What to Clean in Your House After a Head Lice Infestation
So, your household recently had a lice infestation; after a flurry of tantrums, missed days at school and work, head lice remedies, and agonizing nights spent head scratching; everyone is now finally rid of lice.
But suddenly, an alarming thought pops in your head: what about the household items that could be harboring lice?
Before you start panicking, know that disinfecting your house after a lice infestation is both easy and simple. You just have to know how to do it right.
Children often have favorite stuffed toys that they take with them to sleep or to cuddle. Any stuffed animal that has come into contact with kids during the infestation should be placed in a hot dryer for at least half an hour, so that any leftover lice can be dehydrated and eliminated.
The Lifespan of Lice
The good news is that lice can’t survive without a human host for more than 24-48 hours. So the chances of them festering on any household items after that time period is slim. Since they need blood to survive, they can’t live on inanimate objects for more than a couple of days. But there are chances of re-infestations, so being proactive about cleaning everything is important.What to Clean After a Lice Infestation
Fortunately, you won’t have to worry about cleaning up and disinfecting every single item in the house. There are a few important items, however, that must be sanitized after a lice infestation. Here’s a list to help you out:Brushes, Combs, and Any Other Hair Accessories
Since things like brushes and hair accessories directly come into contact with your hair, there are chances that they may contain hair strands with nits or lice on them. These nits can hatch and while you brush your hair, can restart the infestation. Round up any combs, brushes, or hair accessories such as headbands, barrettes, etc and put them in a sealed plastic bag. You can place the bag in a freezer for a couple of days to kill any eggs or lice. You can also place them in hot water – at least 130 degrees, for lice elimination.Clothing
Any clothing that has been worn during the infestation and the treatment must be cleaned. Anything from scarves, to hats and shirts must be washed in hot water and then put in the dryer to effectively kill any nits or lice.Stuffed Animals
Children often have favorite stuffed toys that they take with them to sleep or to cuddle. Any stuffed animal that has come into contact with kids during the infestation should be placed in a hot dryer for at least half an hour, so that any leftover lice can be dehydrated and eliminated.
