Ghosts and ghouls aren’t the only ones getting ready for their favorite day of the year. Pests love Halloween and can’t wait to celebrate with you. Your festivities should be filled with sweet treats and spooky, or not so spooky, fun. You don’t want to worry about being frightened by pests. We’ve made a list of tips to help you have a pest-free Halloween.
Don’t Spoil Your Pumpkins
We know it’s hard to wait to dive into all the Halloween fun as soon as October arrives. However, waiting to carve your pumpkins can help keep creepy crawlies out of your home. Once pumpkins are carved, pests are attracted to them. It’s best to wait a few days before Halloween to carve your pumpkins. This will keep them fresh for the holiday and prevent pests from gathering near them. As sad as it is to pack up your decorations, you’ll want to dispose of pumpkins before they begin to rot.
Eliminate Leaf Piles
Jumping into a pile of leaves is a favorite fall activity for many kids. Unfortunately, bugs may want to join in on the fun. One thing pests are always looking for is a safe place to hide and leaves are the perfect spot. Many pests hide in leaf piles and even use them as a place to breed. After you have your fun, rake the leaves and remove them from your yard. This will help to keep pests from bugging you throughout the season.
Check Decorations for Creepy Guests
Whether your decorating style is cute and whimsical or nightmare inducing, you’ll want to pay close attention when unpacking your things. Decorations are typically stored in basements and attics, which happen to be favorite hiding spots for pests. When you pull your spider webs and skeletons out, check to make sure pests weren’t living with them. This will keep them from spreading to other areas of your home. Pests like cardboard boxes, so consider storing your decorations in sealed plastic containers.
Inspect Your Costumes
One of the best parts of Halloween is getting to dress up in a fun costume, but bugs like this tradition too. Whether you pull out an old favorite costume or buy one from the store, you’ll want to inspect it for any pests. Bedbugs have a habit of hitching a ride on clothes and once in your home can quickly spread. Wash your costume as soon as you bring it home or unpack it. This will help keep pests from haunting your home.
Stop Candy Thieves
Bugs love to go trick or treating on Halloween. Like many people, they have a sweet tooth. If you leave your cauldron of candy outside for kids, make sure to bring it in before bed. Pests will smell the sweet scent and head straight for your bowl. Even if the bowl is empty, they’ll still be attracted to the lingering scent. Store any leftover candy in a tightly sealed container. This will make the candy less attractive to candy stealing bugs.
Protect Yourself from Bloodsuckers
Don’t let mosquitoes trick you this Halloween. Despite cooler temperatures, some mosquitoes may be out at dusk. Make sure you’re protected from these bloodsuckers while trick or treating with your kids. Wearing costumes or clothes that cover your arms and legs can make it harder for them to bite you. You can also apply an insect repellent, like our Maggie’s Farm Simply Effective Natural Insect Repellent, to keep mosquitoes away.
Don’t Let the Bugs In
It’s always fun opening the door to see what little ghosts and ghouls are waiting on the other side. Unfortunately, this is the perfect time for bugs to sneak into your home. If the weather is nice, you could sit outside to avoid repeatedly opening and closing the door. Another option is using a botanical pesticide, like Maggie’s Farm Simply Effective Home Bug Spray, to deter pests from coming inside. It kills on contact while providing you with residual repellency. This means you can hand out candy without worrying about uninvited guests.
Adding a little bit of spookiness to your Halloween can be fun, but a pest infestation is a different story. When planning your Halloween activities, make sure you take time to pest-proof the celebration. If pests are haunting your home, we want to help! Check out our Maggie’s Farm Simply Effective Pest Control products.