Halloween is all about spooky fun—but not the kind that crawls, squeaks, or flies into your home uninvited! While fake cobwebs and plastic bats are great for decorating, but real pests like spiders, rodents, and bats can turn your haunted house into a real horror show.
Here’s how to keep your Halloween decorations creepy but not crawly—with real, effective tips to pest-proof your home this spooky season.
1. Skip the Real Webs: Spider-Proof Your Porch
Spiders love quiet, undisturbed corners—exactly where we tend to hang Halloween decor. But you don’t want your spooky setup attracting real creepy crawlies!
To keep them from moving in:
- Sweep away real cobwebs before decorating.
- Spray peppermint oil around doors and windows—spiders hate the smell!
- Declutter your porch—piles of leaves, wood, or unused decor are spider magnets.
- Seal up cracks and gaps in your siding, windows, and doors to block entry points.
Bonus Tip: Mix 10 drops of peppermint essential oil with water in a spray bottle and spritz it around your porch for a natural spider repellent that smells great too!
2. Batten Down the Belfry: Keep Bats Out
Bats are great for the environment—they eat tons of pesky insects—but they’re not so great when they sneak into your attic. As temperatures drop, they look for warm, dark places to roost, and your home could be on their radar.
Here’s how to keep bats outside where they belong:
- Inspect your roofline for gaps or loose shingles, or cracks they could squeeze through.
- Cover attic vents and chimneys with bat-proof mesh to block entry.
- Keep windows closed or screened, especially at dusk when bats are most active.
- Dim outdoor lights—bright lights attract insects, which attract bats.
Bonus Tip: Love bats but not in your house? Install a bat box away from your home to give them a safe place to hang out without becoming unwanted guests.
Disclaimer: While Safari Tree offers expert pest control services for many common household pests, we do not provide treatment for bats. However, we’re happy to share helpful tips to keep them out of your home and ensure your Halloween stays festive and pest-free!
3. Rodents Aren’t Cute When They're Real
Mice and rats might be cute in cartoons, but not when they’re hiding in your Halloween setup or in your home. Mice and rats are notorious for sneaking into homes during fall, searching for food, warmth, and shelter. But don’t let your Halloween decor invite them in!
Here’s how to keep rodents out of your haunted house:
- Store decorations in sealed plastic bins—cardboard is easy for rodents to chew through.
- Keep candy sealed and off the floor—don’t give them a reason to stick around.
- Clean up crumbs and spills after parties or trick-or-treaters.
- You can use peppermint oil to help repel rodents
- Look for signs of activity like droppings or chewed wires—these are early warning signs of rodent activity!
Bonus Tip: Use steel wool to block small holes around pipes, vents, or cracks—rodents can’t chew through it, making it a simple and effective barrier.
Bonus Tips for a Pest-Free Halloween
- Avoid using hay bales indoors—they attract bugs and rodents.
- Don’t leave pumpkins out too long—rotting pumpkins become all-you-can-eat buffets for pests.
- Use motion-activated lights or sounds to scare off nighttime critters before they crash your party.
- Book a fall pest inspection with Safari Tree—catch any sneaky invaders before they become a real nightmare.
- Skip the hay bales indoors—they may look festive, but they attract bugs and rodents.Try these instead: Faux hay bales made from foam or fabric (they look real but don’t attract pests!), wooden boxes or pallets for a rustic vibe, burlap sacks tied with twine for a cozy farmhouse feel, fall-themed pillows and blankets to warm up your space.
Treat Yourself to a Pest-Free Halloween
Your Halloween should be full of treats—not tricks from unwanted pests. With a few smart steps and a little help from Safari Tree, you can keep your home festive, fun, and pest-free all season long.
Ready to pest-proof your home before the ghouls and goblins arrive?
Contact Safari Tree today for expert pest control services that keep the creepy crawlies outside—where they belong!
