The holidays are some of the most magical times of the year, and your cherished decorations and homemade ornaments are part of making meaningful memories. Don’t let pests ruin your holiday cheer! Guard your garlands and protect your keepsakes with these helpful tips:
Storage Space Safety
Moisture and clutter create ideal harborages for many pest species. Keep your décor stored in a dry, organized space to minimize potential pest habitats. Remove clutter if possible. Eliminate any potential pest access points by sealing any openings.
Inspect for Signs of Pest Activity
Check your decorations and the area that they are stored in for signs of pest activity such as chewed wires, gnaw marks, droppings, exoskeletons, or physical specimens. Shake your decorations outside to get rid of any critters that may try and hitch a ride into your home.
Avoid Storing Edible Items
Preserving that gingerbread house or reusing that popcorn string might be tempting, but we recommend making new ones each year instead. Even items that aren’t edible to people, such as stale or preserved gingerbread, can be an inviting treat to pests like mice, ants, and roaches.
Use Sealing Containers
Use thick plastic containers with latching lids to keep pests such as mice, roaches, ants, and spiders out of your stored decorations. Steer clear of cardboard, as it is a favored material of many different pests, particularly as it gets damp or degrades.
Store Scented Items Separately
You’re not the only one who enjoys the smell of your sugar cookie-scented candles. Pests also find the smell irresistible. Even if they can’t access the candle itself, the smell may attract pests into your other stored decorations. Keep them stored separately in a latched container to protect them from attracting nibbling nuisances.
Proper Tree Storage and Disposal
if you use an artificial tree, store it in a pest-proof tree bag instead of the cardboard box it came in. Artificial trees offer tempting shelter for pests. Covers keep insects and rodents from getting inside. As previously mentioned, cardboard can be a serious pest attractant, and it’s best left to the recycling bin.
Natural trees are also pest magnets and should be disposed of quickly once the Holidays have passed. The longer a spent Christmas tree lingers in your lawn (especially if the tree is less than 10 feet from the structure), the more likely it is to attract pests to your home.
Prevention Is the Best Gift
Taking preventative measures is key to maintaining a pest-free home. Protecting your belongings now can save you from the damage or destruction of sentimental items later. Regularly inspect and maintain your storage areas, seal entry points, and consider eco-friendly pest control solutions if necessary.
Have a worry-free holiday season by keeping your decorations—and your home—protected from pests!