5 Ways to Protect Your Holiday from Pests

By proofPest
With Christmas right around the corner, you’ve probably got enough on your mind, with shopping, decorating, cooking, and potential traveling to consider. So the last thing you want to think about on top of all that is pest control. However, not all insects take off for the winter—and in fact, winter is the most common season for rodent sightings. Fortunately, proof. pest control is here with all the tips and tricks you need to make sure your only surprises this Christmas are the presents. Keep reading for the top five ways to make sure pests don’t ruin your holiday, and remember, you can always count on our experienced pros for your residential pest control needs.

the 5 steps for holiday pest control

  1. Check Trees, Plants & Wood Before You Bring Them Inside: As we’ve already discussed on our blog, some insects like to hide out in Christmas trees, hitching a ride and eventually making their way into your home. This is fairly rare, but it does happen to some homeowners every year. That’s why we suggest checking your tree and any other greenery you are bringing into your house this holiday season for pests. Everything from ants to spiders have been known to infest pine and fir trees, and there’s the possibility of insect eggs inside your Christmas tree, too. Meanwhile, poinsettias are susceptible to invasion from mites, gnats, and flies, and firewood is notorious for being home to termites. Bottom line, all greenery coming into your house should be inspected this season, and left outside for at least 24 hours if possible. Firewood, in particular, should be stored outside of your house, and don’t ever bring wet wood inside your property.
  2. Clean Up Promptly After Every Meal: The time between Thanksgiving and New Years (and you can go ahead and toss Halloween in there too, just for the candy) is probably the biggest season for overindulging out of the whole year. If you are a person that likes to cook and/or has a large household, chances are you’re going to be spending a lot of time in the kitchen during this period. That’s why it is so important to thoroughly clean up around the holidays—lest you end up with an ant or cockroach infestation on your hands. Scrub all countertops to eliminate crumbs and odors that might attract insects. Regularly clean sinks, toilets, and showers to minimize the type of dank, humid environment many insects thrive in. Try to seal gaps and cracks throughout your home and weather-strip doors and windows to prevent bugs from crawling inside. And of course, regularly wash sheets and linens to get rid of dust mites and bed bugs—because trust us, nothing will ruin your Christmas faster than a bed bug infestation
  3. Store Any Leftover Food Properly: With all the craziness of the holidays, it can be easy to forget to properly clean up our leftovers. Sometimes food gets left out overnight, or dirty dishes stack up in the sink. But as natural as the temptation to let this happen may be, it should also be avoided as much as possible. Failing to properly package food is a great way to attract worms, moths, roaches, and, of course, rodents . Make sure all leftover food is properly sealed in glass or plastic containers and stored in the fridge this December, as paper and cardboard are easy for pests to access. You should also check expiration dates on anything you buy, as letting food spoil is another common way homeowners accidentally invite pests into their house.
  4. Unbox & Box Up Decorations with Care: Your Christmas decorations likely lie dormant for most of the year, possibly in cardboard boxes, which in turn are kept in dark and warm basements. Your decorations may therefore be an ideal spot for pests like beetles, roaches, and rodents to nest. When you go to unbox your decorations this holiday season, keep that and mind, and watch out so any surprise pests don’t escape into the rest of your home. We understand that it’s common and easy to store Christmas decorations in the cardboard boxes they came in, but you should also try to ensure these boxes are sealed as tightly as possible, so it’s at least a little harder for pests to infiltrate them.
  5. If You See One Pest, Remember There Are Probably More: The unfortunate reality of pest control is that the presence of one cockroach or mouse usually means there are more lurking in your walls or hidden in cracks and corners around your property. That’s why if you see any pests in your home this holiday season, make sure to buy traps right away to nip the problem in the bud. And of course, never hesitate to call our experts at proof. pest control. We are available year-round to provide inspections and treatment, including organic solutions, so that everyone on your property remains completely safe. To sum it up, if you’re worried you might find something even worse than coal in your stocking this year, don’t hesitate to pick up the phone and give proof. pest control a call.

Our experienced pest control technicians are available by phone at , or you can simply send us a message online.

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Call proof. pest control at 888-291-5333, or send us a message online.

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