With the holiday season around the corner, keeping your home cozy and pest-free for family gatherings and seasonal treats is as important as ever. Decorations like Christmas trees and wreaths bring lots of holiday cheer, but may also attract pests like spiders, moths, and even rodents. As the weather cools, these critters often look for warmth and shelter, making residential homes particularly appealing.
To prevent pests from becoming an issue, a few proactive steps can help. However, the most effective way to prevent pests is always with a reliable pest control service, such as Bug Out. In the meantime, taking small preventive measures can make a big difference in keeping unwanted visitors outside.
1. Examine Storage Boxes for Pest Activity
Unpacking decorations for the holidays is a wonderful yearly ritual, but it’s wise to pause and examine everything before getting started. Decorations stored away for months, especially in basements or attics, can attract rodents such as mice or rats. Check for telltale signs like shredded materials, droppings, or chewed wires, as these can indicate rodent activity. If any items show signs of contamination, it’s best to discard them to avoid health risks. Rodent droppings, for example, may carry harmful pathogens, so it’s not worth the risk.
Also, be sure to inspect your string lights for any fraying or damage. Faulty lights can be a fire hazard, so it’s safer to replace any damaged ones with new, reliable lights to keep your decorations secure and bright throughout the holiday season.
2. Examine Greenery for Pests
Adding homemade holiday crafts to your list of activities can make this season feel even more special, but using fresh plants without a quick inspection can invite unwanted pests. Before arranging foliage for wreaths, garlands, or centerpieces, closely check each piece for insects, eggs, or other signs of pests. Giving the greenery a gentle shake can help dislodge any critters that might be hiding. Refrain from using any aerosol pesticides indoors, as these products can be harmful when they aren’t used in proper ventilation.
Christmas trees, too, may have small insects or eggs tucked within their branches. Even though many tree farms treat their trees with pesticides, it’s still a good idea to examine the tree carefully and shake or brush it off before bringing it inside. Taking these simple steps helps ensure your home stays pest-free, so you can relax and enjoy festive, peaceful holidays.
3. Prevent Pest Housing
Accumulated leaves, thick shrubs, and piles of debris can be inviting spots for pests, especially if they haven’t been cleared out in a while. A quick yard cleanup not only makes it appealing for holiday guests, but also helps keep pests from wandering indoors.
If you store firewood, be sure to place it at least 20 feet away from your home and keep it elevated on a rack or platform. While a cozy fire is perfect for this cold weather, bringing in large amounts of wood at once might also introduce unwanted insects, such as spiders. To minimize this risk, only bring in as much wood as you plan to use right away.
4. Keep Food Tidy
Food is an important part of the holidays for many families. This often fills the kitchen with lively cooking, conversation, and plenty of guests. With all the hustle and bustle, it’s easy to overlook spills and crumbs. However, these small bits of food can quickly attract pests such as ants, cockroaches, and even mice. Though it might feel like added work, taking a moment to clean up messes as they happen can help keep pests away. By tidying up as you go, you’re setting yourself up for a pest-free and more enjoyable holiday season.
5. Keep Decorations Safe
Storage bins are often overlooked when it comes to pest protection, but as you now know they can become prime targets for rodents and insects. To better protect your holiday decorations and keepsakes, opt for strong containers with secure, locking lids. These are far more effective at keeping pests out compared to flimsy cardboard boxes or plastic bags, which are prone to wear and tear. By investing in durable storage solutions, you not only prevent pests from invading your decorations but also ensure they stay in great shape for many holiday seasons to come.
Have Stress-Free Holidays with Bug Out
With all the planning and preparation that goes into the holidays, it’s practically inevitable that something will go awry. If you try to manage pests all on your own, it could quickly and suddenly get out of hand. In order to ensure your peace of mind, it’s best to contact Bug Out to keep your home safe.
Even when it gets stressful, we’re here to keep your home peaceful. Reach out today for a free quote, so we can give you one less thing to worry about during this busy holiday season.
