Once you have successfully eradicated a lice infestation from your hair, it is important to wash your clothing and other fabrics to make sure that all traces of these pesky parasites are removed from your home. The easiest way to wash clothes thoroughly is to put them in the washing machine by setting a high temperature wash cycle and then put them in the dryer. But if your clothes can't be machine washed, there are other alternative methods you can try.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Wash Clothes to Get Rid of Head Lice
Step 1. Gather your clothes
If you have a lice infestation it is important to wash them to make sure you get rid of them and clear the house. Before proceeding, however, you need to understand what clothes you need to wash. Collect all the items you have worn or used in the two days prior to the day you noticed the infestation and started the treatment.
- You have to take everything into consideration, even scarves and hats.
- Once you have located all the clothing, you must also collect all the towels, sheets and stuffed animals that you have used in the last two days.
Step 2. Wash your clothes in the washing machine
Now that you have identified all the clothes at risk of "infestation", put them in the washing machine at a temperature of at least 55 ° C which is capable of killing lice.
- If you can't use the washing machine for several reasons, you need to soak the clothes in hot water, at least 60 ° C.
- At the end of the wash, put the clothes in the dryer and set a high temperature program.
Step 3. Take the clothes to a dry cleaner
If you haven't been able to wash them in the washing machine, you need to find alternative methods of killing lice and one is to take your clothes to a professional and let him take care of them. This way you avoid damaging your clothing and at the same time get rid of lice.
- This method can be used for wool garments that cannot be washed in the washing machine with hot water, otherwise they would become felted, or for silk garments that are too delicate to withstand being washed in the machine.
- Be sure to inform the dry cleaning staff that there is a lice infestation so they can take extra precautions.
- You can also decide to use a dry cleaning kit at home if that involves putting the clothes in the dryer for at least 15 minutes.
Method 2 of 2: Alternatives for garments that cannot be washed
Step 1. Set a high temperature cycle in the dryer
If you use the dryer after washing clothes, you are sure to kill all the lice. However, if your clothing cannot be machine washed, a cycle in the dryer is still effective in eliminating these parasites. Set a high temperature program for about 15 minutes.
Step 2. Put the clothes in a plastic bag for two weeks
This is another effective way to get rid of head lice. Keep them in a safe place and make sure to leave them undisturbed for two full weeks before taking them back. This is not the most practical method, but it is the most suitable for clothes that are particularly delicate or that cannot be washed in the traditional way.
- This technique, for example, is suitable for leather or suede garments.
- It is also suitable for other garments that cannot be machine washed, such as wool and silk.
Step 3. Clean the whole house
The chances that a new lice infestation can be triggered by those that have fallen on the carpet or on some furniture are relatively few, but it is important to take some other measures to eliminate the parasites that may have moved away from the body or clothing and thus limit the risk. of another problem. Vacuum the floor and furniture, especially focusing on areas frequented by the person who had lice.
- Wash sheets, towels, and any other cotton fabrics that the person infested with lice has come into contact with.
- This procedure is especially important for body lice, which typically live on tissue, rather than hair lice.
Advice
- Follow all the instructions on the packaging of the kits you purchase.
- Wash the hairbrush in a mixture of warm water and tea tree oil or soap. If you can't wash it, try exposing it to sunlight. Alternatively, consider getting a new one.
- Check that no other family members have been infested with lice.
- Head lice usually die when they are exposed to a temperature above 51 ° C for 10 minutes.
