Discovering boxes of decorations and remembering their significance before adorning trees, windows, tables, and mantles is a part of holiday fun. Unfortunately, boxes of holiday decor and stored Christmas trees can put a damper on residential pest control efforts by allowing spiders, ants, and other unwelcome critters to run amok. Use these tips to keep your holiday season pest-free.

What Can I Do to Keep Pests Out of Holiday Decorating This Year?

Setting Up

Check all living holiday decorations such as Christmas trees, wreaths, and similar decor for rodents and insects before bringing them in your house. Shake the decorations to dislodge insects, arachnids, and eggs, and leave them outside if you find rodents among the branches. The animal will likely vacate the tree.

Hand-wash or launder fabric decorations before hanging them in your living room to avoid emergency residential pest control services. Wipe down plastic, glass, and ceramic decorations so they’re free of dust, cobwebs, and other pest-attracting debris. As for lights, check for spiderwebs as well as broken bulbs and frayed wires before using them.

Breaking Down

Prevent infestations once it’s time to store holiday decorations with the right packing materials. Use plastic bins with snap-on, tight-fitting lids to keep insects and rodents out, as both can quickly chew through cardboard boxes. Buy quality plastic bags to house greenery-free wreaths and other decorations that don’t fit in bins to protect them from pests.

Clean and recycle wherever necessary to protect your home from assorted “visitors.” Recycle trees and related greenery while ensuring all fabric decorations such as tablecloths, runners, and placemats are clean and crumb-free. Mix ¼ cup of white vinegar in a 1 cup of water to wipe down plastic and other hard decorations to eliminate animal scents. Also, maintain the humidity level in your attic or basement since ants, roaches, silverfish, and other pests always seek moisture.
 

If you need residential pest control services this holiday season, rely on Pest-Ex Exterminating Company LLC to provide quick, efficient, quality solutions. The family-owned business has over 60 years of experience serving Dothan, AL, and the Wiregrass area — the longest of any pest control business in the region. Call (334) 794-5903 today to make an appointment, or visit the website to learn more about commercial and residential pest control services — including senior discounts. Get additional pest tips on Facebook.