Tips for a Spooky, Pest-Free Halloween

pest-free halloween

While you might be putting up fake spider webs and hanging bats, autumn is also the perfect time for the real things to invade your home! Spiders, bats, rodents, and bed bugs all seek shelter as the weather cools down, and your cozy house is the perfect destination. Keep reading for some tips on how to have a pest-free Halloween!

Spooky Spiders

If you see a spider in your home, don’t panic! A lot of spiders are actually good to have around, since they eat other bugs. Most spiders won’t bother you if you don’t bother them! But if you see one or several and aren’t sure what to do, hiring a pest control service is your best bet. 

If you want to kill a spider in your home but aren’t sure what to use, try a simple solution of equal parts water and white vinegar! This is a great DIY alternative to potentially harmful bug sprays and repellents. 

Bothersome Bats

Much like spiders, bats do more good than harm—but that doesn’t mean you want them in your house! If you discover a bat hanging out in your attic, do not try to handle it yourself. Bats are great for our ecosystems, but can harm you. Contact pest control experts instead. 

Biting Bed Bugs

When things start to get chilly outside, it’s the perfect time for bed bugs to seek shelter in your home. Although they aren’t known to carry disease, no one wants to be bitten by bugs. They’re very small (adults are about the size of an apple seed) and can move very fast, making them hard to detect. They like to hide in clothes, furniture, mattresses, luggage, etc. Here are a few things to look out for in these places:

  • An off putting, musty odor;
  • Spots of bed bug excrement;
  • Blood stains on sheets and pillowcases;
  • Bed bug egg shells or shed skins. 

Heat is one of the most effective things to use against bed bugs! If you suspect you have bed bugs hiding in your sheets, wash your sheets in hot water and dry them on the highest possible setting. Vacuum around your bed frequently, emptying the vacuum bag immediately and disposing of it outside. Bed bugs can survive for up to a year without feeding, so you’ll need to call professionals to get rid of them once and for all. 

Enjoy a Pest-Free Halloween!

The only spooky creatures in your house this Halloween should be the fake ones you put up! If you suspect you have some unwelcome guests in your home, give Vulcan Termite & Pest Control Inc. a call today.