Will steam kill ticks?

[tennesseemom]

After storytime yesterday, my son and I went on a hike on an established, hard dry trail. He's only 3 so we were not out that long, and on the way home, he said "mama, I have spiders on me". I stopped and looked at him, and if you looked really really hard, you could see hundred of little specks crawling all over his legs.

When we got home we got in the shower and it seems like it took me forever to get them off of him. I had some on me too, but no where near as many as him.

This morning I took some stuff out of the car and noticed those little ticks on the paper. I'm freaked out now. I vacuumed with a beater brush, then I used my hand held steamer and steamed as much of the car I could, including his car seat and under the seats, etc.

Will the steam kill them? I really don't want to use chemicals. Park the car in the sun? will that kill them? How long till they die off?

http://www.tennessee-mom.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/stuff-071.jpg

[J double R]

those aren't ticks.. theyre likely mites or chiggers. ticks are large, usually about the size of a pencil eraser.

steam will kill those things. :)

[Madcrawdad]

Thanks. Now you've made me itchy...

Are you sure they're ticks? They seem pretty small for ticks.

[J double R]

theyre not ticks. :)

[Madcrawdad]

I agree...but I'm not an entymologist. Either way, though, reading the post still makes my head itch.

[247Plants]

even as babies ticks are still a lot larger than that. We get some pretty nasty infestations out here every so often.

[Alan R]

I can't see the pic cleary from my phone but sounds like mites. Mites are black chiggers are red I think.

[LesbianChap]

There are several species of ticks...and some are rather small...I've found ticks on me as small as a pin head...

[captaincaveman9]

definitely not ticks, so no worry there. And, I agree, thanks for making me itchy

[KIM_TMA]

I hate to inform of the previous posters but YES ticks can be that small. They are refered to as seed ticks. We have them pretty bad around my house. More than likely no the steam won't kill them. I know that dial soap and other disinfectant soaps make them flee for their lifes. My suggestions would be go and buy some mosquito spray that has deet in it and spray your vehicle and leave the window open for it to air out. They have kinds that don't stink real bad too. The deet will kill them for sure and if not kill make them flee your vehicle. Just remember where ever you run them out at that is where they will be to catch their next host.

[J double R]

I hate to inform of the previous posters but YES ticks can be that small. They are refered to as seed ticks. We have them pretty bad around my house. More than likely no the steam won't kill them. I know that dial soap and other disinfectant soaps make them flee for their lifes. My suggestions would be go and buy some mosquito spray that has deet in it and spray your vehicle and leave the window open for it to air out. They have kinds that don't stink real bad too. The deet will kill them for sure and if not kill make them flee your vehicle. Just remember where ever you run them out at that is where they will be to catch their next host.

youre telling me that steam of a temperature of higher than 212F is not going to kill ticks?

i'll believe that some ticks might be small... but i won't believe that a temp that high wouldnt kill a tick.

oh, and DEET is not exactly a good thing to be spreading all around where a 3 year old is involved. great for use in adults and older children, but smaller children and their exploring ways can end up ingesting it.

[kingearwig]

These are probably seed ticks. very nasty. deet will NOT kill them. I would use a commercial spider killing pesticide. Yeah I know it is a nasty chemical but I would seal the car bomb it with spider killer wait 8 hours then sit it in the sun and wind for a day or 2 to air out. The pesticide is meant to be not that toxic to humans and will air out eventually.
DEET is probably not that much better for you than spider killer and will not kill the ticks. DEET is only meant as a deterant.

Steam vacing probably took care of a lot of them as the steam probably made them loosen their grip and then they probably got sucked up.

[Alan R]

Just sell the car. Problem solved.

[Dangerdoll]

LOL.... Alan, you crack me up...
I don't know, I would be wary of using any kind of bug spray... if it's your last effort, go with it... then let the car air out, then disinfect the whole car all over and resteam. Yeah, seems a little overboard but you're talking babies here... and who wants to be creeped out that maybe you left some ticks behind..... the moire you do, the less of a chance they have to remain...

[The Zigman]

Steam that sock, and see if they die...
and if that doesn't work...


http://blog.lib.umn.edu/boley011/architecture/flamethrower.jpg

[J double R]

These are probably seed ticks. very nasty. deet will NOT kill them. I would use a commercial spider killing pesticide. Yeah I know it is a nasty chemical but I would seal the car bomb it with spider killer wait 8 hours then sit it in the sun and wind for a day or 2 to air out. The pesticide is meant to be not that toxic to humans and will air out eventually.
DEET is probably not that much better for you than spider killer and will not kill the ticks. DEET is only meant as a deterant.

Steam vacing probably took care of a lot of them as the steam probably made them loosen their grip and then they probably got sucked up.


youre kidding me, right? I'll try my best not to be rude.. but recommending BUG SPRAY to be used in a car that transports a CHILD?! seriously!

it might not be MEANT to be poisonous to humans.. but rest assured, it IS. there's a reason it kills fish and bugs, and it isnt because it's harmless. those warnings on the back of the can are not there for pleasure. also.. it does not just "air out". once it's dry, the oily poison residue will stay for weeks unless washed away by rain or similar mass flushing.

[The Zigman]

I think before any thing can be done to safely erradicate them we need a positive ID on the insect...

[Dangerdoll]

good point, zig

[petluvr]

My guess is chiggers:)

[Blueiz]

I agree that they do indeed look like seed ticks. Bombing the car then letting it air out is not going to harm the kids. Bomb the car, let it air out, wipe off the vinyl with a wet rag, rinsing frequently, vaccum the car, youre good to go. Yes, I do have a kid, and yes I would do this. Id rather have exposure to chemicals that are no worse than smog than to have them bitten by a possibly disease carrying tick.

[Blueiz]

As another thought, by some flea and tick spray you use on dogs to spray in the car, or use the flea and tick powder letting it sit on the upholstery and carpet for a bit then vaccum it up.

[judgemax]

I have to say I agree with blue here. Buy a house flea and tick spray. vacuum it out, then after letting it air, I would most likely just re shampoo:) and yes, I also have kids, and dogs, ..and would use that method.

[snoopy65]

Go to Home Depot and buy some seven, It kills fleas and ticks on dogs without a problem for the dog if they lick it, can be used on veggies so it can not be too bad for humans. Wait 24 - 36 hours and thoroughly vacuum the vehicle. I have used this in my Blazer and I have 2 kids, who drop their french fries and pick them back up and eat them, and 3 dogs that are in it regularly.

[Madcrawdad]

When driving, just have all of the car's occupants wear flea collars....they're usually good for ticks too. :)

[tennesseemom]

Haha, you guys are funny:)

I steamed the sock, and they died.

I've steamed and vacuumed the car twice, then we went to the store, and nothing crawled on us. Plus the van smells fresher!

I can't get a picture of one, but I did look at them in a magnifying glass and they look like pictures I see of Deer ticks. Nasty and now I'm afraid to go in the woods until its cold!

I must say, that $10 Scunci steam cleaner Goodwill find paid off.

I'm going to steam the van again tomorrow. Then steam it again. I'm probably going to have OCD after all this.

[Madcrawdad]

Haha, you guys are funny:)

I steamed the sock, and they died.

I've steamed and vacuumed the car twice, then we went to the store, and nothing crawled on us. Plus the van smells fresher!

I can't get a picture of one, but I did look at them in a magnifying glass and they look like pictures I see of Deer ticks. Nasty and now I'm afraid to go in the woods until its cold!

I must say, that $10 Scunci steam cleaner Goodwill find paid off.

I'm going to steam the van again tomorrow. Then steam it again. I'm probably going to have OCD after all this.

I would think you're probably good and got the majority (if not all of them).... just wear long pants in the car for awhile and pull your socks up over the outside of your pants when in the car, if you're still worried.