Last night, my husband and I found something terrifying in our bed—a tick. We immediately started freaking out because just a couple of days ago, we noticed something similar on our child’s clothes. We had no idea what it was at first, but now we know it’s a tick, and we’re worried about what to do and how to get rid of them for good.
Ticks are small, parasitic creatures that can latch onto humans and animals, feeding on their blood. They can be dangerous, too, because they spread diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. These illnesses can be serious, so it’s really important to make sure ticks don’t hang around in your home.
First, you need to figure out what type of tick you’re dealing with. It could be a dog tick, a brown dog tick, or a black-legged tick, also known as a deer tick. You don’t want to mess around with these tiny pests, so if you find a tick, keep your children and pets away from the area until you can remove it.
When you’re ready to remove the tick, take some precautions. Wear gloves and long sleeves to protect yourself from more ticks attaching to your skin. Once you’ve covered up, make sure to wash any bedding, clothes, or fabrics that the tick might have touched.
Put everything in the washing machine on the highest heat setting to kill any ticks that might still be clinging on. Then, vacuum the area thoroughly, paying special attention to the cracks and corners where ticks might be hiding.
To remove the tick from your skin, use a pair of fine-tipped tweezers. Grab the tick as close to the skin as possible and slowly pull it straight out, making sure not to twist or yank.
If you jerk it out, you might leave the tick’s head stuck in your skin, which can cause infections. Once the tick is out, clean the bite area with soap and water or alcohol to disinfect it. After that, you can kill the tick by flushing it down the toilet or submerging it in alcohol.
Keep an eye on any bite marks for a few days. If you notice redness, swelling, or a rash, or if you start to feel unwell, it’s important to see a doctor right away to check for any tick-borne illnesses.
Hopefully, this helps if you ever find a tick in your home. Ticks may be tiny, but they can cause big problems, so make sure to take action quickly!