Greenix Pest Nerd here! Unfortunately, we have to tell you that you might not love hearing:
Some of your January habits are accidentally inviting pests into your home.
Don't worry! You're not doing anything "wrong." You're doing winter things. Cozy things. Practical things. Unfortunately, pests love those things just as much as you do.
Let me walk you through what I see all the time in January and how it quietly turns homes into pest hotspots.
You're Storing Cardboard Like It's a Winter Essential
I get it. Holiday boxes pile up. Deliveries keep coming. The garage becomes cardboard headquarters.
From a pest's perspective? That cardboard is prime real estate.
Pests love cardboard because:
It's warm
It absorbs moisture
It's easy to chew and nest in
Rodents use it for bedding. Cockroaches hide in the layers. Ants and spiders treat it like a highway system.
If you're storing cardboard in your garage, basement, or storage room "just for now," pests hear: long-term housing opportunity.
Pest Nerd tip: Break boxes down immediately and swap storage for plastic bins with tight lids.
You're Leaving Pet Food Out (And You're Not Alone)
I promise, you are not the only one doing this.
But when I inspect homes in January, pet food is one of the most common food sources I find attracting pests.
To you, it's dinner for your dog or cat, but to pests, it's a 24/7 buffet.
Rodents, ants, and roaches don't care whose food it is; they just care that it's accessible.
What I see a lot:
Bowls left out overnight
Large bags stored open or loosely folded
Food stored on the floor
Pest Nerd fix: Store pet food in sealed containers and pick up bowls at night.
You're Creating Moisture Without Realizing It
January is sneaky like that.
Snow melts. Condensation builds up. Windows sweat. Basements feel damp. Crawl spaces hold moisture longer than you think.
And pests? They love moisture.
Spiders, roaches, ants, and other moisture-loving pests are actively seeking out damp areas to survive winter. Even a small moisture issue can make your home far more attractive than your neighbor's.
Common moisture traps I see:
Damp basements
Wet storage areas
Poor ventilation
Snow melting near the foundation
If moisture sticks around, pests will too.
You're Using the Garage as a "Temporary" Storage Zone
From a Pest Nerd standpoint, garages are one of the busiest pest highways in winter. They're not fully heated. They're full of hiding spots. And they connect directly to your home.
In January, I often find:
Rodents nesting behind stored items
Spiders setting up webs in corners
Pests slipping inside through tiny gaps around doors
Once pests are in the garage, it's only a matter of time before they move deeper into your home.
You're Assuming Cold Weather Solves the Pest Problem
This one's the big myth.
You might think pests disappear in winter, but I promise you, they don't. They just get quieter.
In January, pests are:
Seeking warmth
Hiding in walls and crawl spaces
Nesting instead of roaming
So when I hear, "We haven't seen anything lately," my Pest Nerd brain translates that to: They're hiding really well.
Why January Is Actually the Best Time to Catch Problems
Here's the good news.
Because pests are centralized in winter, January is one of the best times for inspections and preventative pest control. We're not just looking for active bugs. We're looking for:
Entry points
Nesting areas
Moisture issues
Early signs of infestations
Catching these now means you're not dealing with surprise pests when spring rolls around.
A Pest Nerd's Honest Advice
You don't need to panic. You don't need to tear your house apart.
But being aware of these January habits and adjusting a few things can make a huge difference in protecting your home long-term.
And if you want someone who knows exactly where pests hide when it's cold? That's what Pest Nerds are for.
At Greenix, we don't wait for infestations to show themselves. We look for the signs before pests get comfortable.
Because trust me, you don't want to find out what they've been planning all winter.
