Hosting Thanksgiving this year? There’s a lot you’ll need to do to get ready. There are several important things you’ll need to do such as make your shopping list, head to the grocery store, clean the house, and confirm the guest list.
The last task is one of the most important because sometimes unwanted guests arrive for the turkey dinner — and no, we’re not talking about the in-laws. We’re talking about non-human pests — the furry ones and the creepy-crawly ones, like mice, mosquitoes, ants, spiders, scorpions, bees, hornets, bedbugs, and termites. All of these pests can wreak havoc as you sit down to eat the turkey and all the fixings. And you definitely won’t be giving thanks when a mouse scurries through your kitchen or Grandma finds an ant colony in the living room.
You don’t want to be an embarrassed host this Thanksgiving. So how can you enjoy Thanksgiving dinner this year without annoying pests? By adding pest control to your holiday to-do list. Here are some tips for a pest-free holiday season.
Maintain Your Yard
A little bit of landscaping can help keep pests away. Yard maintenance can especially help reduce the risk of mosquito and flea infestations. You can reduce mosquitoes by eliminating water supplies, so empty out those plastic pools and buckets. Change the water in any fountains or bird baths at least weekly to keep mosquito eggs from hatching in them. Look for leaks that may be causing puddles to form around your house.
You should also keep drainage such as gutters and drains well-maintained. When working in your yard, remove any piles of leaves or debris. Insects and rodents like to hide and reproduce in them, and this can lead to a huge infestation.
Don’t Let Them In
Don’t want to let someone in your house? Then don’t open your door. This doesn’t apply to pests, though. You won’t see a bunch of ants knocking at your door or a rat trying to break a window to gain access. Nope, pests are much more subtle.
Pests are much smaller than the average human, so they can enter your house through tiny holes, cracks, and gaps. So for the best defense against these intruders, you need to close up these possible points of entry. Look around doors and windows for any gaps that tiny pests can get through and seal them with caulking. Ripped screens? Repair them promptly.
Also look for foundation cracks, loose siding, missing roof shingles, and gaps around utility lines and pipes. Bugs will use these opportunities to crash your Thanksgiving dinner.
Keep the Kitchen Clean
Once you’re done focusing on the outside of the home, you can tend to the inside, where all the Thanksgiving action will be happening. One of the best things you can do is keep your kitchen clean. That’s because bugs and rodents love messes (unlike your mother, who always told you to clean your room). We know a messy kitchen is going to be inevitable when you’re cooking a dozen or so Thanksgiving dishes. However, by wiping down counters and keeping food off the floors, you’re not giving pests the advantage. Keep floors mopped and vacuum carpets. So put away food and wash dishes as you go instead of leaving everything out. Let the bugs look for crumbs in someone else’s house.
Keep the Trash Out
Rodents and bugs like to feast on trash, and you know preparing a Thanksgiving meal comes with significant waste, like cans, containers, and food scraps. If you’re hosting a lot of guests, the trash bag will fill up quite quickly. Get that trash outside before it overflows or else you’ll have a lot more guests creating a mess.
Store Leftovers Securely
It’s Thanksgiving, so of course, there are going to be plenty of leftovers. There’s nothing worse than getting up for a midnight snack, only to see that a pest has already gotten to the turkey or mashed potatoes. That’s why you need to make sure your leftovers are secure from thieving pests. Leftovers should be kept covered in tin foil or — even better — in airtight plastic containers with lids. For pies, it’s recommended that you get a pie cover.
Get Rid of the Leftovers
We don’t mean trashing the extra turkey and pumpkin pie but have guests take home some of the leftovers. The less food you have in your home, the less likely bugs and rodents will be looking to have a feast. So have all the parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, children, and everyone else take something home. You likely won’t be eating all these leftovers anyway, and once they start spoiling, the pests will be trying to get to them.
Get Pest Control in Austin Now
Why risk it? If you’ve had pest infestations in the past, call a professional Austin pest control company now and save yourself the trouble. By taking extra precautions, you’ll get peace of mind. You won’t be anxious and worried wondering if those unwanted house guests will show up. You can relax and worry about more important things, like not burning the turkey. The experts at Stride Pest Control will eliminate all pests from your home so you can focus on entertaining loved ones and feasting on a delicious meal for Thanksgiving 2022.
Contact Our San Antonio Pest Control Experts Today
This Thanksgiving, we at Stride Pest Control ask you to invite the guests and not the pests this Thanksgiving season. Follow the tips above and the only pests you’ll have this holiday season will be the annoying in-laws and unruly children.
Stride Pest Control is ready to serve homeowners with their pest issues in the San Antonio and Austin areas. If you have a holiday emergency and need quick and effective pest control, schedule a consultation with our pest control experts by calling (210) 940-3902 or filling out the online form. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Stride Pest Control!
