Ticks Don't Come Out In The Wash

[Franky]

Now that spring has arrived for many of us around the world, it is lyme disease season again. Some of us will be enjoying the warm weather and the outdoors to a certain extent.

Even though this article is a bit old, it is still a good read and informative. But the bottom line is: Carroll’s research reinforces recommendations by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to wash and dry clothes at high temperatures after spending time in areas known to harbor ticks.



Before venturing into tick-infested territory, you used a topical repellent on exposed skin and outer clothing. When you returned, you did a body check and threw your clothes in the wash. But clean clothes may not be tick-free clothes.

Ticks Don't Come Out In The Wash

[carla]

They need to add 'Never have a blood transfusion to the warning.'

[saramar]

One thing I've been thinking about since finding this forum is the ticks! I grew up in Minnesota and we always had ticks attached to us. Our moms checked our heads every night in the warm months. I remember one time pulling a tick out of the back of my head and that hole would NOT heal up. It was there for months. Is that what started this? I'm just scouring my history at this point.

[jonsi]

I had the bull's eye rash on my stomach after being bitten by a spider (in 2003?) and I live in New Mexico, where the lymes tick is not found. I test positive for lymes, vectors...

I suggest spraying dirty clothes with "bug arrest" or eco-vie before washing them. While in the woods spray down your tent, clothes and body to kill the spider/ticks. Bug arrest and eco-vie are non-toxic enzymes that break down the chitin "shells" of spiders, etc. What is chitin?

I love to camp.
itwl,
~jonsi