How to Get Rid of Lice without poison
In the United States up to 12 million lice infestations occur annually. Over the years lice have built up a resistance to pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide, the ingredients found in over-the-counter lice removal products. The use of olive oil to smother lice is effective in killing live lice. Since nits can live off the head for two weeks and live lice can live off the head for two days, it takes two weeks to eradicate lice from home and head.
Things You'll Need
- Bobby pins
- Fine tooth comb
- Magnifying glass
- Water spray bottle
- Locking plastic bag
- Nit comb
- Tweezers
Instructions
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How To Get Rid of Lice Without Poison
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1
Douse the head with olive oil. Wrap the oiled hair in plastic wrap. Wrap the head and hair, not the face. Keep the olive oil wrap on for three hours or overnight. Use a shampoo designed for oily hair to wash the oil out of the hair. Rinse thoroughly and wash again if necessary. Repeat process three times over the next week.
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2
Divide the head into quadrants. Starting with one quadrant, use the fine tooth comb to take a row of hair about an inch long from the batch.
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3
Use the lice comb to start at the scalp and slowly comb the hair all the way to the end. Examine the hair with a magnifying glass, if necessary, while pulling the comb through. Examine the lice comb. Remove nits by pulling out the single infected hair from the scalp and placing it in the plastic bag. If the nits have hatched after the initial treatment, pinch the live louse with a tissue and put it into the plastic bag.
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4
Once the row has been examined use a bobby pin to keep it separated from the other hair. Continue row by row until the entire quadrant has been examined. Then move on to the next quadrant. Spray the hair with water to keep it damp until the entire head has been examined.
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5
Throw away plastic bag, and boil comb and bobby pins in water for 15 minutes.
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6
Repeat nit picking process twice a day for seven days. Even if no nits are found in the morning, repeat the process at night. If no nits have been found on the seventh day, check the head once a day for another week.
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7
Wash bedding, recently worn clothing and hats in hot water. Dry in a hot dryer. Change pillow cases every day for two weeks. Place items that cannot be washed, such as pillows and stuffed animals, in a hot dryer for thirty minutes. Vacuum upholstered furniture, rugs and car seats to get rid of any fallen hairs that contain nits.
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Tips & Warnings
Diligent nit picking is the only way to get rid of lice completely.
Never leave combs boiling in water unattended. If left boiling for too long the water will evaporate and the combs could catch fire.
References
- Photo Credit happy kids image by Marzanna Syncerz from Fotolia.com
