5 Ways to Keep Your Home Pest Free For The Holidays

With the holiday season approaching, maintaining a warm, pest-free home is essential for family gatherings and keeping festive treats safe. Holiday decorations like Christmas trees and wreaths make spirits joyful, but can also attract pests such as spiders, moths, and even rodents. As temperatures outside cool, these small critters seek warmth and shelter, causing homes to be especially inviting.

While some simple preventive steps can help keep pests at bay, partnering with a trusted pest control service like Bug Out offers the most effective protection. For the meantime, taking a few proactive measures around the house can go a long way in keeping unwanted guests outside.

 

1. Look for Pest Activity in Storage Boxes

Unpacking holiday decorations is always a joyful tradition, but it’s smart to take a moment to inspect everything before setting up. Decorations stored for months in basements or attics can attract pests like mice or rats. Look for signs such as shredded packaging, droppings, or chewed wires—as all of these are a strong signal of rodent activity. If you notice contamination, it’s safest to throw those items away to protect against potential health risks, as rodent droppings can carry harmful diseases such as hantavirus.

Additionally, check your string lights for any worn or damaged spots. Frayed wires can pose a fire hazard, so replacing any faulty lights with new ones is the best way to keep your home festive and safe this holiday season.

 

2. Check for Pests Hidden on Plants

Constructing homemade holiday crafts can make this season extra special, but using fresh greenery without inspecting it first is likely to bring in pests. Before setting up foliage for wreaths, garlands, or centerpieces, carefully check each piece for signs of insects, eggs, or other pests. Giving the plants a gentle shake can also help remove any hidden critters. Avoid using aerosol pesticides indoors, as these can be harmful in closed spaces.

Christmas trees may also have insects or eggs nestled within their branches. While many tree farms treat trees with pesticides, it’s always smart to examine the tree thoroughly, giving it a good shake or brushing off any potential pests before bringing it inside. These simple precautions can help keep your home pest-free, allowing you to fully enjoy a festive and peaceful holiday season.

 

3. Remove Pest Nesting Places

Uncleared piles of leaves, dense shrubs, and yard debris can attract pests, especially if left undisturbed for some time. Tidying up the yard both creates a more inviting space for holiday guests and also helps prevent pests from making their way indoors.

When it comes to firewood storage, be sure to keep it at least 20 feet from the house and raised on a rack or platform. While a warm fire is wonderful during colder months, bringing in too much wood at once can bring in unwelcome insects like spiders. To reduce the chances of this becoming an issue, only bring in the amount of firewood you’ll need for immediate use.

 

4. Tidy Up Small Messes

For many families, food plays a central role in holiday celebrations, bringing energy and warmth to the kitchen while cooking, chatting, and celebrating. In the midst of all this activity, spills and crumbs often go unnoticed. Unfortunately, these food particles, no matter how small, can attract pests like ants, cockroaches, and rodents. While it might seem like extra effort, cleaning up spills and crumbs immediately can help keep pests at bay. By staying on top of small messes, you’ll create a cleaner, pest-free space for a peaceful holiday season.

 

5. Invest in Secure Storage Bins

To the average person, storage bins might not seem like a concern for pest control, but now you know that they can easily attract rodents and insects if not properly secured. To keep your holiday decorations and other treasures safe, choose sturdy containers with tight, locking lids. Unlike cardboard boxes or plastic bags, which can be easily damaged, these durable containers provide much better protection against pests. Investing in high-quality storage bins not only helps keep pests out but also preserves your decorations, so they’re ready to enjoy for many holidays to come.

 

Let Bug Out Help You Have Wonderful Holidays

Considering all the effort that goes into holiday planning, it’s almost certain that a few things might not go as planned. Trying to handle pest issues by yourself can become overwhelming, as they typically escalate quickly. To enjoy a stress-free season, consider reaching out to Bug Out for effective pest control that keeps your home protected.

Even during hectic times, we’re here to help keep your home calm and comfortable. Contact us today for a free quote, so you can have more time to focus on what’s important to you this time of year.