Last night, my husband and I found something terrifying in our bed—a tick. We immediately started freaking out because just a couple of days ago, we noticed something similar on our child’s clothes. We had no idea what it was at first, but now we know it’s a tick, and we’re worried about what to do and how to get rid of them for good.

Ticks are small, parasitic creatures that can latch onto humans and animals, feeding on their blood. They can be dangerous, too, because they spread diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. These illnesses can be serious, so it’s really important to make sure ticks don’t hang around in your home.

First, you need to figure out what type of tick you’re dealing with. It could be a dog tick, a brown dog tick, or a black-legged tick, also known as a deer tick. You don’t want to mess around with these tiny pests, so if you find a tick, keep your children and pets away from the area until you can remove it.

When you’re ready to remove the tick, take some precautions. Wear gloves and long sleeves to protect yourself from more ticks attaching to your skin. Once you’ve covered up, make sure to wash any bedding, clothes, or fabrics that the tick might have touched.