How can you kill a tick on clothing? - briefly
Wash the garment in hot water (minimum 60 °C/140 °F) for at least 10 minutes, then tumble‑dry on high heat for 20 minutes or longer. Heat of this magnitude kills any attached ticks and their eggs.
How can you kill a tick on clothing? - in detail
Ticks that attach to fabric can be neutralized through heat, freezing, or chemical treatment. Choose a method that matches available resources and the type of clothing.
- Hot water wash – Use a cycle of at least 60 °C (140 °F). Maintain temperature for a minimum of 10 minutes; the heat kills all life stages of the parasite.
- High‑heat dryer – After washing, tumble‑dry on the hottest setting for 20 minutes or longer. Drying temperatures above 70 °C (158 °F) guarantee lethality.
- Ironing – Press the affected area with a steam iron set to the highest dry‑heat level. Hold the iron on each spot for at least 30 seconds; the direct contact destroys the tick.
- Freezing – Place the garment in a sealed bag and freeze at –20 °C (–4 °F) for 48 hours. Prolonged exposure to sub‑zero temperatures eliminates the arthropod.
- Chemical sprays – Apply an EPA‑registered insecticide labeled for ticks to the fabric. Follow label directions for concentration, contact time, and ventilation. Rinse thoroughly if the clothing will be worn again.
- Manual removal – Use fine‑tipped tweezers to grasp the tick close to the fabric surface and pull straight upward. After removal, treat the area with a disinfectant and launder the item using heat methods.
After any of the above procedures, inspect the clothing for remaining remnants. Dispose of used gloves, tweezers, and any contaminated packaging in a sealed bag before discarding. Re‑wash or re‑dry the garment if doubt remains. These steps ensure complete eradication of the parasite from garments.