# Jack-o-lanterns inside? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 28, 2012, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-o-lanterns-inside/639098 "2012-10-28T01:45:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-o-lanterns-inside/639098/1 "2012-10-28T01:45:25Z")
Normally the pumpkins would be carved tomorrow & sit on outside until after Halloween. However, in light of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Sandy, I think they’re going to stay inside for the next few days instead of becoming wind-whipped flying projectiles. Do I want to carve them before bringing them inside or just bring them inside whole which means I won’t get to carve them this year? Do they smell more if they’re carved? Attract bugs? Is there any negative to having carved pumpkins inside for a few days? ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-o-lanterns-inside/639098/2 "2012-10-28T03:25:42Z")
I don’t care for the way they smell. If you don’t mind the smell of pumpkin, they should be fine inside till Halloween. ---
**Author:** ![kaiwik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaiwik/32/3978_2.png) [@kaiwik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaiwik)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-o-lanterns-inside/639098/3 "2012-10-28T04:00:51Z")
I am carving one of our pumpkins right now, as usual, inside the house. There is really no scent beyond a slight fresh pumpkin fragrance as I cradle the gourd and whittle away. Kept indoors away from any heat sources carved pumpkins will be good for several days. To further help preserve your carving rub Vaseline on the carved parts. (Not the interior though, unless you have a lot of Vaseline!) Just keep an eye out for mold, although there will probably be significant shrinkage and or collapsing of the carved bits before any mold shows up. If you use candles to illuminate your pumpkins there will be a pumpkin-y candle scent. It isn’t unpleasant, I rather enjoy it. Yeah, I love Halloween, and have had a lot of experience with jack o’ lanterns. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-o-lanterns-inside/639098/4 "2012-10-28T12:31:53Z")
Have you thought about _painting_ faces on the pumpkins? They might last longer uncarved. ---
**Author:** ![Szlater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@Szlater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Szlater)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-o-lanterns-inside/639098/5 "2012-10-28T14:16:02Z")
Damn you Richard Herring! Every time I see a ‘Jack-O-Latern’, or read about one I immediately think of something truly disgusting! AIOTM! aiotm! ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-o-lanterns-inside/639098/6 "2012-10-28T21:10:59Z")
Why would there possibly be a problem with having a carved pumpkin in the house? Do you keep all your other fruit and vegetables outdoors too? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-o-lanterns-inside/639098/7 "2012-10-28T21:19:27Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > Why would there possibly be a problem with having a carved pumpkin in the house? Do you keep all your other fruit and vegetables outdoors too? 😕 Just the carved ones 😃 Great. Now I want to carve maybe a cucumber or something, hrm…