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Seasonal tips to protect against pests during the festive season

Keep your home pest free for the holidays with these 5 tips

As the festive season approaches, the last thing home owners want to worry about is pests.

The holiday season can however attract these unwanted guests. Excess food, sugary crumbs, improperly stored garbage and old boxes coming out of storage can offer cockroaches, ants and rodents, the opportunity to also partake in the festivities.

Here are our five top tips to keep pests at bay and ensure your Christmas celebrations remain pest free!

1. Keep food properly sealed and stored

The holiday season often means an abundance of food and drinks, which can be enticing to pests like mice, ants, rats and cockroaches. To minimise their appearance at your holiday get together, ensure that food is never left exposed on counters. Properly store left overs in air tight containers and clean up crumbs and spills immediately.

2. Seal off potential access points

We often do not realise that our home is offering pests an open invitation until they have already entered through access points around vents, plumbing and door frames. Inspect your property for any gaps or cracks, keeping in mind that rodents can squeeze through a space as small as 0.5 inches. Use weatherproof caulking or steel wood (available at most hardwares) to seal gaps, and install mesh under doorways where rodents and cockroaches can squeeze through. Keep an eye out for untrimmed tree branches that rest on the roof as these can also provide a pathway into the home.

3. Inspect and clean decorations

Mice, cockroaches, silver fish and spiders are quite fond of cardboard boxes that are tucked away undisturbed because they offer a safe haven. If you’re pulling out old decorations from storage, unpack your boxes outside of the house, wear gloves and wipe your decorations clean with a microfiber cloth to remove any pests, droppings or eggs that may have settled in them over the past year.

4.  Keep your yard neat and tidy

Overgrown gardens provide safe harbourage for pests. Keeping your garden trimmed and tidy reduces the opportunity for rodents to build their nest on your property. 

5. Keep trash tightly secured

During the holidays, waste accumulates faster due to wrapping paper, gift boxes, and leftover food. This can attract pests if not managed properly. Remember to empty trash regularly and store in tightly sealed bins. Keep outdoor garbage bins away from doors to deter scavenging pests from trying to find their way inside.

A Little Extra Help from Rentokil Initial

Despite best efforts, some infestations require professional assistance. Rentokil Initial offers an integrated approach to household pest control that targets common pests at every stage of the life cycle with child proof, pet safe and eco-friendly treatments.

Prevention is always the best step in pest control but if you have concerns we recommend getting in touch to schedule a free site assessment to take early preventive action if necessary.

Rentokil Initial is here to provide expertise, so you can focus on what matters most: celebrating the season with your loved ones.

Christmas

Noticed an increase in pests around your home or business? Get in touch!

Call us on 5999 724 3011 or contact us online and we’ll contact you within 24 hours to book a free consult.

 

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