5 Steps To Keep Your Holidays Pest-Free

Throughout this holiday season, it’s important to keep your home safe for your family, friends, and all the good food you’ll enjoy. It’s hard to deny that nature is an important part of the holidays, from holiday wreaths to Christmas trees, everyone wants the seasonal flora to be a part of their celebration. Unfortunately, this allows pests such as spiders, moths, and rodents an easy route into your home. The colder the air is outside, the more they hunt for a nice warm spot to rest in. Any house, let alone one full of holiday treats, is sure to entice them!

Ensuring that all of these critters stay out of your home can be a difficult task, but there are a few things you can do. With the help of Terminix Wil-KiI, you can be certain that your property stays pest free no matter the weather outside. Professional pest control is always the best option when things go awry, but there are some preventative measures you can perform in the meantime. 

1. Examine Decorations for Pest Activity 

Although finally breaking out the decorations is an exciting tradition each year, it’s important to slow down for a moment and inspect these items before it’s too late. Rats and mice love to nest in these storage boxes, since they’re out of the way and left alone for most of the year. Look out for shredded paper, droppings, or chewed string lights. If anything looks as though it may have been contaminated by a rodent, remove it from your home immediately. Throughout your inspection, remember to be cautious of rodent droppings, as they could spread hantavirus. 

Additionally, do not use any string lights that have broken or frayed in any way. These are an extreme fire hazard, and it’s much safer to treat your home to some brand new sparkling lights. 

2. Examine Plants for Pests

As fun as DIY holiday crafts are, bringing in unchecked foliage could be detrimental to your home. Be sure to inspect all greenery for any signs of pests, such as eggs or egg sacs. Shake the plants thoroughly to dislodge any insects before bringing them inside. Avoid using aerosol pesticides indoors, as these products could be harmful to your health when sprayed inside. 

Christmas trees are at risk as well—before bringing them inside, carefully check for any bugs, eggs, or other pests that could be hidden in the branches. Many commercial Christmas tree farms use pesticide treatments, but it never hurts to double-check.

3. Remove Pest Shelters

Fallen leaves, small shrubs, and yard debris piles are common harbors for pests to linger within, especially if you haven’t been disturbing them much. Taking a few hours to clean up your yard will not only impress any guests visiting for the holidays, but also keep your house safe from those hiding pests. 

If you store any wood on your property, make sure it’s 20 feet away from your home and on a raised structure such as a log rack. As pleasant as cozying up to the fireplace can be this time of year, you wouldn’t want to accidentally let a spider catch a ride inside. Try not to bring a lot of extra wood inside at once, only bring in what you need. 

4. Clean Spilled Food

Let’s face it, holiday cooking can be intense and potentially even hectic. In the midst of all the chatting, celebrating, and guest-greeting, it’s easy to overlook cleaning any spills as they happen. However, leaving out a spill or even too many crumbs tells roaches, ants, and rodents that they have an open invitation to your holiday dinner. Try to clean up as best you can, even if it’s exhausting, to prevent future pest infestations in your home.

5. Proper Decoration Storage

As previously explained, storage bins are at high risk for pest activity. You may want to consider upgrading to sturdy containers that have locking lids to keep those pesky rodents out, which are much more effective than cardboard boxes or plastic bags. Stronger storage containers will be sure to keep your holiday keepsakes safe. 

Have Peace of Mind with Terminix Wil-Kil

The holiday season can be a stressful time for many, so it’s best to get as many boxes checked off in advance as possible. With Terminix Wil-Kil’s assistance, you can feel safe in your home knowing that you’re fully protected from those stubborn pests. 

No matter the time of year, we’ll always be here for you when you need it. Contact us now for a free quote!