How to Get Rid of Lice at Home: A Complete Guide

Dealing with a case of head lice is stressful enough, but once you’ve successfully treated your family, the next big task is ensuring your home is completely lice-free. Lice don’t just live on the scalp—they can cling to personal items, bedding, furniture, and even toys. Here’s an in-depth guide to thoroughly cleaning your home after a lice infestation, ensuring that those pesky parasites are gone for good.

Step 1: Launder All Bedding, Clothing, and Personal Items

Lice can’t survive for long off the human scalp, but they can still linger on fabrics, so it’s crucial to clean anything that has come into contact with the infested person. Here’s how to tackle it:

1. Bedding: Strip all beds in your home, including pillowcases, sheets, blankets, and comforters. Wash them in hot water (at least 130°F) and dry on the highest heat setting. This will kill any remaining lice and nits.
2. Clothing: Gather all clothing worn by the infested person in the past 48 hours, including hats, scarves, jackets, and any other items that might have touched their head. Wash these in hot water and dry them on high heat.
3. Towels and Hair Accessories: Don’t forget to wash towels, bathrobes, hair ties, headbands, and other accessories. Use hot water and high heat to ensure all lice and nits are destroyed.
4. Soft Toys: For stuffed animals and soft toys that can’t be washed, place them in a sealed plastic bag for at least two weeks. This will starve any lice of their food source (human blood) and ensure they die off.
5. For Upholstery & Items That Can’t Be Washed: From upholstered furniture to fluffy pillows, if you can’t launder items, use Licefreee Home. Designed for the home, simply spray and let dry.

Step 2: Vacuum Thoroughly

Lice can fall off the scalp and onto furniture, carpets, and other surfaces. While they can’t live long without a host, it’s still important to clean thoroughly to avoid re-infestation.

1. Carpets and Rugs: Vacuum all carpets and rugs in your home, paying special attention to areas where the infested person spent time, such as bedrooms, living rooms, and play areas.
2. Upholstered Furniture: Use the upholstery attachment on your vacuum to clean sofas, chairs, and other upholstered furniture. Don’t forget to vacuum any throw pillows and cushions as well.
3. Car Seats and Strollers: If you have young children, make sure to vacuum car seats, strollers, and any other travel accessories they use frequently.
4. Mattresses: After stripping the bedding, vacuum the mattress thoroughly. This includes vacuuming along the seams and edges where lice might hide.

Step 3: Clean and Disinfect Personal Items

Lice can cling to personal items like hairbrushes, combs, and accessories, so it’s essential to clean these properly.

1. Hairbrushes and Combs: Soak hairbrushes, combs, and other hair tools in hot water (at least 130°F) for 10 minutes. Alternatively, you can place them in a sealed plastic bag and leave them in the freezer overnight to kill any lice.
2. Hats, Helmets, and Headphones: Clean hats, helmets, and headphones by wiping them down with a disinfectant wipe or a cloth dampened with rubbing alcohol. Allow them to dry completely before use.
3. Hair Accessories: Wash hair ties, headbands, and clips in hot water or, if possible, replace them.

Step 4: Use Licefreee Products to Avoid Reinfestation

Even after a thorough cleaning, it’s important to take additional steps to prevent any chance of re-infestation. Licefreee offers products that can help keep your home and family lice-free.

• Licefreee Everyday Shampoo: Use this shampoo as part of your daily routine, especially during and after a lice outbreak. It’s designed to help avoid lice infestations and can be used in place of your regular shampoo.
• Licefreee Kit: For immediate treatment in the future, always have the all-in-one solution for lice infestations. Keeping the Licefreee Kit on hand ensures immediate response times, meaning you can stop an infestation right away.

Step 5: Prevent Future Infestations

Once you’ve cleaned your home, it’s crucial to take steps to prevent future lice infestations:

1. Regular Head Checks: Continue to perform regular head checks on all family members, especially during peak lice seasons like the beginning of the school year.
2. Educate Your Family: Make sure everyone in your household understands the importance of not sharing personal items like hats, hairbrushes, and towels.
3. Use Preventative Products: Incorporate Licefreee Everyday Shampoo into your regular hygiene routine to help deter lice from coming back.

Frequently Asked Questions

Successfully treating a case of head lice is just the first step in the battle. Ensuring your home is lice-free is essential to prevent reinfestation and give you peace of mind. By following this in-depth guide and using Licefreee products, you can confidently say goodbye to lice and keep your home safe and clean. Remember, vigilance is key—regular checks and preventative measures will help keep lice at bay in the future.