Enjoy a Bug-Free Christmas Decoration Boxing Day
It’s Boxing Day in several areas of the world. The holiday holds different meanings for different people, but as a company that has seen a lot of pests hide in boxes, we’d like to use it as an opportunity talk about how to carefully pack up your Christmas decorations so they stay bug-free and in good shape for next year. We can’t think of a better way to spend Boxing Day!
Box Things Up Quickly
The longer it takes to get everything boxed up the more opportunity bugs have to creep in before you close it up. Prep beforehand so you can get everything in as quickly as possible and don’t have to walk away from an open box.
Use Airtight Containers
Cardboard boxes may be cheaper, but they are much easier for bugs to get into than plastic containers. Look for containers that are airtight and have a lid that snaps close.
Wrap It Up
Even if you use airtight containers with lids that snap close there’s an extra step that can virtually guarantee no bugs creep in through the cracks. Use heavy duty HVAC tape to seal around the lid of the container. Go around it a few times to ensure a good seal.
Add Cedar Blocks or Mothballs
If any of your decorations are made of cloth they can be bug magnets. Once inside moths, carpet beetles, cockroaches, crickets and more will enjoy eating away all year long. Dissuade them from wanting to get in to begin with by adding cedar blocks and/or mothballs. Mothballs work by releasing fumes that are toxic for cloth-eating pests. They typically use 1,4-Dichlorobenzene, which has a really pungent smell. For that reason some people choose to use cedar blocks instead. Their smell overrides the cloth so that moths and other bugs don’t know they’re inside the box.
Remove Moisture
Bugs need three things to live – food, warmth and water. If there is moisture in the box that’s providing insects with one of the three essentials, and it can damage the items inside. Before closing things up add a few briquettes of charcoal that are not pre-soaked with lighter fluid. Be careful how you place them. Charcoal can stain so place the briquettes in an open container that’s lined with tin foil or plastic wrap.
It’s understandable to want to get everything boxed up as quickly as possible, but cutting corners can lead to big problems next year. By taking the precautions above bugs will be denied the opportunity to live inside your holiday decorations, and you won’t get any unexpected surprises come next Christmas.
Image Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/42619891@N06/6674581341
Original Source: https://www.vulcantermite.com/pest-news-updates/enjoy-a-bug-free-christmas-decoration-boxing-day