How to Preserve Corn Husks for Crafts

Learn how to preserve corn husks for fun crafts and easy DIY projects! It’s easy to wash and dry corn husks for an inexpensive (often free) material to make countless projects.

Learn how to clean corn husks for crafts and fun DIY projects! This inexpensive (FREE!) craft material can be used in numerous projects!

This time of the year in my neck of the woods is a great time to stock up on all the corn husk you might want for any of your crafting needs. Farmers are turning their harvesters into corn-eating monsters that don’t see much value in the husk, so they leave them strewn across the fields there for the picking (once you’ve gotten permission).

Follow these steps and you will be well-stocked with all the corn husk you can bear to wash and dry.

Collect the Corn Husk

Take a drive into the country in the early fall as the corn harvest begins. Bring with you several big bags (feed sacks work great) or any other container to hold the husk. Avoid packing the husk too tightly as you collect them, if they are dry they will break.

Soak your corn husks in bleach water to prevent mildew or mold from growing.

Wash the Corn Husk

Once you get your new treasures home get out a wash tub or maybe use the bathtub to soak the husk in bleach water. The bleach water will stop any mold or mildew from forming, as well as remove any dust that has settled on the husk during the harvest. I am very generous with the bleach; the tub above contains the entire contents of the bleach container included in the picture. I let them soak for a day, stirring the husk several times during the day.

Dry the Corn Husk

I have a back deck where I lay them out to air dry in the sun and wind. If a deck or porch isn’t available, you will need to individually lay them out on a newspaper or towel with a fan close by to circulate some air to facilitate drying. I have tried hanging them on a clothesline to dry; it didn’t work for me. There was too much wind, and they ended up strewn across the yard.

Store the Corn Husk

Once the husk has dried you will need to find a container to store them until you have time for crafting. If your storage is limited you can save a lot of space by trimming up the husk before you store them.