Home Remedies for Killing & Treating Head Lice

Millions of Americans, especially children, get head lice every year. Sometimes you can't prevent lice, but you can treat them with over-the-counter medications and prescriptions. Before you spend a lot of money on these commercial products, which also tend to be harsh, try a few home remedies to treat and kill head lice.

Wash

• When a family member gets head lice, make sure to wash all his stuffed animals, toys, clothing and bedding in hot water immediately. The water should be hot (at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit) and soapy. Dry the items in the dryer on a high temperature for at least 20 minutes. The high heat should kill the lice and prevent them from reproducing.

  Place all hair brushes and combs in hot, soapy water of at least 130 degrees, and allow them to soak for at least 10 minutes.

Vacuum

• Vacuuming the house, couch and any other carpeted areas or rugs will also help kill lice and keep them from spreading. Vacuum once or twice a day, until the lice disappear.

Plastic Bags

• Place any items that are not washable into airtight plastic bags. Keep them in the bags for three to four days to kill any live lice. If new lice hatch, they will also die, because they will not have enough nutrition to survive.

Mayonnaise

• Slather as much mayonnaise as you can on the infected head, making sure to coat each strand of hair. Wrap the head tightly in plastic wrap or use a shower cap. Make it tight enough to keep air out. Leave the mayonnaise on for at least two hours, longer if possible. Rinse out the mayonnaise and shampoo the hair. Use water and vinegar (2 tablespoons of vinegar to each cup of water) to rinse the hair after shampooing. The vinegar will help to remove the mayo and prevent further infestation. The fat in the mayo will suffocate the lice; however, you will still have to use a fine-toothed comb to get rid of the nits (eggs laid by lice).

Tea Tree Oil

• Create a mixture of about 10 percent tea tree oil and 90 percent of another oil, such as olive oil. Apply the oil directly to the head and scalp, covering with a tight plastic wrap. Wrap a towel over the plastic wrap and leave on for at least one hour. Shampoo hair as normal and brush to get all the tangles out. Using a fine-tooth comb, separate sections of the hair and use the comb to remove all lice eggs. The tea tree oil will suffocate live lice, and the comb will remove any eggs.