Avoid using hot water, as this can cause the gourd to crack.

Avoid using steel wool. It tends to leave metal particles on the gourd.

When the opening is too small or the seeds are in a tough ball, you can soak the gourd in warm water for 30 minutes. However, it will take several hours for the gourd to dry. Pulp and seeds can be saved for projects such as replanting or pulp sculptures by straining them and letting them dry in a single layer. [4] X Research source

Gourd Ball cleaner or a mushroom tool, which is used to cut off the caps of mushrooms, can also be used to sand the inside of the gourd.