It’s creepy and it’s kooky, mysterious and spooky, it’s all together oooky… Halloween is a celebration of all things spooky and scary, but the holiday also serves as an important reminder for homeowners to take preventative measures to keep pests from taking residence in their own homes. Although plastic spiders and fake cobwebs are meant to be scary, it’s the real life critters like mice, spiders, earwigs, ants, and bed-bugs that cause nightmares when they invade your home. www.pestworld.com
Here are some TRICKS to help you have a pest-free Halloween this year.
1. Wait to carve pumpkins
It’s hard not to dive head first into the fall festivities right away. We wait all year to turn a pumpkin-patch pumpkin into a Halloween jack-o-lantern. But it’s best to wait until a few days before Halloween to carve pumpkins. This will keep them fresh for the big day, and prevent pests from gathering near them. As sad as it is to pack up your decorations, you’ll want to dispose of pumpkins before they begin to rot. Pests like spiders, bugs, and mice are attracted to them once they are open and exposed.
2. Rake leaves and remove them from your yard
Jumping into a pile of leaves can be a great Halloween activity, but did you know that leaf piles are just hiding places for insects. Many different pests, like earwigs and spiders, use leaf piles to breed when they are left in your yard. So, after you have fun in the leaves, make sure you rake them up and remove them from your yard. This will help keep pests from bugging you all year round.
3. Ensure decorations are properly stored and not providing shelter for pests
Most folks store their seasonal decorations in out-of-the-way spaces like basements, attics, or sheds which happen to be favorite hiding places for pests. So, when Halloween comes around and decorations get pulled out, they may be harboring some unwanted rodents or insects that breed in dark, dry places. Make sure to inspect boxes and totes for pests so they don’t spread to other places in your home. Lots of insects like cardboard boxes, so consider storing your decorations in plastic totes.
4. Inspect Halloween costumes before putting them on
Everyone knows that the real fun in Halloween is dressing up. But bugs and spiders like traditions too! When you pull costumes out from storage they may contain unwanted pests. Whether coming from storage or buying a costume from a thrift store, make sure to thoroughly inspect it for any pests. Bedbugs are known to hitch a ride on clothes and can spread to your whole home and family very quickly. Simple solution: wash and dry your costumes as soon as your bring them home or get them out of storage. The heat from the dryer will kill bedbugs!
5. Don’t leave candy out for the candy thieves
Pests love to go trick or treating at Halloween, too; just like many people, they have a sweet tooth. Even wrapped candy emits an attractive scent to an array of insects and even mice. Leaving candy outside in a bin might keep you from being interrupted every time the doorbell rings, but in the end it could be more trouble than it is worth. If you do leave your candy out for Trick-OR-Treaters make sure to bring it in at the end of the night before bed. Even if the bowl is empty, they’ll still be attracted to the lingering scent. Store any leftover candy in a tightly sealed container.
6. Don’t let the bugs in
It’s always fun to open the door to see what little ghosts and ghouls are waiting on the other side. Unfortunately, this is also the perfect time for bugs to into your home. Leaving your door open is like an invitation for a pest looking to warm up. It’s best not to leave your door open the whole night as you wait for Trick-OR-Treaters. If the weather is nice, consider sitting outside to avoid repeatedly opening the door.
Call Presto Pest Solutions to Ensure you have a Pest-Free Halloween.
Adding a little spookiness to your Halloween can be fun, but a pest infestation is a different kind of spooky. When planning your Halloween celebrations, make sure you follow these tips and take the time to “pest-proof” the party. If pests are haunting your home and have invaded your space, we want to help! Contact Presto Pest Solutions today! Call or text 208-510-0307 to solve your pest problems this Halloween.
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