Ticks can pose serious health risks to your family and pets. They carry diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which can cause serious health complications if left untreated. As a homeowner, keeping your outdoor spaces safe is essential for making the most of summer activities.
If your family is at risk from ticks in your yard, take action now. Call us today at +1-888-649-9919 or email us to learn more about our proven tick prevention strategies.
Let’s share essential summer tick prevention tips to protect your family and pets, so you can enjoy the season without worry.
Tip 1: Wear Tick-Proof Clothing
The right outfit can make a big difference in keeping ticks away. When spending time in tick-prone areas, such as grassy fields, wooded trails, and even your backyard, wear long pants, sleeved tops, and closed-toe shoes.
Tuck your top into your pants and your pants into your socks to prevent ticks from crawling onto your skin. Also, opt for light-colored clothing to easily spot any that may have latched on.
For tick prevention for kids, ensure they wear hats and avoid leaving any exposed skin that could attract ticks while they’re playing outdoors.
You should also consider investing in permethrin-treated clothing, which repels and kills ticks on contact. This is especially for families who spend a lot of time hiking or camping.
Tip 2: Use Tick-Repellent Sprays
Insect repellents are an essential part of any tick prevention strategy. Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered sprays containing active ingredients like DEET, picaridin, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE).
Always check product instructions and avoid sprays containing OLE or PMD for children under three years old, as these ingredients may cause skin irritation and other adverse effects.
Apply the spray to exposed skin and clothing but avoid your hands, eyes, and mouth. Reapply as directed for consistent protection during outdoor adventures.
Tip 3: Treat Your Clothing and Gear
Another effective step in tick prevention is to treat outdoor clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin. This treatment remains effective after several washes and can be applied to boots, camping gear and backpacks. Alternatively, you can invest in pre-treated clothing and gear for convenience.
Tip 4: Don’t Forget Your Pets
The biggest entry point for ticks coming into your home is your pet. Ensure your pets are protected with appropriate flea and tick treatments recommended by your veterinarian, such as topical solutions, collars or oral medications.
Check their fur thoroughly after they’ve been outdoors, especially areas like their ears, belly, and paws. Regular grooming and baths with tick-repellent shampoos can also help keep your furry friends tick-free.
Tip 5: Avoid Tick Hotspots
Ticks thrive in grassy, wooded or bushy areas. Whenever possible, avoid walking through leaf piles, tall grass and dense shrubs as that’s where ticks are likely to hide. Stick to the center of trails during hikes and discourage kids and pets from wandering into overgrown areas.
Even your yard can harbor ticks, so maintaining a clean and well-manicured lawn is important for tick prevention for the entire family.
Tip 6: Check Clothing for Ticks
Ticks can cling to clothing and inadvertently make their way into your home. Carefully inspect all garments for ticks and remove any you find. To ensure any unseen ticks are eliminated, place the clothing in a dryer on high heat for at least 10 minutes.
If the clothing requires washing first, use hot water before drying. Remember, cold or warm water temperatures are insufficient to kill ticks, so always choose the hottest settings suitable for the fabric.
Tip 7: Shower After a Day Outdoors
Showering within two hours of being outdoors can greatly lower your risk of tick-borne diseases. It helps rinse off unattached ticks and provides the perfect chance to conduct a full body check.
Encourage your children to adopt this habit, turning it into a routine after outdoor play or trips to the park.
Tip 8: Conduct Full-Body Tick Checks
Regular tick checks are one of the most effective summer tick prevention tips to protect your family. Use a mirror to carefully inspect all parts of the body, focusing on areas where ticks are commonly overlooked, such as:
- Under the arms
- Inside the belly button
- Behind the knees
- Around the waist
- In and around the ears
- Between the legs
- Along the hairline
Be diligent in performing these checks on children and pets as well. Ticks can be especially difficult to detect in thick hair or fur, so take your time to ensure no areas are missed. Early detection is key to preventing tick-borne illnesses.
Tip 9: Create a Tick-Safe Yard
You can transform your outdoor space into a zone that is safe from ticks with these simple steps:
- Remove leaf litter and trim tall grass regularly.
- Install a 3-foot-wide barrier of wood chips or gravel between your lawn and wooded areas to prevent ticks from migrating into your yard.
- Mow the lawn frequently to reduce hiding spots for ticks.
- Stack firewood neatly in dry areas to discourage rodents, which can carry ticks.
- Position playground and patio equipment away from forested areas.
- Erect fences to keep deer and raccoons out, as they can also carry ticks.
These summer tick prevention tips can significantly reduce the presence of ticks in your yard, but for added peace of mind, consider scheduling one-time or quarterly tick prevention services for consistent protection.
Get Safe and Effective Tick Control Solutions
Keep your loved ones safe with Pest Control Unlimited’s eco-friendly tick prevention services. As a locally owned company, we specialize in affordable, effective solutions for homes and commercial properties.
Our organic sprays, made with cedar and peppermint oils, eliminate ticks while remaining safe for kids, pets, and beneficial insects.
Contact us at +1-888-649-9919 or email us for trusted, environmentally friendly pest control. We proudly serve Middlesex County, Massachusetts, and Hillsborough, Merrimack, and Rockingham Counties in New Hampshire.
