Keep Your Appetite this Thanksgiving by Keeping Pests Out

MEMPHIS, TN--(Marketwired - November 18, 2016) - After cooking a gourmet meal, wrangling unruly children and refereeing political arguments among extended family members, the last thing families have the time or energy to do at Thanksgiving is defend their kitchen from pests. That's why the team of pest control experts at Terminix advise families to follow these three tips for keeping flies, cockroaches and mice at bay on Turkey Day.

1. Clean up food residue and crumbs as soon as possible to prevent flies, roaches and other creeping critters from appearing. Make sure to wipe down all cooking surfaces, as well as tables and chairs, with appropriate cleaners to remove residue, especially spilled liquids like beer or wine, which are a magnet to fruit flies.
2. Store food items securely -- both before and after the meal. Cardboard boxes and wrappers are not pest-proof, since insects and mice can chew through these materials. When packing up leftovers, use glass or airtight containers that fully seal to keep food fresh. Whenever possible, store boxed and bagged items in the fridge to prevent roaches and other critters from breaking in.
3. Safely dispose of food trash. Make sure all perishables are either stored securely or thrown out as soon as possible following your meal. As an added precaution, place all trash bags in a lidded garbage can and ensure a tight seal to avoid attracting critters like rats, possums and raccoons.

"For many families, Thanksgiving is the most memorable meal of the whole year, but a creeping cockroach or pesky pantry pest will seriously bring down your celebration," said Andrew Callaghan, branch operations manager for Terminix. "Following these simple steps can ensure that your turkey stays scrumptious and the pumpkin pie doesn't have an unwanted, buggy crunch."

With the Terminix Pest Control Plan, you'll be protected by a proactive approach that offers you protection against 27 common pests, including rodents, ants, cockroaches, spiders and more. A technician will fill all of the home's holes, not just the area in question, to ensure there is no opportunity for the winter pests to re-enter in a different location. Best of all, when you retain service with Terminix, you're protected by the Ultimate Protection® Guarantee, the strongest guarantee in the business.

For more information, visit Terminix.com or call your local Terminix branch.

About Terminix
Terminix is the leading provider of termite and pest control services in the United States. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., Terminix services approximately 2.8 million residential and commercial customers in 47 states and 22 countries. Terminix provides pest control services and protection against termites, rodents and other pests threatening human health and/or safety. Terminix is a business unit of ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SERV), a leading provider of essential residential and commercial services. To learn more about Terminix, visit www.Terminix.com.

About ServiceMaster
ServiceMaster (NYSE: SERV) solves the homeowner's dilemma. Every day, we visit more than 75,000 homes and businesses through our extensive service network of expert professionals. Technology powers our trusted experts to engage with customers so they can order, buy and receive services when, where and how they want them. Our well-recognized brands include American Home Shield (home warranties), AmeriSpec (home inspections), Furniture Medic (furniture repair), Merry Maids (residential cleaning), ServiceMaster Clean (janitorial and residential floor cleaning), ServiceMaster Restore (disaster restoration) and Terminix (termite and pest control). Like, follow or visit us at www.facebook.com/ServiceMaster, www.linkedin.com/ServiceMaster, www.twitter.com/ServiceMaster, or www.servicemaster.com.