Ticks are small but dangerous pests that can transmit diseases like Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and ehrlichiosis. Whether you’ve spent time outdoors hiking, camping, or walking through tall grass, it’s crucial to check for ticks as soon as you return.
At On Demand Pest Control, we know that early detection is key to preventing tick bites and potential health risks. Follow this step-by-step tick check guide to keep yourself, your family, and your pets safe from ticks.
Step-by-Step Guide to Tick Checks
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emphasizes the importance of regular tick checks to reduce the risk of infections. Here’s how to properly inspect yourself, your children, and your pets after spending time outdoors.
Step 1: Inspect Your Clothing Before Entering Your Home
Before stepping inside, check your clothes for any hitchhiking ticks. These tiny arachnids often cling to fabric before making their way to your skin.
✔️ Shake out your clothing and inspect seams, folds, and pockets.
✔️ Wear light-colored clothes—it makes spotting ticks easier.
✔️ Tuck your pants into your socks to reduce exposure in tick-heavy areas.
✔️ Wash clothes in hot water (at least 130°F) to kill any hidden ticks.
✔️ Use EPA-approved insect repellent, such as permethrin, to treat clothing before outdoor activities.
🚨 Tip: Ticks can survive in dirty laundry, so don’t leave outdoor clothes sitting in a pile—wash them immediately.
Step 2: Check Your Body with a Full-Length Mirror
Once inside, inspect your entire body using a full-length mirror. Ticks are tiny and can attach anywhere, so take your time examining every part of your body.
✔️ Use a handheld mirror or phone camera for hard-to-see areas.
✔️ Run your hands over your skin to feel for small bumps.
✔️ Don’t ignore areas that might seem unlikely, such as the scalp or armpits.
🚨 Tip: If you’ve been hiking, gardening, or in tall grass, assume a tick might be hiding somewhere—check twice.
Step 3: Focus on Common Tick Hiding Spots
Ticks prefer warm, hidden areas where they can feed unnoticed. Be extra thorough when checking these high-risk zones:
✔️ Underarms
✔️ Behind the knees
✔️ Belly button and waistline
✔️ Groin and inner thighs
✔️ Around the neck and ears
✔️ Between fingers and toes
🚨 Tip: Young ticks (nymphs) are as small as a poppy seed—they can be easy to miss. Gently feel for tiny bumps on your skin.
Step 4: Check Your Hair and Scalp
Ticks often latch onto the scalp, especially along the hairline.
✔️ Use a fine-tooth comb to check for ticks in your hair.
✔️ Have a family member inspect the back of your head if possible.
✔️ Use bright lighting to help spot small, dark ticks.
🚨 Tip: If you’ve been in heavily wooded areas, shower and wash your hair immediately to remove any unattached ticks.
Step 5: Check Children for Ticks
Kids love to play in grass, sand, and wooded areas, making them prime targets for ticks. Carefully inspect them from head to toe after outdoor activities.
✔️ Check their scalp, ears, and behind the knees—places kids often don’t notice.
✔️ Encourage showering within two hours to wash off any ticks before they attach.
✔️ Apply EPA-approved repellents like DEET or picaridin when heading outdoors.
🚨 Tip: Tick bites don’t hurt, so kids may not notice them. Stay vigilant!
Step 6: Inspect Your Pets for Ticks
Dogs and cats can bring ticks into your home, even if they’re on flea and tick prevention.
✔️ Run your hands through your pet’s fur, feeling for small bumps.
✔️ Focus on ears, neck, underbelly, and between toes—ticks love these spots.
✔️ Use a flea comb or tick remover for better detection.
✔️ Apply vet-approved tick prevention products year-round.
🚨 Tip: If your pet frequently goes outside, consider treating your yard for ticks with professional pest control solutions.
Step 7: Take a Shower to Remove Unseen Ticks
Showering within two hours of being outdoors greatly reduces the risk of tick-borne diseases.
✔️ Wash every area thoroughly, paying close attention to hidden spots.
✔️ Use a washcloth or loofah to help dislodge any unattached ticks.
✔️ If a tick is already attached, it won’t wash away—move to Step 8.
🚨 Tip: Showering not only removes unattached ticks but also reduces infection risks.
Step 8: Remove Any Attached Ticks Immediately
If you find a tick attached to your skin, act fast!
✔️ Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.
✔️ Pull upward with steady pressure—don’t twist or squeeze.
✔️ Disinfect the bite area with soap, water, or rubbing alcohol.
✔️ Avoid home remedies like petroleum jelly or burning the tick—these don’t work and can increase infection risk.
🚨 Tip: If part of the tick remains embedded, try removing it carefully. If you can’t, seek medical attention.
What to Do After Removing a Tick
Once a tick is removed, monitor the bite area for signs of infection or illness.
✔️ Watch for redness, swelling, or irritation over the next few days.
✔️ Be alert for flu-like symptoms, such as fever, rash, or joint pain—these could indicate a tick-borne disease.
✔️ Save the tick in a sealed container for identification or testing if needed.
✔️ Seek medical help if the tick was attached for more than 24 hours or if symptoms develop.
🚨 Tip: If you’re unsure about tick identification or disease risks, consult a pest control or healthcare professional.
Protect Your Home from Ticks with Professional Pest Control
Ticks aren’t just a problem outdoors—they can infest your yard, crawl into your home, and put your family and pets at risk.
At On Demand Pest Control, we provide:
✔️ Targeted tick treatments to reduce infestations in your yard.
✔️ Eco-friendly solutions safe for kids and pets.
✔️ Preventative strategies to keep ticks from returning.
📞 Contact us today for a free tick inspection and take control of your outdoor space!
