Four Easy Ways to Get Lice Out of Your Family’s House – Fast!

Doubtless, an itch or a rash are trying to tell you something. Sometimes, it’s allergies or dust mites. But, when it’s you and your family members who are the “lucky” ones these little critters decide to colonize on, your scalp is literally crawling from the infestation. Nothing else on the planet matters!

Head lice: a global health issue! Right here at home.

If you’re reading this, it’s likely that the school nurse or a homeroom teacher has shared information about how to treat your child and any affected family members. Then, as soon as you’re done with the shampoos and combs, you’re going to want to know the answer to a burning question.

What’s happening inside the realm of my own house? This article starts there.

From experience, I know that you will want to know the easiest and fastest way to remove head lice from your home. It’s low to no cost! Therefore, don’t fall into the trap of a sales pitch that has you investing research, energy, efforts, and dollars to solve a problem that you can handle. .

Begin by broadening your thoughts to what else is going on around you. Times have changed. 

The good news is that our understanding of head lice has evolved in recent years. Happily, the situation inside your home isn’t as dire as we’ve been taught in the past. Pesky head lice don’t live very long after they crawl or fall off the human scalp. 

Gratefully, you will not need to spend a lot of money, hire a specialist, or spray noxious pesticides or toxins to get the job done. 

As a bonus, two of these proven tactics, washing and drying textiles and vacuuming also help cut down on dust mites. Like lice, dust mites are another microscopic thing that can make your skin itch and crawl.

 The dust mite can be a small but mighty challenger to late summer healthiness.

Here are 4 Easy Ways to Get Lice Out of Your House – Fast!

1. Wash and Dry Items That May Harbor Lice

Do what you normally do, and wash and dry your kiddo’s school clothes, bedsheets, and the like. This time, use the hottest setting and dry with high heat. You’re aiming for temperatures in excess of 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Run the dryer on the high heat setting for at least 20 minutes.

2. An Assortment of Ways to Clean Lice Off Accessories

Once you’ve got the washer and dryer going, grab your family’s brushes, combs, elastic bands, barrettes, and other hair accessories. 

There are several methods you can use to make these lice free and safe to use. An easy method is to drop them into the bathroom sink, filled with hot, soapy water for 10 minutes. Or, seal these items in a freezer bag and place them in the freezer overnight. You can also run them through the dishwasher, as the heating element should get above the 130 degrees that is hot enough to kill the lice. 

If you’re feeling an abundance of caution, there are two additional things you can do. Five minutes in boiling water will kill adult lice. Or, use rubbing alcohol to soak items overnight if they cannot tolerate high heat or be frozen. 

3. Everything Else That Had Contact With Lice

If you’ve got small items that can’t be wet, or boiled, or frozen, then seal those in a plastic bag for two weeks. A quart ziplock will do for many items, but you can get large zipper storage bags – big enough for a backpack – in packs of two at discount stores. 

4. Clean Surfaces Where Hair and Lice May Lie

Roll over the car upholstery, car seats, and seat belts with a lint roller. You can use a lint roller on favorite stuffed animals, too, as it’s unlikely those can be washed on hot. If you don’t have a lint roller, use tape. Any kind of tape you have on hand will work, but I like duct tape best. Wrap it – sticky side out – around your fingers or into a ball and press down, working in sections.

Finally, grab the vacuum. Give all the remaining fabrics and floors a good going over. Hit any surface that may have hairs that were shed with active eggs still attached. Remember the sofa, the bedroom rug, the bean bag chair, and family room floors. Then put the vacuum away. Any lice you picked up will die on their own within 24 hours. Into the bin they go.

If going for the two-for-one with dust mites, remember to dust surfaces before vacuuming and run a dust mop under the furniture to get dust bunnies. 

That’s all there is to it. Those critters don’t stand a chance. 

If you take care of the lice and the dust, and your family’s skin itches or allergies or asthma continue to flare up, something else could be going on. We can help.