Ticks are insects that parasitize mammals, becoming a problem because of the nuisance they cause and the diseases they transmit. When summer arrives, it is necessary to pay attention to prevent them from becoming a plague that affects you and your pets.
Although we are used to seeing them biting dogs and cats, they are also capable of living in the environment for months, a fact that can cause a new infestation. Therefore, it is important to learn how to clean the home to keep these parasites away. Next, on our site we show you how to remove ticks from home with recommendations and effective home remedies.
Where do ticks breed at home?
Before I show you the steps to follow and the home methods, you need to know where ticks breed in your home. It is often mistakenly believed that animals are to blame for their presence and spread in the home, but ticks feed on both them and people.
Ticks breed in moist and dark environments, such as the garden, the ground, areas with rotten wood, etc. For this reason, you or your pet can be the perfect host for a tick when you leave the house and bring it home, whether it is attached to fur or clothing. At home, they prefer to breed on carpets, sofas and any hiding place that comes their way.
Applying tick removal products at home is essential to stop an infestation, but before doing so you need to follow a few steps.
How to eliminate a tick infestation from my house?
Before using tick repellants and products, follow these tips:
Deworm your pet
Any domestic mammal can be attacked by ticks, so you need to protect your animal before starting work in the home. To eliminate ticks on dogs, cats, horses, etc., purchase products formulated for each animal, taking into account size and age. Remember to consult your veterinarian about the most suitable brand and follow the product instructions to the letter.
Since dogs are the animals that can most easily bring ticks into the home, it is necessary to establish a deworming schedule in order to prevent a possible infestation. However, if you have not arrived on time and you have identified a tick on your dog, you can remove it with the help of tweezers but be very careful, because if you do sudden movements could separate the head from the body and leave it inside the skin of your dog.
As for products to eliminate ticks in dogs, the following stand out:
- External and internal deworming tablets.
- Pipettes.
- Antiparasitic collars.
- Antiparasitic spray.
And if you are looking for home remedies to remove ticks in dogs, do not miss this article. For large infestations, it is necessary to visit the veterinarian, since only he will be able to remove the ticks without harming your dog. It is very important to act quickly because these parasites are carriers of serious diseases, such as ehrlichiosis or babesiosis.
Clean your animal's objects
Your pet's objects and the places where they usually rest should be thoroughly cleaned the same day you apply the antiparasitic product. Otherwise, the ticks will get on the fur again.
Vacuums all cloth items (bed, blankets, toys, clothes, etc.), then use aSteamer and finally Wash with two washer cycles using hot water. Water containers, plastic toys, combs and etc., should be washed with hot water and a pet-safe cleaning product.
Disinfect the home
A thorough house cleaning is essential to kill ticks. Large ticks are easy to see, but they are only a small part of the problem. To eliminate eggs, larvae and small ticks at home, vacuum all spaces, placing special emphasis on the back of furniture, as well as cushions, carpets, curtains and corners.
All fabric garments, including covers, should be steamed and then washed in hot water through two washing cycles. Repeat the procedure with all the family's clothes, but do not wash them together with the furniture textiles. After vacuuming, remember to close the bag and throw it away, otherwise the ticks will come out again.
These steps are essential to eliminate a tick infestation from your home. After performing them, you need to apply tick repellents.
Home remedies to remove ticks from your home
There are various products to remove ticks at home, which should be applied after deworming your dog and thoroughly cleaning the all spaces. Some of these commercial products are the traditional insecticides, in the form of an aerosol or liquid to kill ticks at home. In any case, they are products that can be toxic and harmful to animals and people, so it is very important to check the labeling before using them.
Because of the above, if you are interested in knowing how to eliminate ticks at home naturally, discover the most effective home methods:
1. Lemon, the best tick repellent
The lemon is among the most effective repellents for ticks, because the smell repels them Thus, it is not a household poison to kill ticks, but to drive them away and make them leave our home. You can prepare a home remedy by slicing two lemons and boiling them in half a liter of water. After half an hour, wait for the preparation to cool down and place it in a spray bottle. Use this product to spray your kitchen counters, door and window frames, cracks and crevices, and anywhere ticks enter your home.
In addition, lemon prevents dogs from urinating in those same areas because it is part of the list of odors that dogs hate, so that with the same remedy you can achieve two objectives. Of course, prevent your dog from ingesting it or smelling it very close because it could be harmful.
two. Mint and spearmint to keep ticks away from home
Mint, spearmint and catnip are three aromatic plants that have insecticidal and repellent properties Get a handful of leaves from some of these plants, or a combination of the three, and place them in a container with half a liter of water and the juice of 1 lemon.
Let the preparation sit and then spray the house with it. It is also possible to increase the quantities and use it to mop the floor. Also, if you live with cats, keep in mind that growing catnip will not only allow you to eliminate ticks from your house, but it will also help you keep your feline happy because they love it. Check the benefits of catnip in this article: "Properties of catnip or catnip".
3. Essential oils to kill ticks in your home
Essential oils emit aromas that are pleasant to humans but act as repellents for ticks, ants, flies and fleas. Against ticks, use a mixture of half a liter of water and add cinnamon, cedar, rosemary and mint oil, 10 drops of each.
Shake the preparation and use it to spray the frames of doors and windows, as well as the entrances of your house. A variation of this remedy is to use just eucalyptus oil with witch hazel oil. Of course, keep in mind that some plants are toxic to dogs and cats, so check these articles first and try to apply the remedies away from them:
- Toxic plants for cats
- Toxic plants for dogs
4. Baking soda, ideal for getting ticks out of the house
Sodium bicarbonate has repellent properties that are very effective against these parasites. To use for tick removal, mix 2 tablespoons with 1 water and 2 table s alt. Stir to create a paste and add more water if necessary.
Place this home remedy in the cracks that serve as entrances for ticks. This method is not recommended if you have pets because they could ingest it and cause gastrointestinal problems.
5. Brewer's yeast and garlic, a natural antiparasitic
The smell of fermented brewer's yeast Repels ticks Just mix 3 tablespoons with 2 cloves of crushed garlic and a little water, enough to create a paste. Let sit for 3 days and then spray the mixture in all the spaces. It should be noted that garlic also has important antiparasitic properties, which is why it is also an excellent remedy for house ticks.
On the other hand, brewer's yeast has multiple benefits for dogs, one of them being its antiparasitic power. To learn how to use it, check out this article: "Benefits of Brewer's Yeast for Dogs".
In case the infestation is very intense and these methods do not work, we recommend you s hire a pest control team.
These remedies are effective for exterminating small ticks at home and adult specimens, but what about ticks that infest your yard or garden? Let's go there!
How to remove ticks from the garden?
You already know how to remove ticks from your dog and house, you know the importance of deep cleaning and different natural methods. However, these animals live in patios, gardens and natural spaces, so they will enter your house at the slightest opportunity.
How to remove ticks from the garden? Apply these steps:
- Cut the grass.
- Prune trees and plants in order to eliminate excess shaded places, where ticks stay.
- Rake the garden.
- Dispose of dead leaves, dry stems, and grass clippings in airtight bags.
- Removes wet or rotten wood debris.
- Spray insecticides formulated not to harm plants, preferably ecological.
- Plant aromatic plants.
- Sprinkle sulfur on tiles, garages and other spaces of wood or stone that are part of the garden. Of course, keep in mind that this product is toxic to animals, so do not use it if you live with dogs or cats.
And how to get rid of fleas at home?
If in addition to ticks you have found fleas in your home, there are also remedies to kill them. To do this, we recommend reviewing the following articles:
- How to get rid of fleas at home?
- Home remedies to eliminate dog fleas
