Ticks can hitchhike home on hiking clothes, shoes, blankets, and pet bedding.
If you worry about Lyme disease, you need a laundry routine that removes attached ticks before they reach your skin or living space.
A clothes dryer can kill ticks, while washing alone may not reliably do so.
Put dry, tick-exposed clothing directly in the dryer on high heat for at least 10 minutes when the fabric allows it.
Wash and dry the items as usual.
The Short Answer: Heat Is What Kills Ticks
The dryer works better than the washer because sustained high heat and drying time dehydrate ticks.
Researchers studying residential laundry found that drying clothing for at least six minutes on high heat killed ticks.
Clothing that required a wash first needed water at or above 130°F to achieve the same result.
You can review the residential washer and dryer tick study for those findings.
Why the Dryer Is More Reliable Than Washing Alone
A washer exposes ticks to water, detergent, agitation, and changing temperatures.
Immersion does not consistently kill every tick.
A dryer set to high heat supplies a more predictable combination of heat and moisture loss.
For dry clothing, place items directly in the dryer before shaking or sorting them.
Use high heat for at least 10 minutes.
Extend the cycle for bulky loads or thick fabrics so the entire load becomes thoroughly dry.
How Hot Water Affects Tick Survival
Hot water can kill ticks when it reaches a sufficiently high temperature throughout the load.
The research threshold of 130°F may exceed some washer settings.
Do not assume that a “hot” label guarantees that temperature.
Washable clothing should go through the hottest fabric-safe cycle after the initial dryer treatment.
Laundry detergent helps remove debris and organisms during agitation.
Heat remains the key killing factor.
Why Cold and Warm Cycles Can Leave Ticks Alive
Cold and warm cycles may clean clothing without producing enough heat to kill every tick.
A short or low-temperature dryer cycle can also leave ticks alive, especially inside seams, pockets, cuffs, or damp fabric folds.
If an item cannot tolerate high heat, avoid shrinking or damaging it.
Use another approved treatment method, such as professional cleaning, and keep the item contained until you can treat it safely.
A Safe Laundry Routine for Tick-Exposed Clothes
Clothing from tick-infested areas deserves careful handling from the moment you enter your home.
Containment, a suitable wash cycle, and thorough drying reduce the chance that ticks spread onto floors, furniture, or clean laundry.
Bagging Items Before They Reach the Laundry Basket
Do not carry potentially exposed clothing loose through your home or place it in a shared laundry basket.
Remove it near the entryway and place it in a sealed plastic bag if you cannot start the dryer immediately.
Keep outdoor clothing separate from towels, bedding, and clean garments.
Check pockets, cuffs, waistbands, and seams for visible ticks before handling the load.
Choosing the Right Wash Cycle and Laundry Detergent
For fabric that permits it, put dry clothing in the dryer on high heat before washing.
Then use the hottest washer cycle allowed by the care label and your machine, adding your regular laundry detergent.
Avoid relying on specialty “tick-killing” additives unless the product label specifically approves the intended fabric and use.
Never apply insecticides directly to clothing inside a washer or dryer unless the label expressly directs that application.
Drying Clothes and Towels Thoroughly
Run clothing and towels on high heat for at least 10 minutes when their care labels permit it.
Thick towels, fleece, and layered garments may require additional drying time because damp centers can shield ticks from heat.
Clean the lint filter before and after the load.
Do not remove or shake items over living areas.
Once dry, transfer them directly to a clean surface or closed container.
Handling Delicate Items That Cannot Tolerate High Heat
For wool, silk, waterproof gear, and other heat-sensitive items, follow the care label rather than risking fabric damage.
Seal the items until you can use an approved professional cleaning service or another manufacturer-recommended method.
Inspect delicate gear outdoors or over a hard, easy-to-clean surface.
Do not spray household insecticides on clothing, bedding, or skin unless the product label specifically permits that use.
What to Do Beyond the Laundry Room
Laundry removes ticks from garments, but it does not address ticks already attached to people or pets.
Pair careful clothing treatment with body checks, pet checks, home cleaning, and prevention around your property.
Checking Yourself, Children, and Pets for Attached Ticks
After outdoor activity, check your scalp, hairline, ears, neck, armpits, waist, groin, and behind your knees.
Examine children and pets carefully, including between toes, around collars, and beneath harnesses.
Remove an attached tick promptly with fine-tipped tweezers.
Grasp it close to the skin, pull upward steadily, and clean the bite area and your hands afterward.
Do not crush, burn, or cover the tick with petroleum jelly.
When to Clean the Washer or Dryer
If you find a tick on clothing, check the washer gasket, drum, detergent drawer, dryer drum, lint filter, and nearby floor.
Wipe accessible surfaces with ordinary household cleaner, dispose of lint, and vacuum around the appliances.
Do not pour insecticides into a washing machine or dryer, since residues can damage equipment and contaminate future loads.
Prevention With Tick Repellent and Yard Control
Use an EPA-registered tick repellent according to its label.
Treat clothing or gear only with products specifically labeled for that purpose.
Some clothing treatments use permethrin, which must be applied exactly as directed and kept away from cats while wet.
Reduce yard habitat by keeping grass short, clearing leaf litter, and creating a dry barrier between lawns and wooded edges.
Professional yard treatments or targeted insecticides may help in high-risk areas, provided you follow the product label and protect children, pets, and wildlife.
When Tick Exposure May Need Medical Attention
Contact a healthcare professional if you develop fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle or joint aches, or a spreading rash after a tick bite.
Lyme disease symptoms can appear days or weeks later. Early evaluation helps guide testing and treatment.
Seek prompt medical advice if you cannot remove the entire tick. If the bite becomes increasingly red or painful, or you develop severe symptoms, contact your doctor.
Record the date and location of the bite. Keep a photo of the tick if you can take one safely.
