I put together this 'manual' at the request of my friends. I hope it helps you. I did all this and got rid of head lice in a week.
Dear all,
So many of you asked me what I did to get rid of head lice, so here it is!!! File it away, and I pray you NEVER have to use it as a reference!!
First of all, take a deep breath and accept that for the next couple of days you will be busy, but all the work will pay off by not spreading it and having to continue this process for months. Unless you can shave everyone's head and leave your house for 2 full weeks, you will have to do the following:
1. Getting rid of head lice from the head:
In order to get rid of all head lice you must comb your child's hair with a special lice comb. The one endorsed by HeadLice.org is call Licemeister and after trying others, I have to agree that it is the best one out. There is one pharmacy in the Austin region that carries this product, QUICK Pharmacy on 79 (Round, Rock). You can also buy it online at: http://www.headlice.org/.
I sprayed a solution of 2 cups of water with 25 drops of tea tree oil before each combing. I did this 2 times a day. If you want to go all natural with this process, you must spray the tea tree oil solution and comb 3 times a day for at least 7 days. If you want to use a shampoo, NIX is the safest one, recommended by Pediatricians. Even when using the shampoo, you need to comb twice a day for at least 7 days.
To comb, place a towel under your child before every combing. Then start combing with small sections and comb many times each section. After each pass, dip the comb in a container with water (this will allow you to see if there are any lice). Lice doesn’t die easy, you need to drawn them or squeeze the sucker in your fingernails (until it pops) – gross but satisfying.
Check this video to see how to do this: http://www.headlice.org/special/allcombout.htm
Once you are done, wash the towel and clothes you and your child were using. Dispose of the water you used in the toilet. Then, disinfect the comb by adding boiling water into a container. Don’t make the same mistake I made of putting the comb directly in the pan of boiling water… I forgot to turn it off and the water evaporated and melted the comb and almost ruined my good Calphalon pot.
2. Preventing from getting more lice
Every linen, rug, pillow, throw in your house needs to be washed with hot water, (to which I added tea tree oil cleaner for an extra boost). Then dry everything in high for at least 20 minutes. Anything that cannot be washed in hot water or dried in high, I washed and dried and set inside a plastic bag. Quarantine all these for at least 10 days, 14 would be better.
After being treated, I placed all the bedding, decorative pillows, rugs, throws, even sofa cushions in the dining room and quarantined for 2 weeks. Your house will not look pretty, but you will have less work everyday and besides, who will be coming to visit if you have head lice??????
In regards to toys (or anything else that cannot be washed), I placed everything plush into a plastic bag, attached the vacuum hose in it and sucked all the air away. Then tied a knot and quarantined for 2 weeks.
Clothes – any clothes the kids have used must be washed (hot water/dryer).
3. Everyday routine
For at least 7 days, every morning I changed the linens, towels, pjs and clothes that we were all using/wearing. Maybe I went overboard, but I’m glad to report that after 4 or 5 days of doing this, I found less and less lice eggs and death lice in my kid’s heads.
Now, breathe again and be happy lice is gone and make sure to check your child’s hair at least once a month! Or every day if a report of head lice is posted in your school.
4. Suggestions
If your son has the head lice, consider giving him a buzz cut. Lice don’t have where to hide and short hair is not a good place for them to place their eggs. (Sara and John didn’t get any lice)
Also, consider hiring a cleaning service as soon as possible to come help you dust, vacuum, and clean your entire house! It’s money worth spending.
For more info on head lice go to http://www.headlice.org/faq/index.htm.
Good luck and call me if you need any help!
Love to all,
A. – survivor of head lice!