Ways to Keep Your Holiday Decorations Pest Free
When the holidays roll around, most people tend to forget about pests because they don’t see them as much. However, cooler seasons are the time that most pests invade our homes in search of a warmer place to stay.
Holidays are also a time when we tend to venture to our basements, attics, crawl spaces, and closets to gather up decorations. The truth is that you could be bringing in more than just decorations to your home. Here are a few tips to help you keep your holiday decorations and home pest free.
Check Your Trees
Whether you are a real tree kind of person or you prefer the simplicity of pre-lit trees, it’s important to check your trees before they come into your home. Spiders, ants, and any other small bug that tends to nest in trees and greenery can easily make their way into your home via this year’s Christmas tree or live wreath.
And if you tend to store your synthetic tree in a loose box in the attic or crawl space, there is also a chance that a few bugs or rodents may have made their home in your family’s tree. Real or not, take a few minutes to go through the branches and see if there is evidence of insects or rodents. You can place greenery on a light-colored sheet or blanket on the porch or in the garage before bringing it into the home. This will give critters a chance to move away from the tree, and it also makes it easier to see them when inspecting.
Inspect Your Many Boxes of Decorations
Whether you only have one box of decorations or a whole storage building full, it’s also important to check your boxes of stored decorations. You wouldn’t believe the tight spaces rodents and insects can fit into if they really want to get into something.
While going through ornaments and other decorations, be sure to look for signs of rodents such as droppings, urine stains, and chewed cords. Be sure to clean decorations before placing them on the tree and around your home. And if you do see droppings, then it’s important that you take note and call Hopper Termite & Pest. We can help inspect the areas where your decorations were and create a plan to eliminate any rodents or pests that may be in the vicinity.
Store Your Decorations Properly
When the end-of-the-year holidays are over, most of us just want to toss all the decorations into a box and call it a day. However, not properly storing decorations can lead to a big problem when next year’s festivities begin. Ditch the trash bags and cardboard boxes for storing decorations. Cardboard can attract termites, cockroaches, and other insects. Instead, opt-in for plastic bins that can be sealed. There are also different storage options for artificial trees and greenery.
Make Your Holidays Pest Free With Hopper Termite & Pest
No. Hopper Termite & Pest cannot get rid of your in-laws for the holidays, but we can get rid of insects and rodents that you don’t want in your home. Our team of technicians is trained in a range of services, and we are a certified QualityPro company.
With a wide service area across most of northern Arkansas and southern Missouri, Hopper Termite & Pest can help you prepare for the holidays and the new year. Give us a call at (870)425-4122 to get started with your FREE PEST EVALUATION or to schedule a service.
