How to Get Rid of Chiggers

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The small red mites known as chiggers can be a real annoyance when they bite you. While chigger bites are not usually dangerous, they're often very itchy and sometimes even painful. To get rid of chiggers in your yard, clear away tall vegetation, identify any “hot spots,” and apply natural or chemical insecticides. To keep chiggers off of you, wear long clothing, apply insect repellents safely, and wash your body and clothing as soon as you come back indoors.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Controlling Chiggers Outdoors

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  1. Mow your lawn regularly and cut back tall vegetation. Briars, weeds, and tall grass are all well-known hiding spots for chiggers. Pulling weeds and keeping your grass short is a simple yet effective way to get rid of any chiggers living in your yard. [1]
    • Regularly prune your trees , bushes, and other shrubs to lower the humidity around those plants and allow more sunlight to filter in.
    • These measures reduce the shade and moisture chiggers thrive in. They particularly dislike dry, sunny areas with good air circulation.
    • Continue these practices year-round. Dormant chiggers will return once the weather warms up.
  2. Reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals are favorite hosts among chiggers. Discouraging these animals from hanging around may also cause the chiggers to leave, since they'll follow their food source. [2]
    • Remove sources of water that invite reptiles and amphibians.
    • Cut back dense foliage or shrubbery to discourage small mammals that use these areas as convenient hiding places.
    • Secure the lids of your trash cans and set up fencing around the perimeter of your garden or yard.
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  3. When applying natural or chemical insecticides to kill chiggers, you should treat hot spots instead of treating the entire area. This is less expensive, quicker, and generally more effective. To do this, though, you first need to find the chiggers! [3]
    • Pick out hot spots by propping up small squares of black cardboard around your yard, especially in damp, shady areas with thicker vegetation. After 15-30 minutes, check for tiny yellow or pink specks on the cardboard—these are chigger larvae!
    • Alternatively, place small dishes of water in the same strategic locations. The larvae should be attracted to the elevated humidity.
    • Keep track of the hot spots you identify for targeted treatment.
  4. Sprinkle diatomaceous earth over chigger hot spots in your yard. Doing a broadcast application of diatomaceous earth, which is a natural, organic pesticide, can help eliminate chiggers and other garden and lawn pests. Wear gloves, glasses, and a facemask and either spread it by hand or with a lawn spreader. [4]
    • This is a natural product made up of the fossils of small creatures called diatoms. It comes in the form of a fine white or off-white powder.
    • Sprinkle the diatomaceous earth around the perimeter of your yard and over any areas that may offer ideal conditions for chiggers to live in. Focus on tall grass, weeds, and briars.
    • If a chigger ingests any of the diatomaceous earth, it will die of dehydration. The sharp granules may also cut into and kill any chiggers that crawl over it.
  5. Look for an insecticide containing bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, esfenvalerate, chlorpyrifos, diazinon , bifenthrin, carbaryl, cyhalothrin, or permethrin. Insecticides containing any of these chemicals are usually effective at killing chiggers. [5] However, read the label carefully to determine if a specific insecticide is formulated for mites and/or chiggers.
    • Follow the label instructions concerning application safety. Wear protective clothing to prevent insecticides from coming into contact with your skin or eyes as you apply them.
    • Retreat the area 2 to 3 weeks later if you have a large number of chiggers infesting your yard.
    • Liquid spray insecticides are generally more effective against chiggers than granular insecticides. If selecting a granular insecticide, however, choose one containing bifenthrin.
  6. If preventative measures, natural remedies, and home chemical remedies do not succeed in getting rid of your chigger problem, contact a professional exterminator. Pest control professionals are licensed to use stronger formulations of chemicals that are more hazardous yet more effective. [6]
    • For instance, the exterminator may use propoxur, cyfluthrin, or fluvalinate to get rid of chiggers.
    • Stay off treated areas until dry. Prevent children and pets from walking over treated areas for as long as recommended by the exterminator.
    • Even with these stronger chemicals, you may need to retreat the area after 2 or 3 weeks if the infestation is heavy enough.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Removing Chiggers from Skin and Clothing

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  1. Chiggers do not necessarily latch on as soon as they come into contact with your flesh. Regularly brushing over any exposed skin on your arms and legs may help you to get rid of any chiggers hanging out on your body. [7]
    • To the same end, you can also brush off your clothes to help remove chiggers from your garments.
    • Use a towel or soft bristled brush.
  2. If you were in an area that may be infested by chiggers, take a hot bath or shower immediately after coming back inside. If you’re lucky, you’ll wash away and kill any chiggers before they get the opportunity to latch onto your skin. [8]
    • To ensure extermination, you should lather, rinse, and repeat several times during the shower. The water must also be very warm to hot, not lukewarm.
    • Vigorously scrub your skin with a washcloth to dislodge any chiggers that may have attached themselves.
  3. Wash your clothes in hot water. If you may have been exposed to chiggers outside, get rid of any hiding out in your clothes by washing the garments in hot, soapy water. The water should reach a minimum of 125 °F (52 °C), or the chiggers may not be killed. Additionally, the washing cycle should last for 30 minutes or more to ensure the chiggers are washed away. [9]
    • After washing your clothes, dry them in a drying machine or in the sunlight.
    • Do not wear chigger-infested clothes before washing them. Do not wash the clothes in cool water, since this may not kill the chiggers.
  4. If chiggers did attach themselves to your skin, you’ll have to deal with itchy bug bites within a few hours. Itching associated with chigger bites can be temporarily relieved with benzocaine ointment, hydrocortisone cream, and calamine lotion. You may also be able to reduce itching with petroleum jelly, baby oil, or a paste of baking soda and water. [10]
    • Don't scratch the bites, no matter how much they itch! If you do, you may break the skin and cause an infection.
    • If you feel warmth in the area or see a discharge coming from the bite, contact your doctor.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Keeping Chiggers off of You

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  1. If you’re going into a chigger hot spot or any area with tall vegetation, prevent chiggers from attaching to you by concealing as much skin as possible. Wear long sleeves, long pants, long socks, and tall boots. [11]
    • Opt for tightly-woven fabrics over airy, loosely-woven ones. Chiggers are small enough to find their way in between the gaps present between threads of loosely-woven fabrics, but they will have a significantly harder time finding their way through clothes with smaller gaps.
  2. Chiggers can find their way to your skin by hopping onto your clothes and crawling underneath. To get rid of them before this happens, seal off any openings to your skin as best as possible. Focus especially on areas from the waist down, since chiggers often move from tall grass to your lower body. [12]
    • Tuck your socks into your pants or your pant legs into your socks, sealing off the gap of skin between them.
    • Tuck your shirt into your pants. Chiggers like to nibble on areas with thinner skin, such as the genitals—ouch!
    • If venturing into tall grass or weeds, tie off your sleeves around the wrists with rubber bands or ribbon.
    • When possible, wear clothes with zippers rather than buttons.
  3. Certain strong odors, including sulfur powder, are reputedly effective at driving chiggers away. Sprinkle a fine dusting of sulfur powder into your shoes and/or socks to drive off any chiggers lurking in the grass and weeds by your feet.
    • For even better protection, consider sprinkling a light dusting of sulfur powder over the inside of your shirt and pants.
    • Note that sulfur powder has a potent odor, which may make it a less than ideal solution if you have a particularly sensitive sense of smell. There’s also not much reliable evidence to prove that this method really works.
  4. DEET is one of the most effective bug repellents for use against chiggers and other mites. Apply the repellent to your exposed skin, especially on the hands, arms, and legs. You can also apply it to your clothing (but not your skin underneath clothing) in these areas. [13]
    • DEET treatments can last for 2 to 3 hours. You’ll have to reapply it after that.
    • Do not spray DEET repellents near your mouth or eyes.
    • Do not spray DEET repellents on skin covered by clothing, as doing so may cause skin irritation.
    • Follow the label directions carefully. Some repellents can damage clothing, plastics, nail polish, and painted or varnished surfaces.
  5. Like DEET, permethrin (0.5%) repellents are also very useful against chiggers. However, permethrin should only be applied to your clothes, never directly to your skin. [14]
    • Permethrin repellents can last for several days after application and remain on your clothes after being washed once or twice. In fact, you may want to treat your clothes the day before you wear them.
    • Apply the repellent to both sides of your clothing, focusing on openings like cuffs, necks, and waistbands. Let the repellent dry completely before putting the clothes on.
    • Follow the label directions carefully as you apply the repellent. As with DEET repellents, some permethrin repellents can damage clothing, plastics, nail polish, and painted or varnished surfaces.
  6. If you are walking in a park, picnic area, or other location where you have no control over how tall the grass and weeds are, make sure you stick to well-worn paths. Assume that any spot with tall grass is a chigger hot spot, especially if it’s also damp and shaded. [15]
    • Steer clear of unmowed fields and walk in the center of mowed trails to avoid accidentally brushing up against taller vegetation.
    • Chiggers need well-hidden vegetation that offers plenty of shade and moisture in order to thrive. Tall vegetation provides the perfect chigger environment.
  7. Even though chiggers do not often hang out in low-cut grass, they may be in the area if there is taller vegetation nearby. If chiggers have migrated to the shorter grass, they may bite and attach themselves to the bare skin of your hands, neck, or head.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What will kill chiggers?
    Chikezie Onyianta
    Pest Control Specialist
    Chikezie Onyianta is a Pest Control Specialist and the Owner of EcoFusion Pest Control, serving communities in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York. With over 5 years of experience, he specializes in pest control in both residential and commercial spaces. A graduate of Essex County College, Chikezie and EcoFusion assist in rodent, roach, and ant pest control as well as bed bug services.
    Chikezie Onyianta
    Pest Control Specialist
    Expert Answer
    You can use any regular insecticide spray to kill the chiggers in your yard.
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  • Question
    How do I get rid of chiggers on my body?
    Community Answer
    Check out wikiHow's article on treating chigger bites for some helpful suggestions.
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    Do dogs bring chiggers into the house?
    Community Answer
    Yes, they do. They hide in the fur like fleas.
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      Warnings

      • Do not wear flea collars around your wrists or ankles to keep chiggers away. You should not use cattle ear tags, either. These products are not designed for human use, and you may be exposed to harmful toxins or get nasty chemical burns on your skin.
        Thanks
        Helpful 4 Not Helpful 1
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      Things You'll Need

      • Lawnmower
      • Weed trimmer
      • Diatomaceous earth
      • Long sleeves, long pants, tall boots
      • Sulfur powder
      • Soap
      • Hot water
      • Washing machine
      • DEET repellent
      • Permethrin repellent
      • Insecticides


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      References

      1. ↑ https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/ig085
      2. ↑ https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/publications/E-34/E-34.html
      3. ↑ https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef630
      4. ↑ https://www.completehomemaker.com/how-to-get-rid-of-chiggers/
      5. ↑ Chikezie Onyianta. Pest Control Specialist. Expert Interview. 1 April 2021.
      6. ↑ https://www.forbes.com/home-improvement/pest-control/get-rid-of-chiggers/
      7. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23267-chigger-bites
      8. ↑ https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/publications/E-34/E-34.html
      9. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23267-chigger-bites
      1. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23267-chigger-bites
      2. ↑ https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/ig085
      3. ↑ https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/ig085
      4. ↑ https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/publications/E-34/E-34.html
      5. ↑ https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/publications/E-34/E-34.html
      6. ↑ https://www.forbes.com/home-improvement/pest-control/get-rid-of-chiggers/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      One of the best ways to get rid of chiggers is to regularly mow and cut back tall weeds in your yard. Chiggers like to hide in tall grass and shaded brush, so keeping your yard mowed and clean will deprive them of the shelter they need. Wear long sleeves and pants made of thick fabric and apply insect repellent when you’re outside so chiggers don’t get on your skin. If chiggers persist in your yard, treat areas where they’re found with a natural insecticide, like diatomaceous earth. There are also chemical insecticides that are effective against chiggers. If you’re looking to get rid of chiggers indoors, clean infested areas with hot, soapy water, and use a carpet shampooer with a heat setting to clean any carpets or rugs. If your skin starts to itch or you notice red bumps, shower and wash your body with soap and water to remove any chiggers on your skin. Chiggers don’t transmit any diseases, but their bites can be itchy and uncomfortable. Apply antiseptic cream to any bites, and avoid scratching them so they don’t become infected. For tips on preventing chigger bites, scroll down!

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