# What to do with a 4-leaf clover?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-4-leaf-clover/248304>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [June 2, 2004, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-4-leaf-clover/248304 "2004-06-02T18:44:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\
**Post date:** [June 2, 2004, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-4-leaf-clover/248304/1 "2004-06-02T18:44:21Z")

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I found a 4-leaf clover. I’d like to preserve it somehow, in a way that will keep its color and shape as much as possible.

In the past I’ve tried pressing them in a giant book, but the result is often misshapen, and crumbles to dust if it’s touched.

What can I do that will keep it in good shape, to give as a gift? Has anyone had any luck (ha ha) preserving plants?

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**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\
**Post date:** [June 2, 2004, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-4-leaf-clover/248304/2 "2004-06-02T18:50:05Z")

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Maybe if you go to a crafts store and get one of those lucite paperweight kits, where you embed it in lucite?

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**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\
**Post date:** [June 2, 2004, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-4-leaf-clover/248304/3 "2004-06-02T20:34:24Z")

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Wasn’t there a thing kids did with wax paper and leaves? You put the leaf between two pieces of wax paper and then heat it with a low-heat iron. You might want to experiment with a leaf, or a 3-leaf clover first.

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**Author:** ![raz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@raz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raz)\
**Post date:** [June 2, 2004, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-4-leaf-clover/248304/4 "2004-06-02T22:35:31Z")

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I bet you could put it on a piece of paper and laminate it, to make a bookmark or something.

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**Author:** ![sj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@sj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sj2)\
**Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-4-leaf-clover/248304/5 "2004-06-03T00:27:01Z")

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From this site…

[http://www.fourleafclover.com/preserve.html](http://www.fourleafclover.com/preserve.html)

How to Preserve Clovers

1. You can press and dry the leaf between pieces of paper and press it in a book.

2. You can press and dry the leaf between pieces of wax paper with a warm iron.

3. You can use a clear adhesive laminate attached to a card or paper backing.

4. You could also seal the leaf in a small jar of alcohol to preserve it. It will turn white and if you remove it from the alcohol, it will deteriorate.

I’d give it a go with a “test” clover, whatever way you choose.

PS: You have put the song, “What’ll we do with a drunken sailor…” in my head. I don’t know why, but your OP title put it there.