How to keep pests out of your holiday decorations
We’re approaching that time of year when anticipation grows for the upcoming holidays. It’s the moment to dust off last year’s Halloween and Christmas decorations. What a horror to discover that the box in which they were stored is damaged, as well as your beloved ornaments.
With the hustle and bustle of the festive season, you’re less likely to focus on pest prevention. And those pesky little intruders take advantage of it. If you don’t protect your decorations and take some measures during the holidays, you’ll have the same problem every year.
As your trusted pest control and pest removal company in London, we’ll be sharing some tips.
The holiday hitchhikers feeding on your cardboard boxes
Halloween, Christmas and New Year’s decorations are commonly stored away in the garage, attic, or basement of your home when they aren’t in use. A cardboard box is often the cheapest and most readily available option to place your ornaments. But these boxes are a delicious treat for pests and serve as shelter. Some of the household pests that love eating them and can damage your decorations include :
Having these pests in your home can quickly result in a mounting infestation problem. Rats and mice, in particular, will chew through your cardboard box in search of nesting materials. They may decide to take up residence inside, as Christmas tinsel is very cosy and mice love it.
Another issue is that rodents will chew on wiring, which will put your string lights at risk, creating a fire hazard. So after taking them out of the box, always check for chew marks before using and switching them on.
What you can do to keep pests away from your decorations and home
- Be pest-free this Halloween
If you like carving pumpkins and displaying them at the entrance of your house, you should know that they can attract unwanted visitors. Mice could be hiding underneath your deck, just waiting to enter your home. Having Halloween pumpkins, edible decorations, and treats on your front door will be an invitation for pests.
- Inspect your Christmas tree, wreaths, and garlands
Real trees have many advantages over fake ones and are less harmful to the environment. But some insects, such as mites, moths, and spiders, may nest in them. In addition, wreaths and garlands are decorated with flowers, cones, and other natural materials that attract pests.
If you’re thinking of getting a real tree for Christmas and decorating your home with wreaths and garlands, be sure to check for signs of pests first and shake them out before bringing them inside your home. Doing this will reduce any possibility of future infestation indoors.
- Switch to plastic boxes
Avoid infestations by storing your decorations in plastic boxes with lids. There are plastic storage containers designed specifically for keeping holiday decorations safe. Many come with card insert trays to hold Christmas baubles or handy compartments to keep your ornaments organised. Sure, they’re a bit on the pricey side, but they’ll save you a lot of headaches in the future.
Here’s how Dyno-Pest can help keep pests out of your holiday decorations
What should you do if you notice signs of an infestation before or after the holidays? If left untreated, pests can spread diseases and cause huge amounts of damage to your property. DIY treatments are not the answer either as they can make the situation worse.
Once you suspect that your home may be infested, you should contact us immediately. Dyno-Pest experts will visit your home to assess the problem and provide you with top-quality domestic pest control in London.
Depending on the type of pest, our professionals will use chemical or non-chemical pest control treatments, as well as heat treatments and humane deterrents. Most of our products are environmentally safe, and we’ll ensure they don’t pose a threat to your children and pets.
Give us a call, and we’ll gladly help you solve your pest problem discreetly and in the right way.