There is nothing quite like Thanksgiving. Family members fly in for the big meal. The smell of delicious turkey and stuffing fills the air. And, of course, people excitedly make their shopping plans for the following day.
Unfortunately, insects and other pests oftentimes come along for the ride. Bed bugs and fleas are especially inclined to hop into luggage and travel thousands of miles to their new homes. This is especially true for those in college dorms that head home with people for the holidays due to the community living situations that they were in.
To help decrease the odds that insects will make the trip as well, ensure that all clothing and any traveling bed sheets are thoroughly washed beforehand. Using the hottest temperature possible to kill these bugs and any of their eggs is recommended. Make sure to also inspect luggage for signs of bed bugs or fleas, alive or dead.
Thanksgiving also increases the likelihood of pests such as rodents staying with you for the holidays due to the increased amount of food that is in your pantry and kitchen cabinets during this time. This is especially true if these parts of your home have holes, even tiny ones.
The cooling temperatures this time of year also tend to drive rodents inside to areas such as pantries and cabinets.
Of course, seal up any holes that you see in these areas of your home. However, rodents may still be able to get through, usually through openings you either missed or that are simply not visible to you.
If proactive steps that you took were not successful in keeping these pests out of your home, make sure to contact a professional to ensure that they are permanently removed.