To clean your house after lice, use a vacuum to thoroughly clean carpets and furniture, wash all bedding and clothing in hot water, and isolate any contaminated items for at least 48 hours. Removing the source of the infestation is crucial in preventing further spread.
Lice can be a stressful and frustrating problem to deal with, but taking quick and decisive action can help eradicate the issue and bring peace of mind back to your home. In this article, we will explore the best methods for cleaning your house after a lice outbreak and provide tips for preventing future infestations.
Understanding The Lice Infestation
Lice infestation can be an extremely frustrating experience. These tiny parasites can quickly spread to your clothes, bedding, and other personal items in your house. Here are some essential points that you must know to understand a lice infestation.
What Are Lice And How Do They Spread?
Lice are small, wingless insects that thrive on human blood. They can easily spread through close contact with an infected person or by sharing personal items such as hairbrushes, hats, and bedding.
- Three types of lice can infest humans – head lice, body lice, and pubic lice.
- Head lice are the most common type of lice that infest humans.
- Head lice can survive up to 48 hours off the host’s body, whereas body lice can survive up to 10 days or more.
- Lice cannot jump or fly, they can crawl very quickly.
- Lice infestation is not related to personal hygiene.
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Lice Infestation?
Lice infestation can be uncomfortable, itchy, and unsettling.
- Intense itching on the scalp, neck, and ears.
- Small red bumps or sores on the scalp, neck, and shoulders.
- Presence of lice or nits (lice eggs) in the hair or on the scalp.
- Difficulty sleeping because of lice activity on the scalp.
How Long Can Lice Survive Without A Host?
Lice cannot survive for too long without a host, but they can still do it for a certain period.
- Lice can survive off the host’s body for up to 48 hours.
- Lice prefer to be on human scalps as it offers a warm environment and a steady supply of food.
- After 48 hours, the lice will start to die, but the nits (lice eggs) can still hatch and cause another infestation.
Now that you know the basics of lice infestation, you can take the necessary steps to clean your house properly and prevent future infestations. Remember, treating lice correctly is essential to get rid of these tiny parasites completely.
Preparation
Gathering The Right Supplies
Before cleaning your house after a lice infestation, it’s important to gather the right supplies. Having the necessary tools can make the process quicker and easier.
- Disposable gloves
- Trash bags
- Vacuum cleaner with attached hose and crevice tool
- Plastic bags or airtight containers for storing non-washable items
- Lice comb
- Laundry detergent
- Hot water
Removing Contaminated Items
To prevent lice from spreading, it’s important to remove and isolate any contaminated items.
- Gather all potentially contaminated items, such as clothing, bedding, towels, and stuffed animals.
- Place these items in plastic bags or airtight containers.
- Seal the bags or containers and store them in a separate area of the house.
- Wash all washable items, such as bedding and clothing, in hot water.
- Dry all washable items on high heat for at least 30 minutes.
- Non-washable items, such as stuffed animals, should be placed in a plastic bag and frozen for at least 48 hours or treated with a lice-killing spray.
Identifying High-Risk Areas
Certain areas of the house are more prone to lice infestations than others. It’s important to be aware of these high-risk areas to effectively clean your home.
- Bedding, including sheets, pillowcases, and comforters
- Furniture, such as couches and chairs
- Carpets and rugs
- Bathroom towels and washcloths
- Hairbrushes and combs
By taking the necessary precautions before cleaning and identifying high-risk areas, you can prevent a lice re-infestation and keep your home clean and healthy.
Deep Cleaning Your Home
If you’ve ever dealt with lice in your home, then you know how frustrating it can be. Getting rid of lice and nits from your hair is only half the battle; you also need to ensure that your home is properly cleaned to prevent re-infestation.
In this section, we’ll discuss the best ways to deep clean your home after lice infestation.
Vacuuming And Dusting
When it comes to deep cleaning your home after a lice infestation, the first step is to vacuum and dust thoroughly. Lice and nits can cling to furniture, carpet fibers, bedding, and clothing, and vacuuming and dusting can help remove them.
- Vacuum all carpeting, upholstery, and mattresses, starting from the top of the room and working downwards.
- Dust all surfaces, paying special attention to areas where lice may have come into contact, such as headrests and armrests.
- Change your vacuum cleaner bag or empty the vacuum canister immediately after vacuuming to prevent re-infestation.
- Wash all of your cleaning cloths and items used in cleaning the infested area and make sure to vacuum your cleaning equipment.
Laundering Items Effectively
To eliminate lice and nits from clothing and other washable items, you need to wash them properly.
- Place all clothing, bedding, and linens that may have come into contact with lice or nits in the washing machine and wash them in hot water (130-140°f or 54-60°c).
- Use a hot dryer for at least 30 minutes to dry all items.
- Alternatively, if you have items that cannot be washed in hot water or dryer, consider dry-cleaning them or placing them in sealed plastic bags for two weeks.
Using Heat Treatment
Heat treatment is an effective way to kill lice and nits that cannot be washed.
- Place items that cannot be washed, such as stuffed animals, pillows, and hairbrushes, in a plastic bag, and seal it.
- Leave the bag in a warm place for two weeks or place it in a dryer on high heat for 30 minutes.
- Sealing the bags makes it difficult for lice and nits to survive as they cannot breathe.
Disinfecting Surfaces And Furniture
After vacuuming, dusting, and laundering, it’s time to disinfect surfaces and furniture.
- Mix a solution of equal parts of water and white vinegar in a spray bottle.
- Spray the solution onto any surfaces that may have come into contact with lice, such as headrests and armrests, and wipe them with a clean cloth.
- Use an over-the-counter lice-killing spray on furniture as well.
- Don’t forget to disinfect items like hairbrushes or combs if they cannot be washed or sealed in bags.
Deep cleaning your home after lice infestation is essential to prevent re-infestation. You need to vacuum and dust, launder items properly, use heat treatment where necessary, and disinfect all surfaces and furniture. By following these tips, you can ensure that your home is lice-free.
Prevention
Tips For Avoiding A Future Lice Infestation
Lice infestations are a common problem in households, especially with children. However, there are certain preventive measures you can adopt to lower the risks of future lice infestations.
- Teach your kids to avoid close contact with people who have lice, and instruct them not to share hats, combs, or hair accessories.
- Check your child’s head regularly for lice. Early detection can prevent a minor infestation from turning into a major outbreak.
- Encourage personal hygiene; keep your child’s hair clean, and tie it back if possible.
- Wash clothes, towels, and bedding of an infested person in hot water and dry them on high heat for at least 20 minutes.
- Vacuum carpets, furniture, and car seats regularly. Lice do not survive long off of human hair, but this can help prevent a minor infestation from becoming a major one.
- Use a lice comb on wet, conditioned hair once a week, even if you have not had a lice case. This will help detect early signs and reduce the risk of an infestation.
How To Keep Children And Family Members Safe From Lice
If you have a child in school, or you work in a profession where close contact is frequent, then you are at risk of lice infestations.
- Avoid head-to-head contact with anyone who has lice.
- Do not share personal items like combs, brushes, towels, hats, or helmets.
- Wear your hair in tight hairstyles such as braids, buns, or ponytails.
- Tie your hair up and cover it with a hat or scarf when you are in crowded public places.
- Teach children not to exchange hair accessories and to store their belongings separately.
- Use essential oils like tea tree or lavender to repel lice, or ask your doctor for a prescription lice repellent.
What To Do If Someone You Know Has Lice
In case someone in your household has lice, it is important to take quick action to prevent their spread. While it is true that lice do not pose serious health risks, they are highly contagious and can cause itchiness and discomfort.
- Isolate the person on a separate bed, and do not share towels, brushes, or combs.
- Treat the infested person with a medicated lice shampoo or a prescription treatment.
- Remove nits using a nit comb, and check hair on a daily basis.
- Use hot water to wash all beddings, clothes, and towels that have come in contact with the person.
- Vacuum all carpets, furniture, and car seats.
- Inform anyone who has had close contact with the infested person, such as friends, relatives, or classmates.
By taking these preventive measures, you can reduce the risks of lice infestations, keeping your family members and loved ones safe from the discomforting effects of lice.
Frequently Asked Questions Of How Do You Clean Your House After Lice
How To Prepare Your House For Lice Treatment?
Before the treatment, remove all the beddings, stuffed animals, and vacuum the floors and carpets. Make sure the infected person doesn’t come in contact with anyone or anything during the cleaning process. Cover the furniture with plastic wrap or garbage bags, as it makes it easier when you are cleaning the house.
How Often Should You Vacuum Your House After Lice Infestation?
Vacuuming is an essential step to remove the lice eggs or nits, which may have fallen on the floors and carpets. You should vacuum your house daily for at least two weeks after lice treatment. Don’t forget to empty the vacuum bag or dispose of the contents immediately.
What Is The Right Way To Clean Your Beddings After Lice?
Wash all the beddings, curtains, and clothes using hot water at 130°f. Also, put them inside the dryer on high heat for at least 30 minutes. Dry cleaning and ironing is also an alternative, but the machines will not kill the lice, baby lice, or the nits.
So, washing is the best choice.
How To Get Rid Of Lice From Your Hairbrush And Combs?
To disinfect the hairbrush and combs, submerge them in hot water above 130°f for at least 10 minutes. You can also use alcohol, vinegar, or bleach to kill the lice on your hairbrush. Another option is to dispose of the hairbrush or comb and buy a new one after the lice treatment is finished.
Conclusion
To ensure your home is free from lice, it’s important to follow these cleaning steps. Vacuum floors, furniture and bedding thoroughly and frequently. Wash clothing, bedding and towels in very hot water and dry on high heat. Use a metal nit comb to remove any remaining nits.
Seal non-washable items in an airtight bag for two weeks to suffocate any remaining lice. It’s also crucial to let anyone who has been in close contact with the lice know, so they can take appropriate measures. With diligence and thoroughness, you can effectively rid your home of lice.
Remember to keep an eye out for signs of lice infestations, as prevention is always better than cure. By following these tips, you can ensure your home is always a safe, clean environment for you and your loved ones.