Removing
lice from personal items, clothing, and furniture can
help prevent lice from spreading to other household members and can help
prevent a person who has been treated for lice from becoming reinfested.
- To rid hair brushes, combs, barrettes, and other
hair ornaments of lice, soak them in hot water [greater than
130
°F (54.44
°C)] for 10 minutes
or wash them with a shampoo that is used to treat head lice.
- Wash
clothes, bedding, and cloth toys in hot water [greater than
130
°F (54.44
°C)] in an
automatic washing machine or place them in a hot dryer for 30 minutes.
Dry-cleaning or storing clothing in a plastic bag for 10 days will also destroy
head and pubic lice. Woolen items may be ironed to kill lice and eggs. (Storage
of clothing is recommended for body lice, although storage is needed for up to
30 days because body lice can survive that long.)
- Vacuum carpets,
upholstery, and mattresses.
- You do not need to fumigate the house
with insecticide sprays. This will not help treat or control a lice problem and
may unnecessarily expose family members to toxic fumes.
