Date Posted: December 8, 2020
Category: Residential Pest Control
As the holidays come around, people start digging through their basements and attics in search of Christmas decorations. While you think you know what to expect when you open up your boxes, there could be a few surprises. When it's the time of year to be merry and deck the halls, you may come across some pests in Worcester. Find out everything you need to know about pests and your holiday decorations.
What Pests Like Your Holiday Decorations
Most people store their holiday decorations in dark and moist places. Whether your decorations are in your basement, attic, or garage, they could harbor pests. The environment in any of those three places is ideal for many pests. All of the following are commonly found in holiday decorations:
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Silverfish: These pests are relatively small, gray, and wingless. Because they eat glue, fabrics, and starch, they often reside in holiday decorations. They also enjoy moist environments, so humid basements and crawl spaces are perfect shelters.
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Cockroaches: In dark and moist environments, cockroaches thrive. For this reason, they often lurk in areas of homes that house holiday decorations. While silverfish are just nuisance pests, cockroaches can do serious damage to your belongings. Their fecal matter stains fabrics, making them unusable. Even worse, these pests spread disease.
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Spiders: Throughout the spring and summer months, your holiday decorations go untouched. They're also home to many types of insects. For both of these reasons, spiders like to live in or near your holiday decorations. As you go through your decorations, don't be surprised if you come across a few spiders.
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Rodents: Larger pests, like rats and mice, may also hide out in your holiday decorations. They often take shelter in garages, attics, and basements. As they satisfy their need to chew, they could do damage to your decorations.
How To Protect Yourself
If you don't want to pull out damaged holiday decorations or have any surprises waiting for you in your boxes, you can take steps to protect yourself. All of the following are ways to keep pests away from your decorations:
- Store Decorations In Durable Containers: If you keep your Christmas decorations in paper bags, cardboard boxes, or garbage bags, they'll be accessible to pests. Most pests are capable of chewing through thin materials. If you want to keep your decorations safe, store them in thick plastic bins. Make sure all of your containers have tight lids.
- Don't Store Any Food: Remember those candy canes that never got eaten? They don't belong in your holiday decorations. In storage, your candy canes and other food items will attract pests. If you have any food items, throw them out. If your kids are helping you put away the decorations, make sure they don't sneak any candy into your boxes.
- Take Bins And Boxes Outside: As you prepare for the new holiday season, take your boxes and bins of decorations outside. If you open them inside and they contain pests, you'll unleash then into your home. When you take the boxes outside, look for signs of pests. Small droppings could be from cockroaches or rodents. Check for holes and chew marks on the exterior of your boxes and bins. Items inside your boxes could have visible chew damage. For instance, rodents often chew on the wires of Christmas lights.
- Hire Us: For more advice or assistance, contact Big Blue Bug Solutions. The best way to keep pests out of your decorations is to rely on us for professional pest prevention. We'll use reliable techniques to keep pests away. Contact us to learn more.
