Tips for Handling Household Food to Prevent Winter Pests

Leftover food from the holidays can lead to squirrel and mice infestations

Delicious food is one of the best parts of the holiday season, and many of us have more festive goodies sitting around the house during the winter months. But your friends and relatives aren’t the only ones who enjoy a good meal.

Unfortunately, household pest infestations are very common during the winter without adequate mouse control and squirrel control. So, with winter creeping in and bringing along pests looking for free meals, here are some tips for handling food in your house and around your property.

Sweep Up Crumbs Right Away for Mouse Control

What harm could a few crumbs on the floorKeep pests out of your home by sweeping crumbs up off the floor possibly do? Actually a lot, because even the tiniest of crumbs attract pests that are desperate for food during the cold winter months in New Jersey. Sweep your kitchen floor more often than you would other floors in your home because of the cooking and snacking debris that tend to fall here. Also, wipe counter tops clean so that crumbs don’t collect and attract pests.

Use Sealed Containers for Leftovers

Since leftover often become the staple of lunch and dinner for the days to come after a holiday feast, it is important to make sure that you protect your house and your food from outside moochers. It’s harder for pests to find their way into the refrigerator and freezer than cupboards, so store as much of your food as possible in these places. Tupperware containers and jars with rubber seals are great for storing leftovers and preventing pests from finding their way inside.

Inspect Cabinets & Appliances for Entryways

Mice, squirrels, and insects can squeeze through incredibly small spaces, so it’s important to do a pre-winter inspection for possible entryways in your home. This means taking a close look inside your cabinets, behind your appliances, and other kitchen crevasses that maybe home to unwanted guests and look for holes and cracks. Other places to carefully look at around this time of year include vents and the foundation of your home.

Cover and Seal Garbage Cans

Garbage cans can be a treasure chest fPractice good squirrel control by sealing and securing your garabageor pests, especially for squirrels, and raccoons, that find open containers and lots of leftover food inside. Make sure that your trash is tightly sealed and that garbage cans have lids that are secured properly. If you compost leftover food scraps, consider putting your compost in the freezer to keep pests away and reduce odors around your home.

Do the Dishes Daily

Few people actually enjoy doing the dishes every day, but this is an important step for keeping pests
away, especially during the winter months when dishes seem to pile up rapidly from all of the festivities you may be hosting. Insects and rodents love food scraps left behind on dirty dishes, so don’t tempt them with these goodies and instead, wash the dishes once per day in the sink. Another solution, while short-term but still effective, is to rinse the dishes thoroughly before placing them in the dishwasher. This way there are no scraps lying around for pests to nibble on.

Call an Exterminator Before It’s Too Late

Mouse control and squirrel control situations often require the expertise of trained professionals who understand the safest and most effective way to rid your home of pests. Precise Termite & Pest Control has been keeping Northern New Jersey pest-free for over 25 years, which means that we’re your local experts to call for pest prevention and extermination at the first signs of a problem.

Give us a call today at 866-971-2847 for a free inspection to get your home ready for winter!