Holidays are meant for family, friends, great meals, and holiday cheer! Bringing the outdoors inside with Christmas trees and wreaths is a popular way to celebrate, but it can also invite pests like spiders, moths, and rodents into your home. As the winter chill sets in, pests of all kinds start searching for warm shelter, making your inviting home a prime spot to cozy up.

Keeping pests out during the holiday season can be challenging, but there are a few strategies you can try, and with Schendel Pest Services on your side, your chances improve even more. While professional pest control is the top choice for safeguarding your home, there are still some actions you can take to help. Check out these five holiday pest control tips from the team at Schendel Pest Services!

1. Inspect Decorations for Unwanted Pests

Take a moment to check your stored holiday decorations for pest activity before decorating. Storage boxes left untouched for long periods can become attractive nesting areas for rodents like mice and rats. Keep an eye out for telltale signs such as droppings, shredded paper, or chewed string lights. Discard any items that may have been contaminated by rodents and be cautious around droppings, as they may carry hantavirus.

Avoid using any lights that appear broken or frayed to reduce fire risk. Instead, replace them with new, bright holiday lights.

2. Inspect Holiday Foliage for Hidden Pests

Planning to make your own wreaths or garlands this holiday season? DIY decorations can be a lot of fun, but be sure to inspect all greenery for pests like eggs or egg sacs. Shake each piece outside to remove any unwanted guests before bringing them indoors. Avoid using aerosol pesticides, as they are not safe for indoor use.

This advice also applies to Christmas trees! Before bringing your tree indoors to decorate, check it carefully for any bugs, eggs, or other signs of pests nestled in the branches. Many trees are treated with pesticides, but a quick inspection is still wise.

3. Eliminate Pest Harborage in Your Home

A pest harborage is any place that provides pests with a safe hiding spot, like piles of leaves, low-lying shrubs, or accumulated yard debris. By cleaning up these areas, you can minimize pest shelters and give your yard a tidy look for holiday visitors.

If you store firewood outside, be sure to keep it at least 20 feet from your home and elevated on a structure like a log rack. Wood piles can attract spiders, which may end up inside when you bring logs indoors. Only bring in as much firewood as you need to keep your holiday fire burning, and avoid placing extra wood inside your home.

4. Why Cleaning Food Spills Helps Prevent Pests

If you’re responsible for the holiday meal, make sure to clean up when you’re done, and if you’re a guest, lend a hand by wiping up any spills promptly! Leaving crumbs or dishes out is like rolling out a welcome mat for pests like roaches, ants, and mice. Even a few crumbs can attract them, as they need very little to thrive. Although holiday hosting can be tiring, a quick cleanup can spare you a pest headache later on.

5. Proper Decoration Storage for a Pest-Free Home

Once the holiday season ends, proper storage of your decorations is crucial to prevent pests from settling in! Choose durable containers with locking lids rather than cardboard boxes or plastic bags, which pests can easily chew through. This extra layer of protection can save you from having to deal with infestations later on. Protect your holiday memories with secure storage solutions.

Keep Your Holidays Happy with Schendel Pest Services

The holidays can be chaotic for many reasons, but pest issues don’t have to be one of them, thanks to the Schendel Pest Services team. Our dedicated experts are here to provide prompt and effective solutions tailored to your needs. With over 75 years of experience handling a variety of common pests throughout Kansas, Missouri, Arizona, and Arkansas, we’re ready to help you enjoy a pest-free holiday season.

Need pest control services? Don’t hesitate to contact the professionals at Schendel Pest Services at any time of the year. We’ll provide you with a free quote to get the process started!