HOW TO BLEACH PINECONES
Our neighbors, whom we have become close with in the last few years had been generous enough to gift us a beautiful set of dinnerware with pinecone detail on them, they set the tone for a vintage tablescape yet are neutral enough to not steal the show.
I had my Christmas décor planned out months before receiving said plates but I was now determined to incorporate them. The décor I am aiming for this year is simple, cozy, yet fresh. So when I came across these bleached pinecones at a local wholesale florist, I became obsessed! The only downfall was the price… Soooo, me being me, I set out to find a DIY!
Pinterest definitely didn’t disappoint! Pins galore about how to bleach pinecones! Well, easier said than done. But after a few failed attempts, I nailed it!
Here’s how you can learn from my mistakes and get the look the first time around!
Things you’ll need:
*Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission.
Bleach
Water
Bucket
Cookie sheet
Tin foil
Rubber gloves
The process itself is not rocket science, however, it seems the attention to ratio is what makes this successful.
To start off, I placed my pinecones in the bucket. I found that batches of 10 worked best but I suppose it would depend on size of bucket you are using. I used a 5 gallon bucket. The main goal is not to overcrowd so that all pinecones get even bleaching.
I then added about a half of a bottle of bleach and 2 cups of water. Other articles claim half and half but I found that when I tried this it did not lighten the pinecones to the desired shade, despite leaving them in there longer than recommended. I noticed that when I had the correct ratio, the chemical reaction of the bleach was obvious. The best way I can describe it is as a slight foaming…
I set bucket in a well ventilated area for about 3 days before removing the cones and setting them on the foil lined cookie sheet. I did use my rubber gloves to turn the pinecones a few times while they were soaking to make sure all areas were exposed to the bleach. I recommend being cautious when handling the pinecones because they are soft when soaked and break apart easily.
I drained as much liquid as possible as I set them on the cookie sheet. I found it was best when I placed them in the oven to dry. I did not turn the oven on because I was paranoid about the fumes from the bleach. The slight heat from the pilot lights did wonders. It was odd, the batch that I had placed out in the sun seemed to take much longer to dry.
The bleach mixture can be reused, although I did add a bit more bleach to each batch. You will notice that the water will turn a dark brown color, which I would take as an indicator its time to discard water and use fresh.
This project is extremely easy once you get the method down and I absolutely love the look of them against the greenery!
