Keep Pests Out Of Your Holiday Decorations With This Brilliant Hack
Holiday decorations bring the magic of the season alive, but they're not the easiest to store. Most people put them in plastic storage containers or cardboard boxes and stick them in their basements or attics until it's time to bring them out again, but this can pose a pest problem. Both areas are notorious hotbeds for bugs, and you can end up with spiders in your garlands, moths munching away on your heirloom stockings, or ants all over your ornament boxes. To avoid that unpleasant scene, try storing cinnamon sticks in your holiday decor. This isn't just a seasonal hack that will make your decor smell like winter spices — it works to deter pests!
While cinnamon sticks may conjure up images of hot cider and cozy treats by the fire, they're also a potent bug deterrent. The fragrant spice will keep your home spider-free, and ants, silverfish, and cockroaches don't stand a chance against cinnamon. This will ensure your next decorating session is festive and merry rather than riddled with creepy bugs that will break the mood. Here is how to implement it in your storage setup.
How to use cinnamon to keep pests out of holiday decor
There are several ways you can utilize this hack to keep bugs away from your decor. The first is the easiest: Simply add a few cinnamon sticks to the top of the inside of the box, trapping its scent in the plastic container. Since the sticks are loose, it's best to use this method when storing things that can't easily become stained, like plastic garlands or cardboard boxes of ornaments. You want to avoid storing loose sticks on things like holiday blankets, felt tree skirts, or seasonal pillow covers since there is a chance you can stain them with the spice. For those items, you want to store the sticks in a breathable cloth. The fabric will act as a barrier from staining, but since it is porous, it will allow its scent to circulate. Such fabrics include cheesecloth, coffee filters, or a fine mesh bag.
This hack works due to what cinnamon is comprised of. It has eugenol in it, which is a chemical often used in insect repellents. The scent wreaks havoc on bugs' nervous systems, so they head in the opposite direction once they sense it. Since your box will be closed, the scent will only build in potency over the months, and its pungent smell will keep common basement and attic-loving bugs away.