How to Treat a Home for Lice

Treating hair for lice is an important step in eliminating head lice, but eliminating lice from the home is most important. If the home is not treated properly, the lice will pass from person to person and you will never get rid of the lice infestation.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Vacuum
• Washing machine
• Protective coverings
• Plastic bags

1. Cover your hair and put on protective clothing that will protect your skin and keep any lice from getting on you.

2. Vacuum all furniture, carpets and mattresses that the infected persons have come into contact with. This should be done daily for several days.

3. Steam clean all carpets and upholstered furniture to ensure that there are no lice left behind. Use steam, not a chemical carpet treatment.

4. Machine wash infected items. Wash all bedding, throw blankets, towels, clothing, coats, and everything that it machine washable. Use hot water. The person handling these items should wash everything they are wearing after completing this chore.

5. Seal away any items that cannot be washed in hot water. Vacuum and then put stuffed animals and delicate fabrics in to plastic bags and seal them. Leave them for two weeks. Lice cannot live without a human host for more than three days so this gives time for the lice to die as well as any newly hatched eggs to die.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider natural hair treatments instead of caustic chemical hair treatments.

Who Can Help Sponsored

• How to Lose 30+lbs Guaranteed. Try it Free.

[fairylicemother]

on 7/1/2009 Sorry but this is wrong. Lice can not live off a human scalp for more than 24 hours. All you need to do is wash bedding, put stuffed animals in the dryer for 30 minutes, vacuum, boil any brushes, combs, and other hair accessories. You should also vacuum your car or use a lint brush on the seats. It is most important to get everyone checked for lice and remove it from everyones head. Lice do not invade your home.

[Lizcam]

on 8/9/2008 When my girls had head lice a few years ago, when I resided in Canada I had done all what you had recommended but we still had lice. In fact we had it for 2 months! I called the professionals, Lice Squad Inc. and found out that all this work is not needed. The main concern is removing the lice and nits from the hair. This is where most people fail, is removing all the nits. Just by leaving a few of these little eggs can keep the infestation re-occuring. This was what happened to us. For the environment, all you have to do is place items in the dryer on high heat for 30 minutes, vacuum thoroughly (and remove the vacuum bag outside when completed) or just leave items that cannot be placed in the dryer or vacuumed for 2 days. No need to bag etc. Don't forget to vacuum your car or the children's car seats. That's it!!!! For more information check out their web site at www.licesquad.com Th