The holidays are a time for family, friends, good food – and, of course, festive decorations! During this most wonderful time of the year, many people bring nature indoors with Christmas trees and holiday wreaths. This gives pests like spiders, moths, and even rodents an easy way inside the warmth of your home. As the cold weather creeps in, pests of all shapes and sizes will start looking for places to hunker down – and your home, warm and full of holiday treats, will seem like a perfect choice!
Keeping these critters out of your home can be difficult, but there are a few things you can do – and with the help of the pest pros at Active Pest Control, your chances are even better. Professional pest control services are always the best choice for keeping your home safe from pests, but there are still a few things you can do to increase your chances. Read on for five holiday pest control tips from the Active Pest Control team!
1. Check Decorations for Signs of Pests
Before you start decorating, check your stored holiday decorations for signs of pests. Holiday storage boxes are ideal nesting places for rats and mice since they are usually placed out of the way and rarely disturbed. Look for shredded paper, droppings, and chewed string lights. If you think a decoration has been contaminated by mice or rats, dispose of it promptly. Be careful if there are droppings present; rodent droppings may carry hantavirus, a potentially deadly disease.
Also, do not use string lights that are broken or frayed, as they are a fire hazard. Dispose of them instead and treat your home to bright new holiday lights.
2. Check Foliage for Pests
Making your own wreaths or garlands this year? DIY holiday crafts are fun, but make sure you check all greenery for signs of pests, like eggs or egg sacs. Give them a good shake before bringing them indoors to dislodge any hitchhikers. Avoid the use of aerosol pesticides, as these are not intended to be used indoors.
This goes for Christmas trees too – before you bring them inside to decorate, look them over for any bugs, eggs, or signs of other pests that might be hiding in the branches. Many commercially sold Christmas trees are treated with pesticides, but it never hurts to check.
3. Eliminate Harborage
Pest harborage refers to anywhere that pests can hide. This could mean fallen leaves, low shrubs, piles of yard debris – anything that provides shelter and isn’t disturbed much. Cleaning up your yard could significantly reduce pest harborage – not to mention make your home look nice for holiday visitors.
If you keep firewood in your yard, make sure it’s kept at least 20 feet away from your home and on a raised structure like a log rack. Spiders like to shelter in wood piles, and may hitch a ride on wood you bring indoors. Avoid setting firewood down inside your home; only bring what you need to keep your holiday fire going.
4. Clean Up Food Spills
If you’re in charge of the holiday meal, make sure you clean up when you’re done (and if you aren’t the cook, make sure you help by cleaning up spills right away!) Leaving crumbs or dirty dishes out in the open is like setting up a holiday buffet for pests like roaches, ants, and rodents. Pests are small, and don’t need much food and water – so even a few crumbs might attract them. Hosting during the holidays is exhausting, but taking a little extra time to clean up carefully after a meal could save you from a pest-related headache later on.
5. Store Your Decorations Carefully
Once the holidays are over, it’s important to store your decor properly to prevent pests from moving in! Use sturdy containers with locking lids as opposed to cardboard boxes or plastic bags, which are very easy for rodents and other pests to chew through. Keep your holiday keepsakes safe with proper storage.
Active Pest Control Will Help Keep Your Holidays Happy
The holidays are a hectic time for many reasons – and the Active Pest Control team is here to make sure that pest problems aren’t one of those reasons. We have 45 years of experience with all sorts of common pests in the Georgia area, and we’re eager to put them to work for you.
If you need pest control at any time of year, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We’ll get you started with a free quote!
5 Tips for a Pest-Free Holiday Season in Georgia
Serving Your Pest Needs for Over 35 Years Across Georgia
