Can Ticks Live on Clothes?
Ticks are bloodsucking parasites found widely in many countries. They tend to feed off unsuspecting animals and human hosts. Rightly so, many people are worried if ticks can live on their clothing and other belongings.
Where Do Ticks Come From?
Ticks commonly reside in wooded or terrestrial areas with tall grasses, shrubs and leaf litter. These regions are mostly residence areas for wild animals and other hosts on which ticks prefer to feed. They also often hide on camping equipment or family pets and infestations can occur when humans bring them in on their clothing or belongings.
Can Ticks Live on Clothes?
The short answer is yes. Ticks can manage to survive on clothes even after they’ve been removed from their hosts but they won’t typically thrive in such environment. Instead, they can stay alive and active on clothing for weeks!
What Can You Do To Prevent It?
In order to avoid coming into contact with ticks on clothes there are a few measures you can take:
- Wash your clothing after hiking. It’s best to wash the clothes that were worn in a tick-prone area on hot setting after each hike.
- Dry clothes on high heat. To make sure no ticks will survive on your clothing, dry each piece of clothing on a high temperature setting.
- Use tick repellent. Consider applying a repellent that contains permethrin or DEET on clothing beforehand to prevent ticks attaching on your clothing.
Remember that the best approach to staying safe from any kind of parasite is to remain vigilant and look out for symptoms of illnesses that may have been caused by parasites or other insects.