As Thanksgiving approaches, our thoughts turn to sharing the blessings our family and friends have enjoyed over the past year. If you are the host or hostess of your family, you will probably also be planning for the annual Thanksgiving feast and all of the potential challenges that it can bring. The last thing you want to have to worry about when you have large numbers of guests coming to visit for the holidays is unwanted pests! Here are some helpful tips from pest control in Knoxville, TN, to help you have a pest-free Thanksgiving and Festive period.

Where Pests Might Pop Up During Thanksgiving

Pests are absolutely the unwanted guests you don’t want to see during your Thanksgiving celebrations or at any time, if we are being honest! Here are a few of the hotspots where you might find pests while enjoying the festivities with your family.

• Baking - For many, baking is a huge part of their Thanksgiving celebrations. Is it even a party without your famous pumpkin pie making an appearance? Unfortunately, a baker’s pantry is one of the most common places in the home to find pests. Flour, sugar, and nuts are like an all-you-can-eat buffet for a variety of pests. It is important to keep everything in sealed containers and to clean up any spills promptly.
• Dinner Prep - Where there is food, there is a risk of unwanted pests. Mice and cockroaches, in particular, will often make themselves at home in the kitchen, where food is abundant. Make sure all of your food is covered properly during dinner prep, especially in the pantry. You may also want to consult pest control in Knoxville, TN, in the run up to the big day to lay traps as a preventative measure if you have any concerns around rodents.
• Basement Dwellers - Do you have a den or TV room in the basement? Pests like centipedes love dark basements that may not have as much foot traffic as the main rooms of the home. If you plan to watch the parade or the big game in your basement den with guests, it is a good idea to air it out and thoroughly clean it to prepare for your guests. You can also have your basement treated as a preventative measure with help from local pest control in Knoxville, TN.
• Game Night Creeps - Do family board games feature in your celebration? The cardboard boxes stored in the back of a cupboard are the ideal home for spiders! If you want to avoid a spider scuttling out of the box and scaring your guests midway through a game, you may want to open and clean out the board game boxes ahead of time to chase off any creepy crawlies that are lurking!

Tips For A Pest-Free Thanksgiving

Now that you have some idea of the type of pests you might encounter on Thanksgiving, you probably want to know how to avoid them! Here are a few tips and tricks to help you enjoy a pest-free holiday season.

1. Store Baking Goods Correctly - As already mentioned, many pests will seek out food in your pantry, so make sure your baking goods and other food items in the pantry are properly sealed in airtight containers to keep pests out.
2. Keep The Kitchen Clean & Tidy - There is usually a massive amount of food preparation that goes hand in hand with Thanksgiving, so keeping the kitchen clean and tidy can be a challenge. However, it is important to do so in order to avoid pests like ants and rodents. Wipe down your surfaces regularly between preparing each dish and immediately clean up any food, crumbs, and spills. Store leftovers properly in sealed containers and take the trash out as soon as possible. You will also want to keep on top of dishes in the sink to avoid fruit flies.
3. Get The Vacuum Out - You will want to vacuum rooms thoroughly, especially seldom-used guest bedrooms or basement dens and games rooms. Be sure to get into every nook, behind furniture and along the baseboards. While you are at it, dust for cobwebs.
4. Arrange a Professional Pest Inspection - The number one tip we can give to ensure a pest-free Thanksgiving is to book an inspection from professional pest control in Knoxville, TN. This will give you peace of mind that you are pest-free, and you can have preventative treatment to help ensure it stays that way.

By following these simple yet effective pest prevention tips, you can focus on what Thanksgiving is truly about – sharing gratitude and joy with loved ones. Ensuring that your home is clean, well-prepared, and pest-free will help you create a warm, welcoming atmosphere without the worry of unwanted intruders. Taking these precautions now means you’ll be free to enjoy the holiday without distraction. So, prepare your kitchen, pantry, and guest spaces, and consider reaching out to pest control experts in Knoxville, TN, for added peace of mind. This Thanksgiving, make memories that are filled with laughter and togetherness, not pests!

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Otis Termite & Pest Control is a full-service pest control company with a focus on outstanding service. We have been serving the East Tennessee area for over 56 years and our reputation is built on prompt and effective service. We’re good at what we do and we’re fast. We do the job right the first time – and that’s an actual guarantee! 

Call 865.690.1662 or visit www.otispestcontrol.net.