Chiggers are tiny mites that can turn an outdoor excursion into an intensely itchy experience. These nearly invisible pests often hitch a ride on clothing after exposure to grassy or wooded areas. Understanding how long these arachnids can persist on garments is the first step in preventing their bites and spread indoors. Chiggers use clothing as a temporary bridge to a host, but they do not survive there for long without specific conditions.
Chigger Identity and Transfer Mechanism
The pest responsible for the irritating bites is the chigger larva, the six-legged, immature stage of a mite in the family Trombiculidae. Unlike adult mites, which feed on soil organisms, the larvae are parasitic and seek a host for a single meal. Chiggers do not fly or jump; instead, they position themselves on the tips of vegetation, like tall grass or weeds, waiting for a person or animal to brush past.
When clothing or skin contacts the infested foliage, the larvae quickly latch onto the fabric. The clothing acts as a temporary vehicle, transporting the chiggers closer to the host’s skin. Chiggers crawl across the fabric until they find an area of thin skin or where clothing fits tightly, such as around the ankles, waistline, or behind the knees.
Survivability on Garments and Textiles
Chiggers have a limited capacity to survive once they are no longer on a host or in their natural outdoor environment. They require warmth and humidity to thrive, and they cannot sustain themselves on dry textiles. The primary cause of death for a chigger larva stranded on clothing is dehydration.
Once a garment is removed and placed in a dry, indoor setting, chiggers typically die quickly. Without a host, chiggers will not survive past 24 to 48 hours in common household conditions. Their lifespan may be only a few hours, as they are driven to find a host to complete the feeding necessary for their life cycle transition. Leaving exposed clothing unwashed for days can allow a few to survive longer under moist conditions, but this is uncommon.
Immediate Steps for Eradication
The most effective and immediate method for neutralizing chiggers on exposed clothing involves high heat. Taking off outdoor clothes as soon as you enter the house and placing them directly into the dryer is the quickest way to kill any larvae. Running the clothing on a high heat setting for 25 to 30 minutes is sufficient to eliminate the pests through desiccation.
While hot water washing can be effective, the drying cycle is the most reliable killing step. If washing is necessary, use the hottest water setting available, ideally reaching or exceeding 125°F (52°C), as this temperature kills mites. Washing alone, especially in cold or warm water, may not eliminate all chiggers, making subsequent high-heat drying a necessary precaution.
For items that cannot be washed or dried on high heat, such as shoes or delicate gear, sealing them in a plastic bag achieves the same result. Depriving the chiggers of moisture and a host causes them to dehydrate and die within a few days. Prompt handling of exposed clothing is the best defense against lingering larvae finding a new host.