Before setting everything up, take a few minutes to inspect those storage areas. Dust, undisturbed corners, gaps around windows, and accumulated clutter can provide hiding places for spiders and other occasional household pests.

You do not need to throw away old decorations or treat your entire home unnecessarily. A quick inspection, some basic cleaning, and a few practical maintenance habits can help you prepare your decorations and living spaces for the season.

Here are seven places worth checking before your holiday decorating begins.

1. Inspect Cardboard Boxes Before Opening Them

Cardboard boxes can accumulate dust and remain untouched for months, especially when they are stacked in a garage, attic, or closet.

Before opening a box, inspect its exterior, corners, folds, and seams. Look for spider webs, egg sacs, damaged cardboard, or other signs of insect activity.

What to do: Open boxes in a well-lit area where you can inspect the contents comfortably. Remove loose dust and debris, and check each item before placing it around the house.

If a box is damp, damaged, or deteriorating, consider transferring suitable decorations into a clean, durable storage container.

Keeping boxes organized also makes it easier to inspect your stored belongings the next time you decorate.

2. Check Artificial Trees, Wreaths, and Garlands

Artificial trees, wreaths, garlands, and decorative branches often have numerous small spaces where dust and debris can collect.

These items may be stored in cardboard packaging or left hanging in garages and storage rooms. Before bringing them into your living room, inspect the branches, folds, attachment points, and storage bags.

What to do: Shake out loose debris outdoors where appropriate, then use a soft brush or vacuum attachment to clean suitable decorations. Follow the manufacturer's cleaning recommendations, particularly for delicate materials and items with electrical components.

Look carefully for webs or egg sacs tucked between branches. Remove any signs of activity before arranging the decorations indoors.

Avoid applying pest-control sprays directly to artificial trees, fabrics, ornaments, or electrical decorations unless the product label specifically permits that use.

3. Look Behind Storage Shelves and Furniture

The space behind shelving units, cabinets, and stored furniture may go unnoticed throughout the year.

Spiders often build webs in quiet corners where they are less likely to be disturbed. Cardboard, folded fabric, and other stored objects can make these areas difficult to inspect.

When you start retrieving decorations, check behind shelves, beneath cabinets, along baseboards, and around the backs of storage containers.

What to do: Move accessible items carefully, vacuum reachable webs, and remove dust and debris. Check for recurring web activity rather than assuming that every spider sighting represents a major infestation.

If you find an egg sac, avoid handling it directly. Use an appropriate removal method and take care not to spread the contents.

Keeping storage areas tidy can make future inspections considerably easier.

4. Inspect Attics and Garage Corners

Attics and garages are common places to store seasonal decorations, but they can also contain gaps, sheltered corners, and clutter that provide potential pest-hiding spaces.

Before moving boxes into the house, inspect the edges of the room, ceiling corners, exposed beams, and the areas near windows or vents.

Look for webs, egg sacs, other insects, and openings that could allow pests to enter.

What to do: Remove unnecessary clutter, clean accessible corners, and organize boxes so you can see behind and underneath them. Check doors, vents, and suitable screens for damage.

If you discover gaps around utility lines or building joints, seal suitable openings with appropriate materials. For larger structural openings, arrange the necessary repairs.

A cleaner and better-organized storage area is easier to inspect throughout the year.

5. Check Window Frames, Doors, and Baseboards

Sometimes the source of recurring indoor spider activity is not the decorations themselves. Spiders and the insects they feed on may enter through gaps around windows, exterior doors, or other openings.

Inspect window frames, door thresholds, baseboards, and corners near outdoor-facing walls.

Look for damaged weather stripping, loose screens, cracks, and webs that repeatedly appear in the same locations.

What to do: Repair damaged screens, replace worn seals, and close suitable gaps. Remove visible webs with a broom or vacuum attachment, and check the area periodically to see whether activity returns.

Outdoor lighting can also attract insects that may provide food for spiders. Consider turning off unnecessary exterior lights and keeping essential walkways safely illuminated.

These simple steps can help make entry points easier to manage without relying exclusively on sprays.

6. Review Closets and Fabric Storage

Seasonal decorations are not the only belongings worth checking. Closets may also contain fabric ornaments, table runners, stockings, artificial flowers, and other accessories that remain undisturbed for months.

Inspect fabric storage bags, the corners of shelves, and the spaces behind containers. Pay attention to dust, webs, and dampness.

What to do: Clean suitable fabrics according to their care instructions and make sure everything is fully dry before storing it again. Keep storage containers organized and avoid leaving damp materials in enclosed spaces.

If you notice persistent moisture or musty smells in a closet, investigate the cause rather than simply masking the odour.

Clean storage habits help protect your decorations and make them easier to prepare for future holidays.

7. Consider Targeted Pest Control When Needed

Cleaning, inspecting decorations, and sealing entry points are useful first steps. If you continue seeing spiders or other pests in particular areas, targeted pest control may also be appropriate.

Nature's Dome Pest Control Spray – 16 oz is a ready-to-use spray formulated with ingredients including geraniol, cottonseed oil, and cinnamon oil. The official product listing includes spiders among the pests it targets and describes indoor and outdoor applications.

The product listing provides directions for treating specified areas, including cracks and crevices, baseboards, and around window and door frames. Always follow the current label and confirm that the intended pest and application area are covered.

Before applying any pest-control product, remove decorations and other non-target items from the treatment area when required by the label. Do not spray directly onto holiday decorations, fabrics, food, or electrical items unless the label specifically permits that application. Keep children and pets away from treated areas as directed, and allow surfaces to dry as specified before normal use.

Remember that spraying does not replace cleaning, sealing entry points, or investigating recurring pest activity.

Your Quick Checklist Before Decorating

Before putting up your seasonal decorations, take a few minutes to check the following:

• Inspect boxes and containers before opening them.
• Check artificial trees, wreaths, and garlands for webs or egg sacs.
• Clean behind storage shelves and accessible furniture.
• Inspect attics, garages, and basement corners.
• Check windows, exterior doors, and baseboards for gaps.
• Clean and dry fabric decorations before putting them away.
• Use pest-control products only for labelled applications when needed.

You can complete these tasks over several days rather than doing everything at once. Start with the storage areas that contain the most clutter or where you have previously noticed pest activity.

Make Holiday Decorating Easier With a Little Preparation

Bringing out holiday decorations should be an enjoyable part of preparing your home for the season. A quick inspection before opening storage boxes can help you spot webs, remove accumulated dust, and identify areas that need attention.

Focus on clean storage, accessible corners, intact screens, and sealed openings. If pests continue appearing in the same locations, investigate the source instead of repeatedly treating the visible insects alone.

Nature's Dome Pest Control Spray is one option to consider for pests and application areas covered by its label. Combined with sensible cleaning and home maintenance, targeted treatment can form part of a more complete pest-management routine.

A few minutes of preparation now can help make decorating simpler and your home easier to maintain throughout the holiday season.

Important note: Spiders are generally beneficial outdoors because they feed on other insects. No pest-control product guarantees a pest-free home. Follow all label directions and precautions, and contact a qualified pest-management professional if recurring activity is difficult to manage.