Ticks are a common concern for anyone spending time outdoors, often entering homes on clothing. Understanding how long these parasites can survive on fabric after detaching from a host is key to preventing bites and disease transfer. While the typical indoor environment is hostile to ticks, they still pose a risk if clothing is not handled correctly.
Tick Survival Times Off-Host
A tick’s survival away from a host is primarily limited by desiccation, the process of drying out. Ticks require high humidity to prevent moisture loss, and the low humidity of a climate-controlled home is generally lethal. For instance, blacklegged ticks often die within eight to 24 hours in a dry indoor environment.
Survival time can be extended if clothing is damp or placed in a humid environment, such as a moist laundry hamper. Under these favorable conditions, ticks can sometimes survive for a few days. While species like the American dog tick and Lone Star tick may be slightly more resilient, desiccation remains the limiting factor for all ticks indoors.
The Effectiveness of Heat and Drying Cycles
The most reliable method for eliminating ticks on clothing is the use of high heat in a tumble dryer. Ticks are vulnerable to heat combined with the low moisture conditions created by the dryer, which rapidly accelerates desiccation. Placing dry clothing directly into a dryer on a high-heat setting is effective for killing ticks.
Studies show that all blacklegged tick specimens were killed after just six minutes of tumbling on high heat. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a minimum of 10 minutes on high heat to ensure elimination on dry clothing. If the clothing is damp, additional time may be necessary to completely dry the fabric and achieve the lethal temperature and moisture combination.
Standard Washing Versus Tick Elimination
Washing machines alone are generally not sufficient for tick elimination, even with detergent. Ticks are resilient to submersion and the mechanical action of a wash cycle, often surviving by clinging firmly to the fabric or hiding within seams.
The temperature of the wash water is the primary determinant of survival. A majority of ticks, about 94%, survive warm wash cycles, and all ticks tested survive cold cycles. To effectively kill ticks through washing alone, the water temperature must reach at least 54°C (130°F). Since most residential washing machines do not consistently reach this temperature, the drying cycle remains the most dependable method for decontamination.
Immediate Safety Protocols for Clothing
Preventative action immediately upon returning indoors is the best way to stop ticks from moving from clothing to a host or furniture. Clothing should be removed and handled carefully as soon as possible after outdoor activity. Avoid tossing clothing onto the floor or into a hamper, as this allows ticks time to crawl off and explore the indoor environment.
The most effective immediate protocol is to place the clothing directly into the dryer for the high-heat cycle. If immediate drying is not possible, the clothing should be sealed in a plastic bag until it can be processed. A visual inspection of the clothes before they enter the laundry process is also a helpful check.