In my experience, yes. Anytime that you’re bringing anything into your kitchen that you’re going to cut into and eat, washing off the outside of it before you start cutting into it or cooking it is always a good idea.
Use clean warm water with a some mild kitchen detergent for an added boost. You can also use a vinegar and water solution to help remove any bacteria or gunk that’s lingering on the pumpkin skin.
Start by cutting the pumpkin in half and scooping out all the seeds. An ice cream scoop or a simple spoon work best for this.
First off, the pumpkin should be a bright orange color and be heavy and solid to the touch.