Hot Skwash velvet pumpkins are made to become part of your seasonal traditions. Each piece is handcrafted from beautiful materials and finished with a real pumpkin stem, giving it a distinctive character of its own. With a little thoughtful care, your favorite pieces can look beautiful season after season. From refreshing velvet after storage to handling natural stems and packing your collection away at the end of fall, these simple tips will help you enjoy your collection for years to come.
The Most Important Rule: Always Lift Your Pumpkin From the Bottom
The natural stem is one of the details that makes our pumpkins so special. Each pumpkin is finished with a real pumpkin stem, and because every stem is naturally unique, no two pieces are exactly alike.
That beautiful stem should never be used as a handle.
When moving your pumpkins around your home, place one or both hands underneath the pumpkin and lift from the base. Repeatedly lifting a piece by its stem can eventually cause the stem to break.
This is especially important when rearranging a larger collection. If you're moving pumpkins from a mantel to a dining table or creating a new centerpiece, support the body of the pumpkin rather than pulling on the stem.
How to Refresh Velvet After Storage
After being packed away or shipped, your velvet pumpkins may have a few temporary impressions in the fabric. This is completely normal and easy to address.
The first step is simply to give your pumpkin a little time to settle after unpacking. Then inspect the velvet and identify any areas that look compressed.
For light impressions, we recommend lightly steaming the pumpkin or gently rubbing the affected area with a slightly moistened, clean cloth.
Using a Steamer on Velvet
A garment steamer can be a helpful way to relax the velvet and bring the fabric back to life.
Use a gentle approach:
- Place the pumpkin on a stable surface.
- Hold the steamer near the velvet rather than pressing it directly against the fabric.
- Apply light steam to the affected area.
- Allow the velvet to relax.
- Gently reshape the pumpkin with clean hands.
- Let the pumpkin dry completely before placing it back into your display.
The goal is to refresh the fabric, not soak it.
How to Clean Your Velvet Pumpkins
When it comes to silk velvet, gentle care is best.
If your pumpkin needs a little refresh, avoid treating it like a conventional piece of washable fabric. Instead, focus on gentle surface care and spot attention.
For packing impressions, lightly steaming the pumpkin or gently rubbing the area with a slightly moistened, clean cloth can help restore the appearance of the velvet.
Avoid soaking the pumpkin or using harsh cleaning products. If you are unsure how to handle a particular mark or specialty finish, contact us before attempting a more intensive cleaning method.
How to Store Your Collection Between Seasons
The way you store your pumpkins can make a big difference in how they look when you bring them out again.
We recommend storing silk velvet pieces the way you would store a favorite sweater: somewhere cool and dry and protected from moths and other critters. An airtight container with cedar blocks or mothballs can help protect your collection during the off-season.
Taking a few extra minutes at the end of the season means your collection will be ready to enjoy when fall rolls around again.
Give Your Pumpkins Room to Shine
Proper care isn't just about cleaning and storage. It's also about how you display your collection.
We offer an extraordinary range of colors, from traditional autumn shades like Rust, Spice, Persimmon, and Bronze to unexpected colors such as Lagoon, Seafoam, Wedgewood, Graphite, and Blue Ice.
Try mixing different sizes and colors rather than creating a perfectly matched arrangement.
Create a Layered Tabletop Display
Start with one or two larger pumpkins and layer smaller pieces around them. This creates height and dimension without making the arrangement feel overly formal.
Style a Mantel With Color
Choose three to five pumpkins in complementary shades and vary their sizes. Leave a little breathing room between pieces so each velvet texture can be appreciated.
Make a Statement With One Special Pumpkin
A single standout pumpkin can become the focal point of an entryway, console, coffee table, or dining room centerpiece.
Explore the Hot Skwash One-of-a-Kind Pumpkins collection to discover unique pieces that bring personality to your seasonal décor.
Caring for Special-Finish Pumpkins
We create more than classic velvet pumpkins. Our collection also includes feathered, crystal, limited-edition, and one-of-a-kind designs.
These pieces can require additional care because of their decorative elements.
When handling a feathered or embellished pumpkin, support it from underneath and avoid pulling, pressing, or catching the decorative details. Give specialty pieces extra space when packing them away so their embellishments are not crushed.
Make Your Collection Part of Your Fall Tradition
One of the best things about collectible fall décor is that it can evolve with your home.
Maybe this year your pumpkins are arranged across the dining table for Thanksgiving. Next year, you might move them to a mantel. A few years from now, you may combine them with new colors or specialty pieces to create an entirely different look.
We offer classic pumpkins alongside feathered designs, crystal accents, limited editions, and one-of-a-kind pieces, giving you plenty of ways to build a collection that feels uniquely yours.
And because every pumpkin is finished with a real natural stem, each one brings a little individuality to your display.
Pumpkin Decoration Care Checklist
- Handle pumpkins from the bottom.
- Never lift a pumpkin by its natural stem.
- Lightly steam velvet to release packing impressions.
- Alternatively, gently rub affected areas with a slightly moistened, clean cloth.
- Avoid soaking the velvet.
- Let pumpkins dry completely before storing.
- Store silk velvet pieces in a cool, dry place.
- Use an airtight container with cedar blocks or mothballs.
- Give specialty and embellished pumpkins extra protection during storage.
For additional care and product questions, visit the Hot Skwash Care & FAQ page.
Ready to add something beautiful to your fall collection?
Explore the Hot Skwash pumpkin collection to discover handcrafted silk velvet pumpkins in an incredible range of colors and styles, from timeless classics to feathers, crystals, limited editions, and one-of-a-kind designs.
Keep an eye out for new arrivals and limited-time offers, and find the piece that makes you smile every time you see it.
Bring home a little more color, texture, and joy this season with Hot Skwash.
