Holiday Hosting? Don’t Invite Pests
Seal the Deal: Close Entry Points
Even the tiniest gap can serve as a welcome mat for pests during the winter months. Mice, ants, cockroaches, and even spiders can exploit small openings to gain access to your warm and cozy home. Taking time now to seal off these points of entry can drastically reduce the chances of a holiday pest invasion.
Here’s how to secure your home, step by step:
1. Inspect All Exterior Doors and Windows
Check for visible cracks or holes around the edges.
Look for gaps between doors and their frames when closed.
Examine window screens for tears or holes that might allow bugs to squeeze through.
2. Apply Weather Stripping and Caulk
Use weather stripping to seal gaps around door and window frames where cold air—and pests—could enter.
Apply silicone-based caulk to seal cracks around windows, siding joints, and exterior wall penetrations.
Don’t forget to check the trim and baseboards indoors as well.
3. Install Door Sweeps
Attach door sweeps to the bottom of exterior doors to block gaps underneath, which are common entry points for crawling pests like ants, spiders, and mice.
Choose a sturdy rubber or nylon sweep that makes full contact with the threshold.
4. Examine Utility Openings
Look around pipes, gas lines, and cable entries for any unsealed spaces.
Seal them with expanding foam, copper mesh, or a combination of both to discourage rodents from chewing their way in.
5.Don’t Forget Attics, Basements, and Crawlspaces
These areas are often overlooked but are prime real estate for pests seeking shelter
Check for ventilation openings or loose access panels and cover them with fine mesh or vent covers.
Make sure attic louvers and foundation vents are in good condition and secured.
6. Check Chimneys and Rooflines
Install chimney caps to prevent raccoons, squirrels, or birds from entering.
Inspect roofline junctions, soffits, and fascia boards for gaps or rot, which could offer easy access.
Store Food Like a Pro
The holidays are a time of abundance—but while your guests may appreciate your baked goods and festive spreads, so will pests if you're not careful. Insects and rodents are quick to take advantage of improperly stored food, especially when there's more of it around than usual. Practicing smart food storage is one of the simplest, most effective ways to avoid uninvited critters.
Follow these key food storage tips to keep pests away:
1. Use Airtight Containers for Pantry Goods
Store flour, sugar, cereal, rice, pet food, and snacks in tightly sealed glass or plastic containers.
Avoid paper bags and flimsy cardboard boxes—pests like ants and rodents can chew right through them.
Label and date containers to keep track of freshness and prevent forgotten leftovers from attracting bugs.
2.Don’t Leave Food Sitting Out Overnight
Cover or refrigerate leftovers as soon as meals end—especially desserts and meat dishes.
Use airtight lids or food-grade wraps to seal anything that needs to stay on the counter.
Even cookies on a tray or fruitcake on a stand can invite cockroaches or mice.
3. Wipe Up Crumbs and Spills Immediately
Crumbs and sticky spills may seem minor to you, but they’re a feast to pests.
Focus on high-traffic zones like kitchen countertops, stovetops, dining tables, and floors.
Be sure to check behind appliances like toasters and ovens where food particles often collect unnoticed.
4. Monitor Produce Freshness
Ripe or rotting fruit is a magnet for fruit flies, ants, and pantry moths.
Store bananas, apples, and citrus in the refrigerator if you're not consuming them quickly.
Toss overripe produce promptly and sanitize the area it was stored in.
5. Secure Trash and Compost Bins
Use trash cans with tight-fitting lids in the kitchen and outside.
Take food waste out regularly, especially meat scraps and dairy.
If you compost, keep your bin sealed and empty it before it overflows—pests love moist, organic materials.
Take Out the Trash—Regularly
The holiday season brings more food, more guests, and more waste—which means your trash management routine needs to step up. Overflowing garbage or improperly stored waste is a beacon for pests like ants, flies, cockroaches, rodents, and raccoons. Proper waste disposal is crucial for maintaining a pest-free environment during festive gatherings.
Follow these smart trash practices to avoid attracting unwanted visitors:
1. Use Lidded Trash Cans Indoors and Outdoors
Always use bins with secure, tight-fitting lids to keep out pests.
Open-top containers are an open invitation for flies, ants, and rodents.
Opt for touchless or foot-pedal trash cans in kitchens to minimize contact and smells.
2. Take Out Trash Daily—Especially Food Waste
Don’t let garbage linger overnight, especially when it contains leftovers, meat scraps, or baked goods.
If your kitchen fills up quickly, make multiple trips per day during peak holiday hosting.
Consider separating food waste into compost bins (with lids!) for faster disposal.
Rinse Food Containers Before Tossing in Recycling
Sticky soda cans, juice bottles, or pie tins can attract ants and cockroaches.
Give recyclables a quick rinse before placing them in bins to remove sugary or greasy residue.
This also reduces smells and prevents mold growth in your recycling area.
4. Clean and Deodorize Trash Bins Weekly
Rinse out bins with hot water and mild soap or vinegar to remove buildup.
Sprinkle baking soda in the bottom of bins to absorb lingering odors.
Check the bottoms of bins for leaks or holes that could leak liquids or allow pests inside.
5. Keep Outdoor Bins Away from Entry Points
Store garbage bins at least 10–15 feet away from exterior doors, windows, or garage entrances.
Elevated or secured bin holders can help deter raccoons, squirrels, and rodents from prying them open.
Avoid storing bins directly under eaves or attic vents—this encourages pests to explore your roofline.
With so much to plan, prep, and celebrate, the last thing you need is a pest problem ruining your holiday cheer. A few proactive steps now can save you time, money, and a lot of frustration down the line.
Need a holiday pest checkup? Contact Ace Ventura Pest & Wildlife Control today for a pre-season inspection or emergency service—so your only unexpected guests this year are the kind bringing dessert.
