I like to consider myself as someone who has love and understanding for all creatures. Even spiders and snakes—two of the most common human phobias—don’t bother me enough to go out of my way to avoid them.

I’ll admit, without shame, that I wouldn’t lose a wink of sleep if ticks disappeared from the planet for good. They’re not just irritating (and let’s be honest, enough to make anyone’s skin crawl), but they can also be genuinely dangerous.

Ticks are known to carry serious diseases, like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, so it’s clear they aren’t the kind of house guests you want to be hosting.

Depending on where you live, the season, and if you have pets, your odds of encountering ticks can be fairly high. So, what should you do if you come across one of these tiny nuisances?

Identify and isolate the issue

First, try to identify the type of tick (whether it’s a black-legged tick, a dog tick, or a brown dog tick). If you spot it in a specific area, make sure to keep children and pets away until the tick is dealt with.

Protect yourself

To avoid the tick latching onto you, wear gloves and long-sleeved clothing to prevent skin exposure.

Thorough cleaning

Wash any clothing or bedding that the tick may have come into contact with using high heat. Thoroughly vacuum the area, focusing on crevices and corners.

Removing the tick

Using fine-tipped tweezers, grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible. Pull upward steadily, without twisting or jerking, to avoid leaving the tick’s head embedded in the skin.

Once removed, clean the bite area with alcohol or soapy water. You can dispose of the tick by submerging it in alcohol or flushing it down the toilet.

Monitor the bite

Keep an eye on the bite site and observe the person who was bitten for any symptoms over the next several days.