When it’s holiday season, most people don’t want to think about pests. Pests are a major concern all through the year but they tend to become more during the holiday season. We’ll share with you tips to enjoy your holiday while keeping pests at bay.
Carry a flashlight
When staying in hotel rooms, use your flashlight to check for signs of bed bugs. If you see some brownish red spots on the bed lines, it could be a sign of bed bugs.
Keep luggage closed
Use a hard-sided suitcase to carry your luggage when traveling. Make sure you keep your suitcase closed unless when you are using it. Remember the same pests will be transported to your home if they find their way in your suitcase.
Cover your mattresses at home
When leaving, make sure your mattresses are covered to prevent bed bugs. You can use mattress encasements which are available at your local store.
Put away decorations nicely
If you have lots of decorations, pack them in heavy duty plastic containers and make sure they are tightly closed. Decorations can quickly become a home for rodents and other pests. Packing them in cardboard boxes will not prevent rodents and other pests from invading them.
Wash fabrics before storage
If you have any fabric decorations that need to be put away, make sure they are clean. Fabrics can quickly attract insects if they have dirt and oil spills. Do this to avoid cockroaches, moths and beetles.
Unpack decorations outdoors
When getting the decorations from storage, beware that some of them can have insects that will quickly spread in your home. The best thing to avoid this is to unpack them outside.
Check your Christmas tree for bugs
The Christmas tree can have bugs hiding among the branches. Be sure to check when picking out a tree that you will not be bringing insects along with it to the house. Unwrap the tree outdoors to ensure there are no insects before getting it into the house.
Clean up after meals
There’s probably a lot of cooking during the holidays and it’s easy to attract pests if you don’t clean up after every meal. Make sure the kitchen counters are kept clean; dishes are washed as soon as meals are done and everyone takes up the habit of cleaning up after themselves. Teach the younger kids to keep tidy and neat during the holidays and you’ll have no pests to worry about when it’s all over.
If you need professional help with pests, get in touch with Termagon Termite and Pest Control.
