The holidays are here. You can find decorations in just about any store. Coffee shops have released their special peppermint and pumpkin spice drinks. While the time has come for relaxing with family and friends, you can’t relax the good habits that have kept your home free of pests. While many pests lay dormant in the winter, some have simply gone deeper into hiding. Read on to learn about some holiday habits that cause pests to emerge.
Putting Up Decorations
The time has finally come to dust off your holiday decorations and put them on display. During this process, you may find pests you didn’t even know were there. Cockroaches love to make their homes in cardboard boxes, and rodents like to hide among the clutter in quiet spaces like closets. Once you get your decorations out, put them up quickly so you’re not creating more clutter, and remember to close the door when decorating outside.
Enjoying Sugary Treats
When most of us think of the holiday season, we immediately think of the plethora of sugary treats that come with it. We love these once-a-year treats, and unfortunately, so do pests. Ants, rodents and roaches enjoy our leftovers as much as we enjoy the treats. Clean up any spilled crumbs or liquids quickly so pests don’t detect them. Store snacks properly in tightly sealed containers so they don’t end up getting spoiled by pests.
Traveling and Returning Home
Going on vacation is a great way to celebrate the holidays. It’s also a great way to bring bed bugs home with you. During busy travel seasons, bed bugs find themselves traveling about as much as we do. Be careful with your luggage. If you have soft luggage, avoid putting it on the bed, and try storing it on a shelf or another place that’s off the ground. Inspect your luggage when you come home, and wash all your clothes in hot water, even if you didn’t wear them. It’s best to be safe from bed bugs, as they know how to hide, and they reproduce rapidly.
Bringing in Decorations
When the holiday season ends, the time will come to bring outdoor decorations inside. Before packing up these decorations, inspect them for signs of pests. If a large decoration, like an inflatable, got dirty outside, consider rinsing it off and letting it dry completely before bringing it in. Once you’ve shaken and cleaned off your decorations, make sure to store them in durable plastic bins with tight-fitting lids. Otherwise, pests may infest during other parts of the year.
Don’t bring pests home for the holidays. Follow the tips above, and keep your home pest-free so you can focus on what matters during this holiday season. If pests find their way in despite your best efforts, Command Pest Control, a veteran-owned company with a 20-year history of exceptional service, is here to help. We offer exterminator services in Broward County. Call us at 954-943-0008 or contact us online to schedule a free inspection.
