How to Remove Head Lice From a House

Once you have an infestation of lice in a house, they are difficult to eliminate. The most critical part of ridding a home of lice is eliminating them from the host, which is usually a child's head. Children who attend daycare, preschool and grade school are particularly susceptible to head lice. Lice have a life span of about three days once they leave the human body, so after treatment to remove head lice from all members of the family, eradicate the pests from your home using a few simple steps.

Things You'll Need

• Vacuum
• Washer and dryer

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Instructions

Process

• 1

  Vacuum all rugs and furniture. Repeat the process every three days. Throw out the vacuum bag if there is one after each use.

• 2

  Wash any throw rugs, pillows or loose items in hot water in the washer. Dry on a high setting.

• 3

  Wash any clothing or towels and washcloths that have come in contact with an infested person. Wash in the hottest water possible, and dry on the hottest temperature in the dryer.

• 4

  Wash bedding from the whole house every day for one week in the hottest water possible. Dry linens on the hottest temperature possible. This process must be done with this frequency to make sure there are no surviving nits or eggs from the lice.

• 5

  Vacuum mattresses and pillows used on the bed daily as well to eliminate lice and their eggs. Throw away the vacuum bag after each use.

• 6

  Wash all toys or stuffed animals that may be infested with lice. Again, wash in the hottest water possible and dry on the highest heat.