Sasha CampbellTicks are more than a nuisance. They can pose serious health risks to you, your family, and your pets.
If you’re dealing with ticks in your home or yard, here’s a comprehensive guide on natural ways to get rid of them.
Identification
Ticks are small, oval-shaped parasites that can be difficult to spot. Depending on their age and whether they have been fed recently, they range in size from a poppy seed to an apple seed [1].
Their color varies from reddish-brown to dark brown or black. Adult ticks have eight legs, making them arachnids, and their bodies can swell significantly after feeding.
These pests are known carriers of various diseases, including Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever [2]. If left untreated, these illnesses can have severe, long-lasting effects.
Adult ticks attach to their hosts’ skin and feed on blood, sometimes for days, increasing the risk of disease transmission.
How to Get Rid of Ticks in the House and Yard Naturally
You can use the home remedies and natural solutions below to help reduce and remove ticks from your home and yard. This helps keep your family and pets safe.
1. Maintain a Tidy Yard
Leaf litter and other yard debris provide ideal hiding places for ticks.
To keep ticks away, regularly remove leaves, grass clippings, and other organic matter from your yard. This makes your yard less attractive to them.
2. Salt
Salt is a natural desiccant that can kill some tick eggs and larvae by dehydrating them.
It may help dry out some tick eggs and larvae in carpets and cracks, though it is usually more effective when combined with thorough vacuuming and cleaning.
Therefore, sprinkle salt on carpets, rugs, and other areas where ticks might hide. Leave it overnight, then vacuum it up thoroughly.
3. Boric Acid
Boric acid is another natural tick killer. It dehydrates and ultimately kills the larvae and eggs that come into contact with it.
Therefore, boric acid powder should be applied to carpets, rugs, and other target areas. Let it sit for a few hours before vacuuming.
However, keep children and pets away from treated areas until the powder has been vacuumed or cleaned up.
4. Lemon Oil
Ticks are believed to dislike the scent of lemon oil. Therefore, you can mix lemon oil with water and spray it around your home.
You can also use it directly on your skin to help keep ticks at bay. However, always dilute essential oils properly before applying them to skin and test a small area first to check for irritation.
5. Cedar Oil
Cedar oil is a natural repellent for tick nymphs [3]. It can be used both indoors and outdoors.
Mix 20 drops of cedar oil in a cup of water.
Spray it on carpets and areas where ticks are likely to be, such as your backyard, around dog bedding, and outdoor resting areas. Use caution when applying essential oils around cats.
You can also use it to mist your clothes, curtains, and other fabrics.
6. Oregano Oil
This oil’s strong scent may help deter ticks, and some people use it in homemade repellents.
You can also use oregano oil to make a DIY tick repellent for your skin. Just add a few drops of oregano oil to some carrier oil, shake well, and apply to your skin to help keep ticks away.
Because oregano oil is very potent, use only a small amount and avoid applying it to sensitive skin.
7. Practice Good Pet Hygiene
Cats, dogs, and other pets can bring ticks into your home, so it is essential to treat them regularly with tick-prevention products.
Some pet owners use diluted natural sprays for tick prevention, but certain essential oils can be toxic to pets, especially cats. Therefore, always consult your veterinarian before using essential oils on animals.
If approved by your veterinarian, some pet owners use diluted essential oil sprays for dogs. One common mixture is to add 10 drops of your chosen oil to 1 cup of apple cider vinegar.
Shake well, then mist your dog’s fur.
8. Maintain Your Lawn
Ticks thrive in humid, shaded areas with tall grass and leaf litter. So, keeping the lawn trimmed and reducing excess moisture buildup can help make the area less attractive to them.
9. Discourage Unwanted Animals from Entering Your Property
Ticks often enter your yard from wildlife such as deer, rodents, horses, cattle, and stray animals.
If possible, discourage these animals from entering your property, or keep them as far away from your house as possible.
10. Rubbing Alcohol
Dropping ticks in rubbing alcohol is also an effective way to kill them on contact.
If you find a tick on yourself or your pet, use fine-tipped tweezers to remove it, then drop it into rubbing alcohol. It will kill the tick immediately.
11. Diatomaceous Earth
Food-grade diatomaceous earth is deadly to ticks but safe for humans and pets.
You can spread it in areas where ticks are likely to be found. This includes the perimeter of your yard, gardens, and cracks and crevices in your home.
This product works by dehydrating and killing these pests upon contact.
12. Wash Bedding and Clothes in Hot Water
Ticks can latch onto bedding, clothing, and other fabrics.
Wash these items in hot water to kill any ticks that may be hiding in them. The heat can kill ticks and their eggs.
13. Neem Oil
Neem oil is a natural pesticide that can also kill ticks.
You can mix two teaspoons with your pet’s shampoo. Massage the shampoo into the pet’s coat, then rinse it out.
14. Declutter and Clean the House Thoroughly
A cluttered house provides plenty of hiding spots for ticks. These pests usually enter homes by attaching themselves to pets, clothing, or outdoor gear.
Regularly declutter and deep clean your home. This will help get rid of spots where ticks might hide.
Pay special attention to areas where pets spend a lot of time.
15. Vacuum Regularly
Regular vacuuming is one of the best ways to remove ticks from your home.
Focus on areas like carpets, rugs, furniture, and pet bedding. Be sure to empty the vacuum bag or canister immediately after vacuuming to prevent ticks from escaping.
16. Apple Cider Vinegar
Mix equal parts apple cider vinegar and water to create a spray. Then apply it to your pet’s coat.
Some pet owners also add small amounts of apple cider vinegar to their dog’s water, though evidence supporting its effectiveness as a tick repellent is limited.
17. Natural Predators
Some wildlife species may indirectly help reduce tick populations, though their impact can vary.
Encourage natural predators, like birds, frogs, and dragonflies, to live in your yard.
You can also encourage opossums, ladybugs, and spiders to inhabit your yard. These animals can help control the tick population by feeding on them.
You can attract these predators by creating a welcoming environment with water sources, shelter, and food.
18. Seal Gaps Between Windows and Doors
Ticks can enter your home through tiny gaps in windows, doors, and walls. Therefore, seal these gaps to prevent ticks from getting inside.
19. Repellent Plants
Several plants are known to repel ticks. Consider incorporating these into your yard or using them in homemade sprays.
Rosemary, lavender, marigold, and mint are great tick-repellent plants. Planting these around your yard can naturally deter ticks.
Moreover, some chrysanthemums have pyrethrum. This natural insecticide repels ticks and other pests.
20. Eucalyptus Oil
You can also use this essential oil to make a homemade tick-repellent spray for your home.
Mix 20 drops of eucalyptus oil with 4 ounces of water in a spray bottle. Spray this solution around your home.
Focus the spray on tick-prone areas, such as doorways, windows, and baseboards. Ticks are believed to dislike its scent.
21. Checking Your Body After Outdoor Activities
After spending time outdoors, check your clothing, scalp, underarms, behind the knees, and pets for ticks. Removing ticks early greatly lowers the risk of disease transmission.
Contact a healthcare provider if you develop a rash, fever, fatigue, or flu-like symptoms after a tick bite.
22. NemAttack™ and NemaSeek™ Nematodes
These beneficial nematodes feed on tick larvae and other soil-dwelling pests. You can apply them to your yard, where they will seek out and kill ticks in the soil.
23. Dr. Earth Final Stop Pest Control Killer Spray
Dr. Earth’s Final Stop Pest Control Killer Spray is an organic product that is designed to kill ticks and other pests. It can be applied indoors or outdoors.
Takeaway
Combining these natural methods can significantly reduce the tick population in your home and yard.
While no solution is entirely foolproof, one or more homemade tick killers or repellents on this list can protect you, your children, and your pets from these pests.
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