Holiday Decoration Storage Tips To Keep Rodents Out

Holiday Pests: The Hidden Problem

The holiday season is a special time of the year for many homeowners, a time for joy and gathering. Unfortunately, a lot of the same things that bring humans joy – the boxes of decorations, the wrapping and packaging, the food and snacks, and the interior warmth – also bring pests a lot of joy – particularly rodents.

In Florida, the relatively milder winters mean that the temperatures never drop enough for mice and rats to go into a true hibernation. Rather, they simply seek shelter indoors, looking for food and shelter in your home. Many Florida homeowners have re-opened their holiday decoration boxes to find telltale signs of rodent infestations and activity.

Don’t worry though – the Nozzle Nolen team is going to help you make sure that the rodents don’t ruin your holiday cheer and decorations this year. This blog post will cover some key holiday decoration storage tips to keep rodents out.

Why Rodents Love Holiday Decoration Storage:

Rodents like Florida house mice are small and nimble, and expert climbers. They can squeeze into gaps as small as a coin! Even the smallest hole or gap in a standard packing box is easily infiltrated.

They also are natural foragers and explorers, looking far and wide for the coziest or safest place to nest and breed. In places like basements, attics, garages or even closets, they’re away from the main traffic areas in your home, so they stay hidden until you unearth the decorations. By the time this occurs in early winter, these rodents can have been nesting already for weeks. They’re often drawn to the decoration’s boxes in particular, for a few reasons:

They are dry, dark, warm, and safe from potential predators
They have tinsel, light strings, paper, wood, and other materials that the rodents love to chew on and/or shred up to make their nests.
They sometimes have forgotten food products, like last year’s holiday crackers.
They sometimes have oil-based scents from candles, potpourri, or sprays.

All of these factors combine to make holiday decoration boxes one of the most common places for common Florida rodents to invade and nest in. Here’s some tips to prevent this.

Tip #1: Invest in Rodent-Proof Storage Containers

One of the most impactful things you can do to prevent rodents from getting into your holiday decorations is to ditch the cardboard boxes or thin bags and move them into a solid plastic bin with a locking lid. These cannot be chewed into, unlike a cardboard box or basic bag. These can be purchased at any home improvement or department store and are a prudent investment because they don’t cost much and will save you time and money down the road by not having to replace damaged items. Just be sure to properly label the containers so you know which ones contain your holiday items. Then you won’t have to open them all up to find what you need.

In addition, the salt from the ocean increases salinity levels and the sand from the nearby coast can contribute to nutrient-depletion within the lawn soil, which makes them more vulnerable and susceptible to pest invasions. The best way to combat this is by semi-regular lawn fertilizations. The best times of the year for this are the spring, right after the winter has ended, and in the fall, before colder winter temperatures return.

Tip #2: Declutter Home and Storage Spaces Before Storing

This key tip actually happens at the end of the holiday season, when you are putting the decorations away. Make sure you take the time to give the decorations a basic once-over and clean up as needed. Make sure there are no food crumbs or particles, spilled scented oils, or other organic residue on materials that might attract rodents in the future. Give your storage area itself a basic sweep and vacuum, removing any bits of shredded paper or ribbons or fabric that would be attractive nesting materials for rodents. If you can, keep the storage bins off the floor or against walls – places where rodents can easily hide. Tables or shelves work best, but even a palette can effectively lift the containers off the floor.

Tip #3: Properly Store Pet Food and Holiday Baking Items (and all Food!)

Even if a box of decorations doesn’t contain food sources itself, when they are stored in places that are nearby other food attractants, it makes an easier choice for the rodents to nest in. Holiday decorations are often kept in basements or garages where pet food is stored, or sometimes a separate box or container for holiday baking goods (ingredients, molds, icings, sprinkles, etc).

As mentioned earlier, rodents are foragers and they’re not picky. Be sure to seal pet food in sealed bins, just like the holiday decorations. If there’s any other food attractants, such as baking items, seal them up in a container with a lockable lid as well. If you have leftover holiday food platters, don’t store them in garages or basements: use your refrigerator or freezer for these perishables. If you store perishable or semi-perishable food in basements or garages, store them in solid containers and inspect the storage areas regularly.

Tip #4: Regularly Inspect Storage Areas

Some of the best pest control tips we can give are simply being proactive rather than reactive. Homeowners should regularly check areas where they store items away but don’t regularly visit, such as the attic, basement, garage, sheds, or tucked-away closets. Use a flashlight as needed to inspect darker or hidden spots. Look for cracks or gaps in entry points like doors and windows, and along foundation lines. We’d recommend a bi-annual check every 6 months, if not every season of the year. Make sure one of the check periods is just a little bit before the holidays. The total amount of time isn’t much, but it can save you a lot of time and headaches during an already often stressful holiday season.

Tip #5: Create and Use a Pre and Post-Holiday Inspection Checklist

Finally, develop a basic checklist of important to-do’s every year for your decorations. Keep the list with your decoration container. When unpacking them, make sure you check for any visible signs of rodent activity, particularly droppings or chew marks. For electrical lights, inspect the length of the wiring for any chewing or shredding. Inspect the general area where the holiday decoration container was stored as well.

When putting the items away at the end of the season, give them a basic wipe with a cloth to remove organic particles and residue. Re-label the container and double-check that the lid is securely closed or locked. Store it elevated off of the floor or against walls, on a table or shelf.

If you do discover visible signs of rodent activity before, during, or after the holidays, you can always count on us here at Nozzle Nolen. We have decades of experience in rodent control, utilizing the modern techniques and strategies of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), so our Service Plans are the best way to keep rodents at bay! Contact us today for more information or to schedule an initial pest inspection and consultation.