25 Best Home Remedies and Ways to Get Rid of Ticks
It is possible to meet ticks not only in natural conditions. Insects often live in summer cottages and infiltrate residential buildings. The pest is a carrier of dangerous diseases, so the question of how to get rid of ticks does not cease to be relevant. In addition to combating insects, it is important to observe a number of preventive measures.
Why are they dangerous?
The main danger of ticks is that they are harmful to human health. Ticks are ectoparasites and causative agents of natural focal diseases. Parasites are able to transmit various pathogens by sucking blood.
Diseases
The most common diseases carried by ticks are borreliosis, ehrlichiosis and encephalitis. Infections are difficult and can lead to disability. As a rule, diseases are chronic in nature and have a long rehabilitation period of up to a year. In addition to these diseases, ticks carry:
- spotted fever;
- tularemia;
- babesiosis;
- tick-borne typhus.
The variety of flax mites does not belong to the blood-sucking pests, but these insects are also dangerous for humans. Droppings of microscopic insects, as well as dust, get into the lungs and cause the development of allergic reactions. In conjunction with the common cold, allergies can cause bronchial asthma.
Allergy symptoms
The manifestation of symptoms of diseases depends on the pathogen that enters the human body after an insect bite. Since parasites are carriers of a large number of diseases, each of them is characterized by individual symptoms. Especially:
- Borreliosis is characterized by the appearance of migraines, general body fatigue, fever, bouts of nausea and vomiting. The most pronounced sign of the disease is a rash in the form of ring-shaped redness.
- Tick-borne encephalitis causes a sharp rise in temperature up to 39 degrees. Symptoms are also muscle aches, vomiting and migraines.
- Ehrlichiosis is characterized by a sudden increase in body temperature and chills, joint pain, a feeling of malaise. In severe cases, a rash appears on the skin.
- Symptoms of tick-borne relapsing fever develop gradually over a few weeks. The main signs are insomnia, lack of appetite and feeling weak.In the future, the temperature rises, pain in the muscles and joints occurs, and a pronounced rash forms on the skin.
Appearance and reasons for the appearance
In terms of size, pests can reach 3 mm, but most often the size of insects is 0.1-0.5 mm. Insects are arachnids, and as characteristic representatives of this species, they do not have wings. Adult insects have 4 pairs of legs. Orientation in space in ticks is due to the sensory apparatus, since they do not have eyes. Parasites are able to smell the smell of a person, at a distance of up to 10 m. By their structure, mites are divided into leathery insects with an accrete head and body, and armored pests with a movable head.
There are several common causes of pests in summer cottages or in a residential area. After discovering a parasite invasion, it is important to find out the specific cause in order to prevent further reproduction.
Neighbors
In the suburban area, ticks can enter the site from neighbors or from a forest. If a neighboring site was attacked by a pest, and no measures were taken to exterminate it, then there is a high probability that the insect will spread to adjacent territories.
New things and techniques
The smell of novelties often attracts pests. This reason is especially relevant for new technical devices, which usually have a strong smell.
Animals
Many animals carry ticks and other insects. The parasites live and lay eggs in the fur of dogs, cats and rodents. The size of the pest population that spreads in this way is usually insignificant.It is possible to notice the installation of parasites on pets by frequently scratching and gnawing the wool.
Habitat
Most species of mites live in grass and tall shrubs. Pests choose settlement areas in the depths of the forest, covered with grass with a height of 7 cm. The higher the grass on the site, the more likely an attack of pests on humans and animals. Insects almost never stay on beaten paths or paved areas.
The type of forest for ticks does not matter - they are found in birch, fir and mixed forests. The only exception is the coniferous forest, where insects are rare. The parasite can be picked up in meadows, cattle pastures, in city parks, along roadsides.
The main
Dust mites live at home. The main places where parasites accumulate are:
- a bag for collecting garbage in a vacuum cleaner, where pests settle and actively reproduce;
- bed linen, mattresses, blankets and pillows;
- upholstered furniture;
- shag rugs and carpets.
One type of mite is an essential part of household dust. Parasites exist alongside dead particles of human and animal skin, cellulose, various fibers, droppings of other insects, and fungal spores.
How to detect
The microscopic size of ticks does not always allow their visual detection. If a pest left a bite on the skin, then, depending on a number of factors, various symptoms will appear. A pronounced manifestation of an insect bite is observed in people suffering from allergic diseases, as well as in the elderly and children.In other situations, the bite may become painless and not immediately noticed.
The site of the pest lesion is characterized by redness and slight swelling of the skin. In the center of the irritated area, there is a small dark dot left by the insect. If the parasite has not had time to fall off, part of its small body can be seen on the redness.
The mites are absolutely impossible to see. Their appearance can be suspected by painful symptoms and rashes.
Control and prevention methods
In the event of a tick infestation, you should immediately take measures to control the pests.To reduce the likelihood of the reappearance of pests, preventive actions are necessary.
Low temperature and humidity
Ticks live comfortably at high temperatures and excessive air humidity. To combat the infestation of pests, it is necessary to create a low temperature and reduce the humidity indicator. In the cold season, to get rid of insects, airing can be done, and mattresses and bed linen can be left on the balcony or outside and carefully knocked out before returning to the premises. Mites also die from wash bed linen at a temperature of 60 degrees.
Wet cleaning of the apartment
Regular damp cleaning and dusting will eliminate most insects, reducing the risk of breeding and spreading. It is recommended to wipe the floor and baseboards with a saline solution, which has a stronger effect against insects. A solution for carrying out wet cleaning from insects is prepared, observing the proportions of 5-7 tablespoons of salt in a bucket of warm water.
Washing bed linen and upholstered furniture at high temperatures
Washing bed linen in a typewriter at high temperatures destroys accumulated pests. After washing, the bedding should, if possible, dry well in the open air or on a balcony with open windows. The upholstery of upholstered furniture for insect control can be periodically wiped down with a cloth dampened in warm water or a specialized detergent.
Frozen
Exposure to extremely low temperatures is detrimental to insects, therefore pests can be eliminated from small things, fabrics and clothing by freezing. It is enough to leave things in the freezer for a few hours to destroy all ticks and other insects.
Special bedding
It is recommended to replace feather and down bedding with synthetics, as pests are less likely to settle there. The same should be done with upholstered furniture, including armchairs and sofas made from down and feathers, which serve as a habitat for pests.
Infuser soil
Infusing soil is often used in garden plots against pests. In dry form, decorative insect paths are treated with earth, and solutions with earth are used to spray vegetation attacked by pests. Additionally, infuser soil is used to remove ticks and other pests from animal hair.
Eating food soil removes parasites from the animal's body and prevents their reproduction.
Minimal houseplants
Mites like to settle on indoor plants and leave larvae there. Pests live in the soil and on the surface of the green part of plants. Since the processing of plants is very time-consuming and does not guarantee the complete destruction of insects, it is recommended to keep only a few pots in the room. This will reduce the number of pests.
Essential oils
There are several essential oils whose scent causes rejection by ticks and other parasites. Geranium and palmarose oils are common options for pests. To prepare an anti-mite remedy, you must:
- Mix 2 tablespoons of carrier oil base and 10-25 drops of essential oil.
- To protect against parasites, apply a few drops of the solution obtained on clothing and skin, avoiding the eye area.
It is allowed to keep a mixture of essential oils and carrier oils for pest control for six months. After this period, the substance gradually loses its protective characteristics and has a worse effect on parasites.
vacuum
The principle of operation of the vacuum cleaner differs from the standard version. The equipment helps to remove dust mites and insects from any soft surface, including upholstery, carpets, curtains, bedding and toys. Immediately after surface treatment, it is quite difficult to notice the result and the absence of pests. Therefore, to assess the effectiveness, it is worth looking into the filter where dust accumulates.
Regular vacuuming is recommended, combined with wet wiping of dust, which will help get rid of pests better.
Additional precautions for pets
To prevent pets from becoming carriers of ticks and other insects, it is important to follow a number of rules and precautions. Including:
- regularly give pets vaccinations against ticks and parasites;
- take care of the wool and rinse it thoroughly, washing the mites;
- if you notice signs of the appearance of parasites and the development of the disease (lethargy, fever, staining of the mucous membranes), contact your veterinarian.
Aeration
Periodic ventilation helps maintain optimal humidity and temperature. In the cold season, airing the room directly contributes to the destruction of pests, including ticks. To increase the effectiveness of pest control, it is recommended to ventilate the room as a whole, and potentially dangerous objects separately - in the open air or on the balcony.
Mats and slippers
Dirt from the street brought into the apartment is one of the reasons for the development of dust mites and other parasites. A large number of pests live on the stairs. By using the grille at the outer door, it is possible to reduce the number of insects entering the apartment. By changing shoes when entering the house with slippers, it is also possible to reduce the amount of dust and stop the development of dust mites. Mats and slippers should be washed periodically to maximize effect and control pests.
Air filter and purifier
Installing air purifiers in the apartment with a built-in HEPA filter allows you to remove up to 90% of allergens and dangerous insects. For purifiers to work properly and resist pests, the filters must be constantly cleaned. Including the air filter, it is imperative to close the windows in the room, otherwise its work will be ineffective, and some of the pests will remain in the same places.
Minimalism
Household clutter contributes to the active collection of dust, the emergence and reproduction of ticks and other parasites. Keeping it minimal and cleaning it regularly can help reduce the risk of insects.
It is recommended to remove all objects that strongly attract dust and pests, including unnecessary jewelry, books, reams of paper, photo frames.
If possible, you should reduce the number of decorative pillows on upholstered furniture and hang blinds instead of fabric curtains. It will also help to remove dust mite prone carpets. It is better to give preference to tiled or wooden floors. This will not only eliminate dust mites, but also simplify subsequent cleaning.
Steam generator
A steam generator is a device that heats water to a high temperature and converts it to steam. The equipment is used for processing upholstered furniture, carpets and bedding. Steam generators differ in their power rating, steam release method and pressure, and other functional characteristics. For home use, it is recommended to purchase a device with a minimum power of 800 watts. It is possible to vaporize soft products with steam not only when signs of the spread of pests are detected, but also for preventive purposes.
ozone generator
Ozone is an integral part of the air, it has oxidizing and disinfecting properties. Like other gases, ozone penetrates the thickness of materials, interacts with molds, fungi and harmful microorganisms, in particular acarians. The effect of ozone destroys parasites and prevents their further spread.
The device is capable of producing up to 3,500 mg of ozone per hour. Regular activation of the air purifier allows you to destroy all bacteria, sterilize the air and remove unpleasant odors from the room.The ozone generator is easy to use and runs on electricity. To start the unit, simply plug it in and let it run indoors for the required time.
home remedies
Effective destruction of pests in living quarters is possible with the help of highly active chemicals. The powerful effect on ticks scares or destroys them, preventing reinfestation.
Bedlam more
Bedlam Plus is produced in the form of an aerosol and is designed to control ticks and their eggs, fleas, beetles, bed bugs and other harmful insects indoors in residential premises. The substance can be used to treat bedding, carpets, upholstery and toys. The required surface is sprayed with an aerosol, after which it is left for a couple of hours. After using Bedlam Plus, wash off the treated product.
Acaril
Acaril is an ingredient added during the washing of textiles. The product contains a mixture of alcohols, surfactants and tea tree oil in a suspension of methyl salicylate. Acaril is dedicated to the elimination of dust mites and the fight against allergens. The substance is safe for colored fabrics and is effective when washed in water at any temperature.
All rugs
The highly concentrated All-Rug shampoo is suitable for treating carpets, upholstery, mattresses and bedding. The product can be added to a vacuum cleaner. The main advantages of the All-Rug are:
- light foaming;
- anti-mite purpose;
- the ability to clean lint, remove insect allergens and prevent pests from breeding.
X-mite
X-mite powder is used to kill allergens from dust mites, pets and various pests.The optimal frequency of treatment for bedding, carpets and upholstery is once every 3-4 months.
Allergoff
Allergoff is available in a form for spraying up to 20 squares. The aerosol ensures the destruction of the mite at all stages of its diffusion. After treatment, the effect lasts for six months. The spraying of Allergoff spray must be associated with an anti-allergen treatment.
"Dobrokhim Micro"
The insecticidal agent "Dobrokhim Micro" is intended to combat household pests, including dust mites. The drug has become widespread due to the following advantages:
- contact and intestinal effects on parasites;
- long-lasting effect for 6 months, which eliminates the need for frequent treatments;
- activity in adverse conditions (high humidity and temperature, direct exposure to ultraviolet rays);
- minimal danger to pets;
- absence of unpleasant odor and streaks after treatment.
"Raid"
"Raid" belongs to the category of insecticidal preparations and destroys mites within a week after application. The composition stops the ability of pests to multiply and affects insects even in remote places. After using the insect repellent, no trace or pungent smell remains.
"Acaritox"
"Acaritox" has a combined insecticidal and acaricidal action against ticks. The drug destroys parasites and prevents their recurrence for several months.
"Cypermethrin"
Cypermethrin Household Insecticide is suitable for indoor and outdoor applications. The drug is especially effective against blood-sucking parasites.
tea tree oil
A mixture of 50 ml of water and 10 drops of oil is used to treat clothes from insects before leaving for the forest. Tea tree oil can also be used at home by treating household items with a solution.
Easy air blast
Easy Air miticide spray is made from natural ingredients and is absolutely safe for humans and animals. The drug does not cause allergic complications and eliminates dust mite allergens, rendering them harmless. The spray is intended for the treatment of bed linen, mattresses, carpets, clothes against insects.