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Brrrr! Winter's cold weather makes us all kind of want to hibernate. And the thought of turning on a hot oven during this deep freeze warms my heart! Perhaps I'll try out some of those cookie recipes I got at a cookie exchange over the holidays. Or experiment my new bread machine from Santa. Or surprise my family with homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast. What are YOU baking now? Whatever you're working on, you'll want to be sure to take extra precautions when it comes to pantry pests. No one -- and I repeat, NO ONE! -- wants a buggy surprise in their baked treat!
Before you even bring the ingredients home, check them at the store. Look closely at expiration dates and inspect for any signs of damage on the packaging. Once you bring your ingredients home, keep any unused products or ingredients in sealed glass or Tupperware-like containers. Be sure to mark the expiration date somewhere on the container. Pantry pests -- they're just like us! They love grains, flour, chocolate, nuts and fruit too!
Clean, clean, clean! I know -- this is the "not fun" part of baking although it's just as necessary as turning the oven on before you put those cookies inside to bake. Wipe down crumbs & spills. Sweep the floor. And every so often, empty your cupboards. Actually vacuum your cupboards to remove crumbs then wipe the cupboards down with soap and water to remove any additional residue that might attract bugs.
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Yep. You read that right. We are giving an award to...drumroll please!...words! More specifically, these words: friendly, professional, thorough, knowledgeable, honest and dependable. These aren't just any words, though. They actually represent the 6 most commonly used words that customers like you have used in the comment section of surveys we send each out month. They are words that you chose on your own to describe our service and our staff members.
Everyone on our team works hard to make sure we live up to the promises and the meanings of these words. If you haven't received an online survey recently and would like to share some feedback with us regarding a recent service visit or a particular person on our team, feel free to email Kimberly at kimberly@stlbugs.com. We look forward to hearing from YOU!
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| ONE RESOLUTION: JUST ONE! |
Hello 2018! As we kick off a new year, many people take time to reflect on the past 12 months and view the new year as fresh start. Did you make any resolutions this year? (Or have you...ahem...already broken any resolutions you made? Guilty as charged! Ha!)
According to a recent study, some of the most popular resolutions this year include taking up a new hobby, eliminating bad choices and re-examining life priorities, especially those related to money, education, weight loss and romance. While pest-proofing might not come close to being one of your resolutions, it totally should be! And there are certain things homeowners can and should do after the ball drops to ensure a pest-free new year.
STORE HOLIDAY DECORATIONS PROPERLY.
I know that taking them all down can be a chore. When you finally do get around to this (and no judgement from me if it's not until the end of this month!), be sure you store your decor in plastic containers with tight sealing lids. It's time to ditch any cardboard boxes!
KEEP YOUR KITCHEN CLEAN.
So...duh. This one sounds like a no-brainer but it's easy to get sloppy on the cleaning when you've been cooking for what seems like hours. Food is one the main things that attracts pests to your home. This is one of those times where you want to your home as unattractive as possible to any "visitors" who may try to hang around.
SEAL ANY GAPS.
Install door sweeps on any exterior doors then seal the gap between the floor and the door. This not only eliminates spaces that rodents and pests use to get inside your house but also (bonus!) minimize airflow from the outside. Translation: No mice + no bitter cold wind = win-win!
LET'S CHAT ABOUT YOUR FIREWOOD.
Keep it away from your house and be sure to inspect the wood before bringing it inside. You don't want to invite in any pests trying to hitchhike a ride!
REMEMBER THE OUTDOORS!
Bundle up and take a winter walk...around the outside of your home! Remove any dead branches or bushes you see. Check your gutters for excess leaves that can be removed. Inspect your home for any lose shingles. Then hustle back inside and warm up with some hot chocolate by the fireplace! :)
Adding pest-proofing as one of your annual resolutions can help you avoid frustrations with unwanted pests as well as eliminate potential damage and infestations during the rest of the year. Cheers to a pest-free 2018!
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| GAME TIME: FACT OR FICTION? |
Winter is officially here -- and boy do we know it! First came the snow followed closely by days & days & days of below freezing temps. It may seem like pests and winter don't really go together...or do they? Let's have some fun learning about this with this "Fact or Fiction" game!
FICTION! While it's true that some insect populations tend to decrease during the winter, insects have learned to adapt & developed unique ways to survive. Some insects will overwinter in various stages until temps begin to rise again. Other insects go through a form of hibernation called diapause, where they use only a fraction of their normal energy & basically survive on stored body fat. Insects can also produce glycerol which acts similar to antifreeze does in your car.
FICTION! Pests that aren't hiding outside may be overwintering inside your home or business in itty bitty cracks and crevices. Just because you don't see them doesn't mean they aren't there. As a matter of fact, if you see spiders inside in the winter, chances are high that they're scouting out overwintering pests who've taken up residence in your home.
FACT! Simple things to add to your to-do list that can help eliminate pests from entering your home include taking the trash out regularly, replacing weather stripping around your doors & windows, inspecting your home for cracks and checking for leaky drains & pipes to eliminate water sources.
You can read a little more about how and why Blue Chip tackles pest control in the winter in the St. Louis area by clicking here. |
| IT MAY BE COLD OUT THERE BUT... |
As 2017 wrapped up, our entire team got together with all of our families at the Botanical Gardens for a fun dinner party and walk around the GLOW to celebrate the end of another incredible year. Both individually and as a company, we all have so much to be thankful and grateful for as we reflect on 2017. We are truly blessed! Here are some of the things our team members mentioned:
Vanessa (Fenton Office): I am grateful that I get the opportunity to be a foster parent and a role model to some of the most amazing kids might otherwise be homeless. I'm also thankful for the unconditional love that my dogs give our family and the therapeutic effect they have on my busy life.
Molly (Ballwin Office): I feel blessed that my 83 year old mother will be able to join the 4 babies that are being added to our extended family in the upcoming months! (On a related note? Don't let her age trick you! This 83 year old is so spunky that I'm hopeful all these great grandbabies can keep up with her!)
Jacob W. (Technician): I am so excited that we just found out that my wife is pregnant with our first baby!
Nate (Technician): I'm thankful that my smart, beautiful daughter is doing great in college. And even almost as equally thankful for the fact that she got an RA position this year, saving us thousands off her college tuition!
Kim N. (Human Resources Manager): I am incredibly blessed to be surrounded by so many wonderful people in my life - especially my new wife! Oh, and I'm thankful for coffee. Always for coffee!
Blue Chip Pest Services: As a whole, we are all so incredibly grateful and thankful for our wonderful & loyal customers, our hardworking & dedicated staff and our reputation for professionalism -- all of which have helped us to grow to become one of the top pest control companies not only in St. Louis but also in the United States! We are looking forward to another amazing year in 2018!
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