How to Remove Persistent Nits
Head lice, commonly called nits, are parasitic insects that hide in hair. They latch onto the human scalp in order to bite and feed on blood. In this way they are similar to ticks, except that ticks are arachnids (having eight legs and two body parts), and lice are insects (having six legs and three body parts). Nits also lay clusters of eggs that adhere to a single strand of hair. The eggs do not hatch for seven to 10 days and can be hard to see, which can make a persistent lice infestation difficult to contain (See Reference 1).
Things You'll Need
- Vacuum cleaner
- Plastic bags with seals
- Nit comb
- Lice shampoo such as Rid or Nix
- Pure (100 percent) Australian tea tree oil (optional)
Instructions
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1
Vacuum throughout the house, including any draperies, curtains or upholstered furniture that lice may have infested.
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2
Seal the vacuum bag in a plastic bag, and set outside the house, leaving it there for two weeks to ensure that the remaining lice die.
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3
Machine wash and dry any clothing, towels and linens that may have been infested. Be sure to dry the clothes for 20 minutes or more. Other items that cannot be washed such as toys and stuffed animals should be sealed in plastic bags. Leave outside for two weeks. Disinfect combs and brushes.
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4
Comb through the hair of any affected people with a nit comb, discarding the eggs and lice in a plastic bag as they are removed. Wipe comb with tissue.
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5
Seal the plastic bag and discard.
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6
Wash hair of all potentially exposed people with a delousing shampoo such as Rid or Nix.
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7
Shampoo again with the lice shampoo seven to 10 days later to kill any lice that may have hatched after the first shampooing.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Optional step: Tea tree oil is a highly effective insect repellent and works well in getting rid of lice (See Reference 2). The odor is potent, so oil should be used at night, when fewer people will smell it. Comb oil through hair nightly, every night between the first lice shampooing and the second 10 days later.
Tea tree oil might make hair appear greasy. Shampoo hair with regular shampoo every morning after the nightly treatment. Also, be careful not to get lice shampoo or tea tree oil in the eye area. Be sure that any potentially infested item is sealed in a plastic bag outside the house for two weeks. That is the longest time any louse can live off a body.
