We Wish you A Pest Free Holiday Season and a Happy New Year!
The Holidays are almost here, which means the stress that comes with them is upon us too! We know that this time is supposed to be the most wonderful time of year, and the last thing on most people’s minds is pest control for the holidays but it should be!
As you and your family prepared for the season you spent time hanging up festive lights, decorating your home, and wrapping presents like you do every year. And while these holiday traditions may seem harmless and void of any danger, they can provide opportunities for pests to enter your home.
During this time of year, it is common to get wrapped up in all of the things you have to do on your checklist, making it easy for you to overlook the signs of pests in your home. But as you sip on your hot chocolate and cuddle up around the fire with your loved ones there are a few things to do to help make things merrier with holiday pest control.
O'Christmas Tree
A common way for pests to enter your home during the holiday season is through Christmas trees. Ants, ticks, and spiders are just a few of the pests that hide deep within the branches of the trees and in the grooves of the wood. Not only does this provide the opportunity for living pests to enter your home during the holidays, but in some cases also an area for these insects to lay their eggs. Because of this holiday pest control is essential for your holiday preparations.
Along with Christmas trees, insects will also latch onto garland and firewood to gain access into your home. Once indoors these insects and their hatched eggs can and will, cause a major pest infestation throughout your home.
In order to stop these unwelcome guests it is important that you take a few minutes to inspect your trees, garland, and firewood before you bring them into your home. Look for any signs of insects, nests, and eggs and make sure to shake these decorations outside of your home to ensure that they are insect free.
Deck the Halls with Pest Free Holly
Another way that pests can enter your home during the holidays is through your decorations. Most people store their holiday decor in basements, crawlspaces, garages, or attics and each one of these locations is a favorite spot for pests. When it comes to holiday pest control, our team of experts focus on these locations when we are inspecting the area for signs of pests.
During the holiday season, mice and other pests will find their way into your storage bins and boxes while they are tucked away. Think about it, how many times have you pulled out your holiday decorations and seen a dead bug lying around? You’re not alone! Many homeowners will pull out their decor and find signs of pests and their droppings. In more severe cases, some will even find that some of their decorations have been chewed through or destroyed by these pests.
Because of the possibility of pests, when it is time to drag your boxes and bins out of storage it is best to unpack them outside. This will allow you to inspect all of your decorations carefully for any signs of pest droppings, gnaw marks, or even the pests themselves before you deck the halls. Make sure you pay special attention to your string lights because the wiring is a favorite for insects and rodents to nibble on while in storage.
Oh, Bring us a Figgy Pudding
The holidays are also a time where homeowners will use their kitchen the most as they prepare meals for their family get-togethers. Meaning that there are plenty of opportunities for spills and any leftover and forgotten crumbs to entice pests with making holiday pest control all that more important. Ants and roaches are skilled at smelling even the smallest piece of food or sticky stain and seek them out. Making sure your kitchen is clean and that leftovers are cleared away and packaged after a meal will help you keep your dinners pest free for the holidays.
Making sure that your kitchen is clean and that your leftovers are sealed tightly after each and every meal is essential when it comes to keeping your home pest free during the holidays. Make sure that you also focus on those hard to reach areas in your kitchen like under your fridge, in the cabinets, your pantry, and inside your oven. It is also important that you try to wash the dishes right after you are done with your meal because a pile of dirty dishes looks like a feast for the pests that can enter your home.
Stockings Hung by the Chimney with Care with Hopes that no Pests would ever be There
Another important area to pay attention to when it comes to holiday pest control centers around your fireplace. During this time of year, a lot of homeowners rely on their fireplaces to keep them warm. And while some don’t require wood, those that do should keep it stored away from your house and covered. Just like humans, pests like to stay warm as the temperature drops and your firewood pile acts as the perfect home base.
Take Back the Holly and the Mistletoe
One of the most important steps you can take to ensure your homes safety during the holidays actually happens after all of the festivities are over. That’s right, as you are taking down your garlands and wreaths it is important for you to store your decor in hard, plastic containers instead of cardboard boxes. Bins with tightly sealed lids act as a level of protection from pests trying to make a new home in your decorations while cardboard boxes and bags can easily be chewed through. It is also important that you make sure you aren’t piling your discarded live trees, garland, and firewood near your home. These items will attract annoying and pesky house guests such as mice and termites to your home.
Pest Control is Coming to Town
The last thing you want on your mind during the holidays is the threat of pests crawling around your home. It’s hard to fully embrace all the joy and magic of the season if your home is being tormented by cockroaches, mice, and other pests. And while do it your self prevention methods are crucial to keeping your house pest free during the holidays and after, it is important to let the experts handle full blown pest infestations. If you think your home is infested with these unwelcome guests, give our team of experts at Sigma Pest a call, with our integrated pest control services we are able to tackle even the biggest of pest related problems. Contact us today so we can help make your holiday season just a little more merry with holiday pest control!