Tick Killer for Houses

Ticks are not only unsightly, they are dangerous. They transmit several diseases to humans, the best-known being Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Ticks are also difficult to get rid of. Because they often live in cracks and crevices, they are able to avoid many of the insecticides designed to kill them, and they come out of hiding after the danger to them has passed. However, it is possible to get rid of ticks in the house, but it does take perseverance and the willingness to try several different methods.

Make Sure Household Pets are Free of Ticks

• Because ticks are frequently brought into the house by dogs, the first step in tick control is to make sure your dog does not have any ticks. Many of the most effective tick-killing products are available only from veterinarians, so you may want to make an appointment to discuss the situation with him. Bathing the dog in an anti-tick shampoo and checking her fur thoroughly for ticks and removing any you find will help. Many times, owners have to use several remedies at once. For example, they may have to use a topical gel or pill combined with a tick collar. Even with a collar, ticks may still hide between the animal's toes. Some owners dip their pet's paws in rubbing alcohol, making sure that the liquid gets between the pet's toes.

  Dogs who are well-nourished seem better than others able to resist tick and flea infestations. Feeding the dog a better quality of food and including raw meat in his diet from time to time may make him more resistant to ticks.

Get Rid of Ticks in Your Yard

• Ticks enter your house because they are in your yard and get tracked in. Therefore, it is necessary to kill ticks in your yard. Because many pesticides designed to kill ticks in the yard require professional licenses to use, you may have to pay for a professional exterminator. If you are unwilling to do that, there are several other options. Keeping the grass cut short, raking up leaves and disposing of yard waste immediately reduces the number of places ticks can hide.

  Many garden centers sell pesticide granules for yard use. Use a spreader to distribute the granules and then wet them thoroughly. The granules seem to last longer than liquids. Some people report success with spraying bleach and water mixtures on the lawn or coating the lawn with diatomaceous earth.

How to Get Ticks Out of Your House

• Note where you see ticks. Usually, this will be near baseboards or cracks. If you hire a pest control company, the exterminator will want to know where you have seen the ticks so that he can be especially careful to treat those areas. If you do not wish to use pesticides, you can sprinkle boric acid on the carpets and in cracks. This substance does kill ticks and fleas. While boric acid is relatively safe, be sure to keep children and pets away from it. Also, do not confuse boric acid, which is available at pharmacies, with borax, which is available in the supermarket laundry section. Borax does not kill ticks. Some people report success with sprinkling diatomaceous earth on carpets and in cracks. There are two kinds: food grade and non-food grade.You can use the non-food grade variety on the lawn, but If you have young children or pets, use the food grade powder in the house.

Wash All Bedding, Including Pet Bedding, and Vacuum Thoroughly

• Vacuum all mattresses, box springs, couches and chairs. Vacuum the carpet and use an attachment to vacuum as close to the baseboards as you can. After you have finished vacuuming, immediately remove the vacuum cleaner bag, seal it in a plastic bag, and freeze it for two or three days to kill the ticks. After the ticks are dead, place the sealed plastic bag in the trash. Be prepared to repeat all the steps above two or three times until the problem is solved.