The New Year has begun and if you have been stalling on packing up your holiday decorations, it just may be a good thing. Commonly forgotten when storing ornaments and stockings is a smart packing method to prevent pest infestations. Believe it or not, your holiday decorations including your stockings, artificial tree, ornaments and linens are a big target to pests while packed away for the year. Infestations of your decorations will lead to ruined and contaminated items, not a happy start to next year's holiday season. To stay pest free this year in Kansas City, Topeka and Lawrence as well as the Midwest, follow these tips to pest free holiday packing.
- Before packing up linens and stockings, wash them either in the washing machine or by hand depending on the items washing instructions. A good wash will remove any spills or crumbs left behind from dinner or stocking stuffer treats. Rodents such as mice and rats are on the lookout for any food debris so don't let your holiday décor be their target. If rodents did find their way into your linens they may be left unusable from chew marks for the next holiday's entertaining.
- After washing your linens and stockings, pack them in a sealed bag to prevent any moisture from getting in and causing mold or mildew.
- As you are taking down the ornaments from the tree, inspect each one and look for any signs of damage or mold. Be especially cautious of any edible ornaments you and your family may have made, these are going to be the first to deteriorate. Toss any damaged ornaments and pack the rest in a protective ornament case.
- To store all holiday decorations, plastic storage totes are the best idea. These totes have tight fitting lids that will keep any pests from getting into your decorations and rummaging around. Plastic totes are also going to protect from the moisture inevitable in many storage spaces such as the attic, garage or basement.
- If you have an artificial tree you will want to invest in a tree bag and get rid of the original cardboard box the tree came in. Cardboard boxes are no match for pests or moisture.
- Make sure that your selected storage space has been inspected for any signs of infestation. Common storage spaces like the attic and garage are notorious for finding spiders, rodents or other pests. Also, try to choose a storage space that is less likely to get humid and perhaps cause mold to ruin your holiday décor.
- Once the decorations are gone, it is a good idea to do a thorough house cleaning. You want to try to eliminate any piles of boxes or wrapping paper that pests such as spiders will make their home. Also, spend time cleaning your kitchen by wiping down all the surfaces to get rid of spills and crumbs. Pull out the stove and the refrigerator which are targets for cockroaches and rodents due to the food debris.
By following these pest free packing tips, you can rest easy knowing that while your favorite holiday decorations are packed away for the year, they are not going to be damaged or destroyed by any critters. If you have found an infestation in your home you will want to contact a professional pest control company who has the expertise on pests and how to successfully remove them from your home and prevent them from coming back. Pests pose health risks to you and your family, including your pets so you can never be too careful when it comes to pest prevention.
If you have spotted pests trying to ruin your holiday cheer for the next year, Schendel Pest Services is ready to step in. They offer residential pest control services in Kansas City and throughout our pest control service area that ensure your home and holiday decorations are free of any unwanted pests. If you would like more information on the services Schendel has to offer, please visit their website at http://www.schendelpest.com/.
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