Pumpkin Q&A:
Why do pumpkins get moldy and rotton so quickly?
Most people don't know that the reason pumpkins rot so quickly is because they are drying out, they are loosing moisture. The best way to stop this is to slow down the dehydration process. There are several effective methods in preserving the life of a pumpkin. Below are some of the most effective methods and most exercised amongst pumpkin carvers.

What can I do to preserve my pumpkins?
Soak the pumpkins in water (in a bathtub or buckets), just make sure they don't bounce around too much if you have delicate carvings.

How long should I soak them?
My pumpkins were soaked in the bathtub for about an hour and a half, they came out looking freshly carved and just in time for the party! This method works VERY effectively! However, I reccommend not letting the pumpkins get too squishy. Prolonged exposure to water causes the stencils to get slightly soft, so make sure you monitor them. I would start with an hour and add minutes as necessary.

Another suggestion I highly recommend is to store your pumpkins in the coolest area in or around your home (like the garage or extra fridge). Place pumpkins in a shaded area when not in use! I also sprayed my pumpkins every few hours with a water bottle to keep them from drying out.

Are their any products or techniques I can use?

One technique is to coat the entire inside as well as the stenciled/carved areas with petroleum jelly, it acts like a covering to keep the moisture inside. Before application, I used cold water in a spray bottle to keep the pumpkins hydrated and than applied the jelly. I found this method to work moderately.

I have also heard of spraying the insides of the pumpkin with some water and bleach, I've never tested this theory but I have heard it works very well. Check out this Pumpkin Preserving experiment.

There are also several products to help with this problem if petroleum or putting your pumpkins in the bath tub is too much for you! Pumpkin Preserver, Pumpkin Dunk'n (hard to find due to selling out often) and Pumpkin Dip are available in most grocery stores. The newest and easiest form of Pumpkin preserving (and the only one I can find now) is called Pumpkin Fresh - an easy spray on, low cost way to keep those pumpkins looking good! They come highly reccommended from many, many sites.

Candle Tips

Here is a quick tip to help aid you from swapping candles all night (that is if you still use candles for your pumpkins). Put all the candles you are going to use for the pumpkins in the fridge for an hour. Wrap them in tin foil or cling wrap (to keep the wick dry) and place them in the fridge. It will help the candles last longer and burn more evenly!