Why Rodents Love Your Storage Totes – And How to Protect Holiday Decorations in Rolla, MO

As winter rolls into Rolla, many homeowners pack away their holiday decorations and tuck them neatly into storage totes. But what you may not realize is that these plastic bins often attract one of the most persistent winter pests—rodents. Mice and rats love storage totes because they offer easy shelter, warmth, and the perfect materials for nesting. Without proper protection, your stored decorations can become damaged long before next season arrives.

Why Storage Totes Attract Rodents

Storage bins are meant to keep items safe, but to a rodent, they’re an ideal home. Here’s why:

• Warmth and insulation: Rodents love the stable temperatures found in garages, attics, and crawlspaces—exactly where most totes are stored.
• Soft nesting materials: Holiday decorations often include fabric, ribbon, tissue paper, and artificial greenery—perfect for nest building.
• Low disturbance: Rodents prefer quiet areas, and storage zones are typically left untouched for months.
• Easy access points: Even sealed totes may have small gaps that rodents can chew into or squeeze through.

Common Areas in Rolla Homes Where Rodents Invade Storage

Winter pushes rodents to look for warmth, and several parts of a home make ideal hiding spots:

1. Garages

Garages are the top place rodents target. They can slip under door gaps, follow utility lines, or use clutter to hide and nest behind totes.

2. Attics

Attics provide excellent warmth. Rodents often climb through wall voids, insulation gaps, and roofline openings to reach stored holiday items.

3. Basements & Crawlspaces

These dark, humid, low-traffic spaces offer the perfect environment for rodents to build nests inside or around storage totes.

4. Outdoor Sheds

Unheated sheds become rodent hotspots during cold months. Totes stored here are at high risk of contamination and damage.

Signs Rodents Have Gotten Into Your Holiday Decorations

• Chew marks on tote corners or lids
• Shredded wrapping paper, fabric, or cardboard
• Droppings on or inside storage bins
• Unpleasant odors from nesting activity
• Damaged lights, garland, or fabric ornament hangers

How to Protect Your Storage Totes from Rodents

You can significantly reduce the risk of rodent damage to your holiday items by taking proactive steps.

1. Use Heavy-Duty Sealed Containers

Choose thick, rodent-resistant plastic totes with secure locking lids. Avoid thin or brittle bins that can be easily chewed through.

2. Elevate Totes Off the Ground

Store bins on shelves instead of directly on concrete. Elevation makes it harder for rodents to access your containers unnoticed.

3. Keep Storage Areas Clean & Decluttered

Rodents thrive in cluttered spaces. Keeping areas tidy removes hiding spots and reduces nesting opportunities.

4. Seal Entry Points Around Your Home

Rodents enter through gaps as small as a dime. Check your garage door seals, attic vents, crawlspace entries, and wall penetrations for openings.

5. Avoid Using Cardboard

Cardboard attracts rodents and absorbs odors. Replace cardboard boxes with durable plastic totes.

6. Add Rodent-Deterrent Materials

Use peppermint sachets, cedar blocks, or vapor barriers around stored items. These natural scents help repel rodent activity.

When to Call a Professional

If you spot signs of damage or hear activity in your storage areas, it’s important to address the problem quickly. Rodents reproduce rapidly and can cause structural, electrical, and sanitation issues. A professional inspection ensures your storage zones—and your holiday décor—stay protected.

Protect Your Holiday Decorations All Year Long

Holiday decorations often carry sentimental value, and nothing is more frustrating than pulling out your totes next winter only to find them chewed, shredded, or ruined. Taking action now can protect your belongings and prevent rodents from turning your storage totes into winter homes.

Plank Termite & Pest Control provides reliable rodent prevention and winter pest protection for Rolla, MO homeowners.

Call us at 573-368-3333 or schedule your rodent inspection today to keep your storage areas safe year-round.