Do you know that as a New Year’s tradition the people in Denmark save all their chipped or broken plates and crockery all year long, and then smash them against the front door of a friend’s home on the last night of the year? To them, this symbolizes friendship and brotherhood. It is a good measure of one’s popularity to find a great heap of broken china on the doorstep. Basically, the person with the most dishes has the most friends. The Danish also have the tradition of leaping off a chair at exactly midnight on New Year’s Eve, symbolizing jumping into the New Year.

So, what can the traditions of Denmark possibly teach us about pest control in the U.S.? Well, broken dishes and standing on chairs does bring one thing to mind. Mice! If you have a mouse infestation, it is possible that a mouse could climb on a precariously stacked pile of dirty dishes and knock them over. Unlikely, we know, but it could happen…And, as far as standing on chairs, well, you get the picture.

Here are some tips to keep mice and other pests from breaking your dishes and making you stand on chairs in this new year.

Pest Prevention Tips for 2016

• Thoroughly clean your kitchen area. Don’t forget crumbs in hard to reach places such as under the refrigerator. Don’t give bugs or rodents anything to lunch on.

• Clean up any standing water around sinks, tubs, or toilets. Don’t give them anything to drink either.

• Do a routine vacuuming of areas that might have food or crumbs.

• Keep stored food in sealed plastic containers. Remember, rodents can chew through cardboard and paper.

• Put dirty dishes in a sink full of soapy water not in a stack on the counter where mice can tip them over.

• Seal all gaps and cracks in your foundation, walls, and roof area using a caulking gun.

• Trim trees and bushes back from your home. Don’t give pests bridges to get to you.

• Keep your yard clutter free. Pests love hiding places.

• Call a professional pest control company.

If you want to be absolutely sure that you are protected against invading pests, or if you already have an infestation, the experts here at Schendel Pest Services can help. We have a proven track record of protecting homes against ants, spiders, crickets, fleas, silverfish, roaches, rats, and yes, even mice.

Don’t let pests smash your dishes or make you stand on chairs. Let the Danish people do that. We can find other ways to celebrate the turning of the year.

Happy New Year, Everyone! From the folks here at Schendel Pest Services.