Anita: I have experienced some of my gourds getting moldy as they dried, and some just dried. Can you tell by the weight of the gourds if they are drying? How do you clean them before use? I was told to use a clorine bleach 1/2 & 1/2 with water but that left the gourds smelling like bleach. I paint mine and make Santas out of them. I'm not sure you would want to prick holes in them, has anyone else done so? Jan(posted 9007 days ago)