How to kill a tick in a pillow?

How to kill a tick in a pillow? - briefly

Remove the pillow, seal it in a plastic bag, and freeze at –20 °C (4 °F) for a minimum of 48 hours; this temperature reliably kills ticks. Afterwards, launder the pillow on the hottest cycle the fabric permits.

How to kill a tick in a pillow? - in detail

A tick discovered inside a pillow must be dealt with promptly to prevent disease transmission and further infestation. The following procedure outlines safe and effective elimination.

1. Preparation

   • Remove the pillow from the bed and place it on a clean, flat surface.
   • Wear disposable gloves to avoid direct contact with the parasite.
   • Gather a fine‑toothed tweezer, a sealable plastic bag, a disinfectant spray, and a hot water source.

2. Isolation of the pest

   • Inspect the pillow fabric carefully, using a bright light to locate the tick.
   • Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible with the tweezer; pull upward with steady, even pressure to avoid leaving mouthparts embedded.
   • Transfer the removed tick into the plastic bag, expel any air, and seal tightly.

3. Destruction

   • Submerge the sealed bag in a pot of boiling water for at least five minutes.
   • Alternatively, place the bag in a freezer set to –20 °C (‑4 °F) for 24 hours; freezing kills the tick reliably.
   • After treatment, discard the bag in an outdoor trash container.

4. Sanitization of the pillow

   • If the pillow is machine‑washable, launder it on the hottest cycle allowed by the manufacturer’s label, using detergent and a bleach additive if appropriate.
   • For non‑washable pillows, spot‑clean the affected area with a disinfectant spray, then allow the pillow to air‑dry completely in direct sunlight, which further reduces any remaining organisms.

5. Preventive measures

   • Store pillows in sealed containers when not in use.
   • Vacuum the bedroom regularly, paying special attention to seams and folds where ticks may hide.
   • Keep pets treated with approved ectoparasite preventatives, as they are common sources of indoor ticks.

By following these steps, a tick embedded in a pillow can be eliminated safely, and the risk of re‑infestation is minimized.