5 Ways to Prevent Bed Bugs This Holiday Season

Hard-case suitcases to prevent bed bug infestations while traveling in Snohomish WA or Everett WA - Western Exterminator, formerly Pratt PestEveryone knows there’s no place like home for the holidays. Unfortunately, bed bugs think so too! Because so many people travel during the holiday season, bed bug infestations can be more of a risk than you think. Infestations are commonly traced back to vacations or trips due to the fact that bed bugs can be found in hotels and spread through suitcases. Whether you’re traveling for Thanksgiving or inviting guests to stay, continue reading for Western Exterminator, formerly Pratt Pest’s top tips to prevent bed bugs.

Bed Bug Behavior in the Winter

Especially during the holidays, no one wants to deal with a bed bug infestation. Although bed bugs don’t hibernate in the same way that some pests do, they sometimes enter a state of diapause. In this state they can survive several months without a meal. That said, this is rare and bed bugs are typically capable of surviving the winter months inside of heated homes. As extremely resilient pests, it’s important to know how to prevent bed bug infestations.

How to Prevent Bed Bugs While Traveling

As much as you may hate to admit it, bed bugs are often spread through traveling in hotels and airports. Five ways to prevent bed bugs before and after a trip include:

  1. Packing your clothing in sealed plastic bags and using a hard-case suitcase
  2. Researching before booking a hotel room by reading through reviews for mentions of bed bug problems
  3. Inspecting your hotel room thoroughly by pulling back the sheets to look for live bugs or signs of bed bug activity
  4. Placing your suitcase on luggage racks, on top of furniture, or inside of a bathtub inside hotel rooms
  5. After your trip, washing all clothing in hot water and steam-cleaning your suitcase before storing it away

Bed Bug Control Services

If you’ve done all you can to prevent bed bugs and still find yourself with an infestation, it’s time to call a bed bug exterminator. At Western Exterminator, formerly Pratt Pest, we know how frustrating bed bug problems can be and have the experience needed to provide effective bed bug removal. To learn more about our bed bug control methods, give our team a call today!

Preventing Pantry Pests During the Holidays

Sealed jars of dried goods can help prevent pantry pests in your Snohomish WA or Everett WA home - Western Exterminator, formerly Pratt PestBaking is a beloved pastime for many people, especially during the holidays! Unfortunately, pantry pests are a real threat and it’s important to learn how to prevent them. Pantry pests can include a number of pests, including ants, weevils, beetles, and more. They prefer to infest dry goods and will target dry cereal, flour, sugar, nuts, chocolate, candies, and a lot of other items. To keep stored product pests out of your Pacific Northwest home this holiday season and all year long, keep reading to learn Western Exterminator, formerly Pratt Pest’s top tips for preventing pantry pests.

Identifying and controlling Indianmeal moths and confused flour beetles in your Everett WA home - Western Exterminator, formerly Pratt Pest
Indianmeal moth (top) & confused flour beetle (bottom)

All About Pantry Pests

Many types of insects are considered pantry pests: the flour beetle and the Indianmeal moth being the main ones. All pantry pests infest different items in your pantry, but dry goods and opened packages are the most commonly infested items. Most of the damage to your stored goods is done in the larval stage of development, but people most often will only notice the adult insects.

The good news is that besides being a nuisance, pantry pests are harmless. That said, no one wants to be forced to throw out their goods, which is why it’s important to know how to prevent infestations.

4 Tips for Preventing Pantry Pests

To avoid ever having to deal with the horrific discovery that you have pantry pests, it’s important to know how to protect your home from them!

The four main things you should do to prevent pantry pests include:

  1. Securely store pantry items. Store all opened items and dry goods in airtight sealed containers.
  2. Inspect your groceries. Before purchasing items at the grocery store, be wary of picking up items that appear damaged or used.
  3. Check for expiration dates. Regularly look in your pantry for expired items and toss them.
  4. Routinely clean your kitchen. Clean out your pantry shelves on a regular basis to keep an eye out for pantry pests throughout the year.

Controlling Pantry Pest Infestations

If you find yourself with a pantry pest infestation, there’s no reason to panic. If you are still dealing with the pests after cleaning your home, it’s time to call the professionals at Western Exterminator, formerly Pratt Pest. We can help you learn how to keep your pantries free of pests all year long!