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How to Kill Body Lice

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By Some Dude
eHow Contributing Writer
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Getting rid of lice is a more complicated task than it may appear to most people. There are three types of lice that infest the human body. They are head lice, body lice and pubic lice. Each type of lice requires a different kind of treatment. Body lice is perhaps the least common type of lice. Getting rid of body lice is not an impossible task, but it will take some effort.

Difficulty: Moderate
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

    Ways to Kill Lice

  1. Step 1

    Wash as many of your clothes as you can in hot water. Body lice generally reside in the seams of clothes, and they are killed by heat.

  2. Step 2

    Dry any clothes that can go into a dryer on the highest heat possible. The heat from the dryer will eradicate any lice that may have survived the hot water wash.

  3. Step 3

    Iron any clothes that can be ironed. Again, the heat will help to kill any remaining lice. This is more of a precautionary final step, but it should be done if possible.

  4. Step 4

    Freeze any clothes that cannot be washed in hot water. Stick the clothes in a freezer for at least three days.

  5. Step 5

    Use an insecticide, such as permethrin. This should be a last resort, used only if the other steps fail. Because body lice generally don't reside on top of the skin, this step is rarely needed.

Tips & Warnings
  • Have those you come into common contact with also undergo this process. Chances are they may have lice and not know it.
  • Change your clothes often. Body lice generally infest those who do not change their clothes frequently.

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