple line cone indoors without feeling it needs to be sterilised first!

Yes, coalscuttle, we do get the point. But if you've lived the Good Life, you eventually learn that cleaning the bugs off first, stops the buggers getting the chance to breed in your home and fly around in great numbers within your house some sunny day.