The holiday season is here once again. Naturally, you don't want pests to make an appearance in your home during holiday parties, family get-togethers, and festive fun. Here are our top 10 tips for a pest-free holiday season so you can enjoy your Christmas and New Year celebrations without worrying about unwanted bugs and critters: 1. Continue with your scheduled pest servicesPests are often associated with the summer months, but just because it gets cold doesn’t mean the pests are gone. Pestech of Greenville is fully licensed and equipped to offer you a complete range of indoor and outdoor pest management and extermination services at any time of the year. Whether you already use our monthly or quarterly pest control services or you are interested in starting services, we are here to help. 2. Shake out your Christmas tree and wreathsAnytime you bring something outside into your home, you run the risk of pests coming in with it. For example, if you’re purchasing a real tree from a lot, make sure you shake it thoroughly before bringing it inside. Use a flashlight to inspect the branches and look for any discoloration. The same goes for wreaths. Artificial trees should also be inspected. If you store your tree in a garage, attic, or storage facility, make sure you’re checking the box or bag it’s in before bringing it inside. 3. Avoid using food as ornaments or decorWhile the idea of a Christmas tree adorned with popcorn strings, candy canes, and baked goods seems magical... it's also magical to pests. Any type of food left out is an easy way to attract pests inside. Once inside, those pests can move to other parts of your house. Unfortunately, yes, this also means you shouldn't leave gingerbread houses out on display. 4. Use plastic storage tubsSince ornaments and decorations are often stored in garages and attics for most of the year, they are the prime spot for pests. To keep them from invading your holiday supplies, use plastic storage tubs with lids that tightly close. This will prevent them from being chewed and becoming home to nests. 5. Inspect baking ingredientsYou don’t want pests in grandma’s famous cookie recipe. Since more baking is done during the holidays, this means flour, sugar, and baking soda are used more often. Inspect all packages of ingredients to ensure there are no tears or holes. 6. Examine packages before bring them insideThe chances of bringing pests inside via packages and deliveries are much higher during the holiday season. Examine packages before bringing them indoors. Look at corners and glued sides of boxes and shake out any paper or plastic used to ship your goods. 7. Keep sweets and treats stored securelyIt’s customary to leave cookies out overnight for Santa, but you may want to consider putting them in a Ziploc bag or an airtight container if they’ll be out for hours. Similarly, if your family plans on having a Christmas feast, always keep the food covered when it's not being served. Also be sure to store containers securely in the fridge or pantry. 8. Take out the trashDuring the busy holiday season, it’s easy to get caught up in celebrations and forget about the trash piling up. Make sure your trash cans have tight-fitting lids and take them out when they do fill up. Make sure guests dispose of food in the kitchen trash can only and aren’t eating in several rooms throughout the house. Limiting where people eat helps ensure crumbs aren’t being dropped and forgotten. Plus, it makes it easier to clean up. 9. Keep your home declutteredWhen the hustle and bustle of Christmas morning is over, recycle boxes and throw-away wrapping paper. Keeping your home free of clutter makes it harder for pests to find a warm place to hide. 10. Take precautions if travelingIf you plan on hitting the road for the holidays, make sure you’re checking for bugs at your destination, especially if you’re staying in a hotel. Avoid putting your suitcase, clothing, or other personal items on the bed. Instead, keep your belongings in your suitcase and avoid putting them away in drawers. When you return home, consider leaving your suitcase in the garage overnight. You should also plan to empty the clothing you packed - even if you didn't wear it - directly into the washing machine. Pestech of Greenville hopes you and your family have a safe, happy, and pest-free holiday season! To keep pests out of your home and business all year long, give us a call at 252-353-4760 or email [email protected] for a free estimate.
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