Why is placing clothing in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes an effective strategy for tick control after outdoor activities?
Answer
Ticks are highly susceptible to the dehydration caused by dry heat
Dry heat is particularly lethal to ticks because they are vulnerable to rapid dehydration. A 10-minute cycle on high heat is sufficient to kill ticks that may be clinging to garments. This method is often more efficient for clothing decontamination than washing alone, as it ensures the ticks are incapacitated before they can migrate to the skin.
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