The holidays in the South are meant for warm kitchens, full tables, and laughter echoing through your home, not for pantry moths in your flour or mice scurrying through the walls. As you prepare for Thanksgiving or Christmas gatherings, a little proactive pest prevention can help keep your celebrations merry and pest-free.
Here’s your simple guide to getting your home ready for guests, without inviting in the unwanted ones.
Your Pre-Holiday Pest-Proofing Checklist
1. Start in the Kitchen: Defend the Pantry
Holiday baking season brings out family recipes and pests that love stored goods. Pantry pests, such as Indianmeal moths and weevils, often sneak in through contaminated flour, grains, or dried goods. Once inside, they can spread quickly to other ingredients (University of Kentucky Entomology).
Tips from Cook’s experts: • Inspect flour, cornmeal, rice, and spices before purchase. • Store items in airtight containers instead of paper or cardboard. • Wipe up crumbs and spills immediately, especially near appliances. • Regularly rotate stock and use older ingredients first.
Research from the University of Kentucky Entomology Department confirms that Indianmeal moths and similar pantry pests thrive in improperly sealed or long-stored dry foods (University of Kentucky Entomology).
2. Secure the Perimeter: Seal Out Rodents and Roaches
As temperatures drop, rodents and roaches look for warmth and food, and your kitchen fits the bill. Mice can squeeze through openings as small as a dime, while roaches can flatten their bodies to enter through door gaps or wall cracks.
Your pre-holiday inspection list: • Check door weather stripping and window screens. • Seal foundation cracks and utility entry points. • Cover vents and chimneys with fine wire mesh. • Keep garbage tightly sealed and outdoor bins clean.
According to the EPA, integrated pest management that focuses on sealing and sanitation is the most effective way to prevent rodent-borne disease transmission in homes.
While DIY fixes can seem convenient, not all home remedies are safe or effective. Before reaching for harsh chemicals or homemade traps, read our expert guide “DIY This, Not That” to learn which pest control methods actually work and which ones could make things worse.
3. The Attic and Garage: Check Decorations and Firewood
Before you deck the halls, inspect your storage boxes. Pests like spiders, silverfish, and cockroaches love dark, undisturbed places.
Items to Inspect: • Unpack boxes outdoors or in the garage first. • Shake out wreaths and garland before hanging. • Store décor in airtight bins instead of cardboard. • Inspect firewood for beetles or ants before bringing it inside (University of Kentucky Entomology).
• Packages and Deliveries: Cardboard boxes from holiday shopping can harbor pests like cockroaches and even bed bugs. Unpack deliveries right away, inspect packaging before bringing it inside, and recycle cardboard promptly.
Studies show that seasonal items like stored decorations and firewood are among the most common “hitchhiker” pest sources during winter months.
Curious about which holiday pest myths are true? From “spiders in Christmas trees” to “roaches in decorations,” we’ve separated fact from fiction in our “Pest Mythbusters: Holiday Edition” post.
4. Guest Rooms and Living Areas: Prepare for Company
A deep clean before company arrives not only makes your home shine;, it removes crumbs, clutter, and hiding places where pests thrive. Vacuum under furniture, wipe baseboards, and reduce piles of paper or fabric. Clean homes deter pests and leave a great impression on guests.
Top 3 Unwanted Guests in the South This Holiday Season
1. Rodents: Mice and rats seek warmth and food in cooler months and can contaminate surfaces and stored food (U.S. Census Bureau). 2. Cockroaches: In Southern homes, the warm, humid climate helps species like the German cockroach thrive indoors year-round (YouGov). 3. Pantry Pests: Stored-food insects such as the Indianmeal moth, beetles, and weevils infest dry goods and are common in kitchen pantries (Mississippi State University Extension).
If you’ve noticed droppings, scratching in walls, or gnaw marks, our “Preventing Rodent Infestations” guide explains the telltale signs and steps for long-term control.
If you spot any signs, schedule a pre-holiday pest inspection with Cook’s to keep infestations from spreading.
Don’t Let Pests Ruin Your Holidays!, Call the Professionals
Hosting family should bring joy, not stress. If you notice pest activity or just want peace of mind before guests arrive, Cook’s Pest Control offers holiday pest control and winter pest proofing throughout the South.
With over 90 years of service as the South’s most trusted name in pest control, Cook’s delivers proven protection you can count on year-round.
