How to Treat Linens for Head Lice

Head lice transmit easily from person to person. The small insects feed off blood drawn from bites to the scalp. Due to the highly contagious nature of lice, they are very common among school-age children. Eliminating lice from your family's hair and your home can be a daunting task, but understanding the proper way to wash the linens the infected family members have used or had contact with can be a step in the right direction. Make sure to wash everything that was touched in the last two days before the lice discovery.

Things You'll Need

• Laundry detergent
• Air-tight bag

Instructions

1. Wash all linens in a hot water cycle. The water needs to be at least 130 degrees. Use your preferred detergent.

2. Dry the linens in the hottest dryer cycle for at least 20 minutes.

3. Separate any linen that cannot be machine-washed. Deliver them to the dry cleaner or seal them in an airtight bag for a minimum of two weeks.

References

• KidsHealth: Head Lice
• Directors of Health Promotion and Education: Head Lice