Christmas is just over a week away.  If your family is as busy as mine, the last thing you want to think about is bugs.  Here are some ways to keep your holiday pest-free.

Bed Bugs

Remember, if you are traveling for Christmas this year, bed bugs may try to hitch a ride.  Trust me…this is one Christmas gift you don’t want to bring back home with you!

• Before you travel, go online to see if your hotel has been reported to have an infestation.  One site to check is www.bedbugregistry.com.  Not all infestations get reported, but it’s a good idea to do your homework.

• Thoroughly inspect the entire room before unpacking, including behind the headboard and the upholstery and legs of sofas/chairs.  If any pests are spotted, change rooms or establishments immediately.

• Store your suitcase and belongings off the floor.  The bathtub is the safest place, as bedbugs can’t crawl into the tub.  Another option is to seal your luggage and its contents in a vinyl bag.  Even a trash bag brought from home will help prevent bed bugs from finding their way into your belongings and hitchhiking home with you.

• After traveling, inspect your suitcases before bringing them into your home.  Vacuum them thoroughly and wash all your clothes, even the ones you didn’t wear, in water hotter than 120 degrees. 

Pantry Pests

It’s the season for holiday baking—cookies, breads, pies and other goodies.  But nothing ruins the fun quicker than finding bugs in your supplies.  Pantry pests are insects that tend to gather around food often stored in pantries and cabinets such as flour, dry cereals, spices, candies and chocolate. Common pantry pests include cigarette beetles, drugstore beetles, earwigs, Indian meal moths, silverfish, centipedes, millipedes and house crickets. 

Keep your pantry pest-free with these tips:

• Immediately wipe up any crumbs or spills from countertops, tables, floors and shelves.

• Store food in airtight containers and dispose of garbage regularly in sealed receptacles.

• Only purchase food in sealed packages that show no sign of damage.

• Add a bay leaf to canisters and packages of dry goods like flour, rice and other grains- their pungent scent repels many pantry pests.

• Install door sweeps on exterior doors and repair damaged screens.

• Check expiration dates on baking ingredients before use.

Finally, from all of us here at Schendel, we hope you and your family have a blessed Christmas and a wonderful 2011!