How To Kill A Tick: 6 Effective Methods
Spending quality time outside is one of the most enriching and enjoyable experiences. Whether you are taking a walk, playing a game, camping, hiking, gardening, or simply lounging in your very own backyard, it is simply delightful. However, with the fresh air and warm sunny rays, come certain risks. One common risk during the warmer seasons is the possibility of tick bites. Yikes! These little parasites attach themselves to human and animals and don’t let go. They feed and feed. But their nasty bite isn’t the only concern. Ticks carry a ton of diseases, most notably Lyme disease. That’s why it’s important to know how to protect yourself from these critters. Today we will show you how to kill a tick easily.
One common risk during the warmer seasons is the possibility of tick bites
In this article
How To Kill A Tick
If one of these pests attaches itself to you, a family member or a pet, don’t panic. You can easily remove it, just follow our simple guide. Once removed you need to dispose of it properly. While you may be inclined to squish it, do not! Since ticks are full of bacteria and diseases, if you squish it and it’s still attached to the skin, then you will do more damage than good. Even if it is not attached, there are better ways to terminate the tick. But no matter what way you kill the tick, it is still recommended you tape it afterward to an index card with the date you discovered it. This is important to know if symptoms occur later on.
Once removed you need to dispose of the tick properly
#Use rubbing alcohol
Rubbing alcohol is loved for its ability to kill harmful bacteria and clean out wounds. That’s also why it is an effective tick killer. After you have safely removed the tick, get a container (bowl, cup, etc.) and fill it with rubbing alcohol. Then drop the tick inside and cover the container, so that it cannot escape. It shouldn’t take long before the alcohol does its job.
Rubbing alcohol is loved for its ability to kill harmful bacteria
#Flush it
This is probably one of the easiest ways to kill a tick. After you’ve got the tick off you safely, simply drop it in the toilet bowl and flush. Just make sure to stay for a bit to see if the tick has gone down the pipe. Sometimes these little bloodsuckers like to cling to the side of the bowl. To ensure it goes down you can always put the tick inside some toilet paper and flush.
This is probably one of the easiest ways to kill a tick
#Hot water
If you find ticks on your clothing, you need to undress and quickly toss everything in your washing. This is to be safe in case there are any other ticks attached as well. Make sure you put the clothes on a cycle that is a minimum of 50 degrees Celsius or 130 degrees Fahrenheit. One cycle should be more than enough to kill any remaining ticks. As long as you use water that is hot, not cold or just warm, they will surely die.
One cycle should be more than enough to kill any remaining ticks
#Tape
This is one of the safest ways to deal with ticks. If you see a tick crawling, you can use tape to remove it. However, if it has begun feeding, you first need to carefully remove it and then place it on some tape. Trap it between two pieces of tape and either throw it away or keep just in case. Since the tick won’t be able to escape, it will eventually die. Plus, all the disease and bacteria will also be contained in the tape, which is great.
Trap the tick between two pieces of tape
#Diatomaceous Earth
If you have a big tick problem in your yard, then you will need to take serious measures. A great way to deal with ticks is to sprinkle diatomaceous earth around your yard. This naturally occurring substance is composed of fossilized remains of diatoms, which are little aquatic organisms. This form of pest control is non-toxic and environmentally friendly, which makes it an excellent solution for your tick problem. Diatomaceous earth will either tear them up or dry them out.
Diatomaceous earth is non-toxic and environmentally friendly
#Bleach
Bleach is a powerful chemical. Not only can it stain your clothes and get rid of grime, but it can also kill a tick. Just take a small container and add some bleach. Then take the tick and place it inside. The bleach will take care of it. Make sure to hold the tick in the bleach with tweezer to ensure it’s not going anywhere.
Bleach is a powerful chemical
These were the most effective methods on how to kill a tick. We hope you found this article useful. Now you can easily terminate these critters with minimal efforts if they happen to latch themselves onto to you or your pets. They won’t be bothering you anymore.
These were the most effective methods on how to kill a tick
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