Don’t Let Pests Hitch a Ride Inside this Holiday Season

The holidays bring feelings of celebration and togetherness – yet, you don’t want to bring pests along with your holiday cheer. The last thing you want to deal with among the festivities is a pest infestation. Keeping up with pest control can make your holiday go even smoother and prepare your home for a pest-free spring. 

​Here are several ways to prevent pests from finding a way inside your home this holiday season:
 

1. It’s the season of gift-giving, and that means you may find packages piling up at your door. Make sure you inspect all packages for pests before bringing them inside. Insects can easily find their way into boxes and other packages during transit.  
   
   
2. If you’re celebrating with family this year and have a full house, make sure any additional bedding or blankets being pulled out are also inspected. Check for bed bugs and any holes that shouldn’t be there.  
   
   
3. Depending on the weather, you may be bundling up with several layers before even leaving your home. Be sure to inspect boots and clothing when coming in and out of your house. These are easy ways for pests to hitch a ride inside. Taking off and inspecting heavy boots and jackets before walking inside will ensure that no pests are coming with you.  
   
   
4. If you plan on bringing live Christmas trees or wreaths into your home, you’ll want to double check for pests. Typically, live trees that are pre-cut are treated for pests, so the likelihood of bringing them inside is low. Even so, we recommend that you double check and take preventative measures. First, shake out trees and wreaths to see if anything falls out. Then, thoroughly inspect branches and be on the lookout for anything that’s a different color. It could be an egg capsule or pest.  
   
   
5. With the hustle and bustle of the season, people may be coming in and out of your home frequently. Make sure doors aren’t being left open. A door left open for an extended period is a welcome invitation for pests to come in and find a warm place to stay. It’s also a good time to check that all doors to your home seal tightly when closed. You can add weather stripping if needed or use door-seal kits to the edges of the frames. If possible, add screens to doors and windows to create an extra barrier.  
   
   
6. While there’s nothing better than a warm, cozy fire during the cold winter months, firewood is an easy way to invite pests into your home. Make sure that your firewood is stored as far away from your home as possible. Wood-boring pests can easily tunnel directly from the wood into the foundation of your home. In addition, we recommend that you stack all firewood outside and keep it off the ground. This creates airflow beneath the pile, which helps reduce any moisture which attracts pests. Remember to never stack firewood indoors. Keeping firewood in a garage or basement only invites pests and rodents into your home.  
   
   
7. Between boxes, wrapping paper, and decorations, the holidays can create a lot of clutter. We know all too well that pests love these types of atmospheres so make sure that you’re keeping your home tidy. Remove old items you aren’t using, boxes you’ve unpacked or unwrapped, and keep food in sealed containers and not left out in the open. In addition, keeping all holiday decorations in plastic totes will help to prevent termites and roaches.  
   
   
8. Any downtime after the holidays is a good time to focus on repairs around your home. This will help ensure a pest-free spring. Seal entry points, maintain your yard, fix already-formed cracks, ensure trashcans have sealed lids, and remove possible food and water sources. 

​From all of us at Pestech of Greenville, we wish you and your family a happy, healthy, and pest-free holiday season!

Please remember that our team here at Pestech is committed to keeping your home pest-free during the holidays and all year long. With our quarterly, monthly, and one-time pest control options, we’re here to help. Give us a call at 252-353-4760 or email pestechofgreenville@hotmail.com for a free estimate. We are honored to serve you in eastern North Carolina.