What should I do if there are ticks in clothing? - briefly
Remove the garment, shake it outdoors to dislodge any attached ticks, then wash it in hot water (≥ 60 °C) and tumble‑dry on high heat for at least 20 minutes. After laundering, thoroughly inspect the clothing and your skin, and if a tick remains attached, grasp it with fine tweezers as close to the skin as possible and pull straight out.
What should I do if there are ticks in clothing? - in detail
If you find ticks lodged in your attire, act immediately to prevent attachment and possible disease transmission.
First, isolate the garment. Remove it from any other clothing to avoid spreading the parasites. Turn the fabric inside out and inspect the entire surface under bright light. Use a fine-toothed comb or tweezers to grasp each tick as close to the skin of the fabric as possible, pulling straight upward without twisting. Place the removed insects in a sealed container with rubbing alcohol for disposal.
Next, cleanse the clothing thoroughly. Machine‑wash the items in hot water (minimum 130 °F / 54 °C) for at least ten minutes. Follow with a high‑heat dryer cycle (minimum 130 °F / 54 °C) for 30 minutes; heat kills any remaining stages. For fabrics that cannot withstand high temperatures, hand‑wash in hot, soapy water and then iron on the highest setting permissible for the material.
After cleaning, examine the garment again to confirm no ticks remain. Store washed items in a sealed bag until you are certain they are tick‑free.
To reduce future incidents, adopt preventive measures:
- Wear light‑colored clothing when entering tick‑infested areas to make detection easier.
- Tuck shirts into pants and secure pant legs with gaiters or elastic cuffs.
- Apply an EPA‑approved repellant to the exterior of clothing, following label instructions.
- Perform a full‑body tick check before leaving the outdoor environment and after returning home.
If a tick is found attached to skin during inspection, remove it promptly with fine‑point tweezers, grasping the head and pulling upward with steady pressure. Clean the bite site with antiseptic and monitor for symptoms such as rash or fever; seek medical advice if any appear.