Once a case of the head lice is confirmed in your household, the next step is to have all family members checked for lice. This way, you can determine who needs treatment. Lice are resistant to most over-the-counter products, so start with a professional treatment to save money and headache. My Hair Helpers offers safe, effective lice treatment in the salon or home. We also sell our products online for those who prefer a DIY method.
When your family is being treated for head lice, clean the home to prevent any additional spreading. However, we do want to point out that deep cleaning is NOT necessary. Lice affect the head not the home. They cannot live off a human head for more than 24-48 hours.
With that said, let’s learn more about the items that should be cleaned and how to ensure they are lice free.
Put linens, blankets and comforters in the dryer
Water has no effect on lice, so you don’t need to worry about washing linens. Instead, put them in the dryer on high heat for 30-45 minutes. This includes all linens, comforters, pillowcases, blankets, clothing, jackets, etc. that have been worn in the past 48 hours. Any items that can’t be dried should be bagged for 48 hours, such as stuffed animals and dolls. Items like hair scrunchies, helmets, wigs and hats can be placed in the freezer for 12 hours.
Lightly vacuum the home and car
Vacuum the carpet, rugs, furniture, car seats and headrests. While the risk of getting head lice from a piece of furniture or a car headrest is very low, it’s best to play it safe. If you can’t vacuum these items, use a lint roller on them for a few days. Remember, lice can only live for 1-2 days without a host. Nits cannot hatch and will die, too, if they aren’t close to the scalp.
Clean combs and brushes in boiling water
Bring a pot of water to a boil. Clean out all of the hair from your combs and brushes and let them soak in hot water for one minute. Use tongs to pull out the hair accessories and lay them on a mat to dry. We also recommend wiping down items like glasses, earrings, headphones and phones with soap and water. Again, the risk of getting head lice from these items is low, but it doesn’t hurt to clean them and eliminate this risk.
Bottom line: A light cleaning is all you need
Lice need a human host to survive, so any lice that are in your home will die in a couple of days. Still, it is technically possible to have a louse crawl onto your head if you’re sitting on an affected chair. This is why we tell our customers to clean their homes but not to panic. Focus on the items that have been used in the past few days, choose the proper cleaning method (dryer, freezer, boiling water) and do a light vacuum. Lint rollers are also incredibly convenient.
The best way to prevent the spread of lice is by getting fast, effective treatment for everyone in the household. My Hair Helpers guarantees our treatment, so call us today to get your family checked and treated for lice!
