How to Get Rid of Lice on Clothes: A Comprehensive Guide

Discovering head lice on yourself or a family member can be a stressful experience. While treating the infested person’s hair is the primary focus, it’s equally important to address the possibility of lice infesting clothing, bedding, and other fabric items. Lice, although preferring human scalps, can survive for short periods off the body and may cling to clothing, potentially leading to re-infestation. This comprehensive guide will provide you with detailed steps and instructions on how to effectively get rid of lice from clothes, ensuring a thorough and successful eradication process.

Understanding Lice and Their Behavior

Before delving into the cleaning process, it’s crucial to understand the basics of lice biology and behavior:

• Lice Cannot Fly or Jump: Lice move by crawling, which is important to remember when dealing with infestations.
• Survival Off the Scalp: Head lice typically survive about 1-2 days off a human host. They need the warmth and blood of the scalp to thrive. However, they can cling to clothing for a short time, especially if they are near a warm area like the neckline.
• Nits (Lice Eggs): Nits are firmly attached to hair shafts and are much less likely to be found on clothing. However, if a strand of hair with a nit happens to fall onto clothing, there’s a slight chance it could be present. However, nits require the warmth of a human head to hatch.
• Spread: Lice spread primarily through direct head-to-head contact, but they can also be spread through shared personal items like hats, scarves, and pillows.

Why Cleaning Clothes is Essential

Even if head-to-head contact is the primary mode of transmission, cleaning clothing is an important step in preventing re-infestation. If a louse crawls onto clothing and later comes into contact with another person’s head, it can easily spread the infestation. While the risk from clothing is less than direct contact, it should be addressed during the treatment process. Therefore, a comprehensive cleaning process should target not just the infested person’s hair, but also potentially contaminated items such as:

• Clothing
• Bed linens (sheets, pillowcases, blankets)
• Hats and scarves
• Towels
• Stuffed animals and plush toys
• Upholstered furniture and car seats (if frequently used by the infested person)
• Hair accessories like clips and bands

Detailed Steps to Get Lice Off Clothes

The primary method for getting rid of lice on clothes is to use heat, specifically by washing and drying at high temperatures. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to do it effectively:

Step 1: Gather the Necessary Supplies

Before you start, gather the following items:

• Washing machine
• Clothes dryer
• Laundry detergent
• Garbage bags (for transporting potentially infested items)

Step 2: Collect and Separate Potentially Infested Items

Carefully gather all clothing and other fabric items that may have come into contact with the infested person. Be sure to include:

• All recently worn clothing
• Bedding (sheets, pillowcases, blankets, comforters)
• Hats, scarves, and gloves
• Towels used recently by the infested person
• Stuffed animals or plush toys used or slept with by the infested individual
• Any other fabric items that may have been in close contact with the individual

Place these items in a plastic garbage bag as you collect them. This helps prevent lice from potentially crawling onto other surfaces during transport to the washing machine. Seal each bag securely after you’ve placed the items inside.

Step 3: Load and Wash Items in Hot Water

Remove the items from the plastic bags and place them directly into the washing machine. Avoid placing any items on any surfaces at this stage to prevent any spread of lice. It’s crucial to wash items in the hottest water setting recommended for the fabric. Here’s a breakdown:

• Read Care Labels: Check the care labels on each item to determine the highest water temperature suitable for the fabric. Most cotton, linen and durable synthetic items can be washed in hot water.
• Hot Water Setting: Use the hot water setting, usually around 130°F (54°C) or higher. If you can use a water temperature of 140°F (60°C) even better. This heat will effectively kill any lice and their eggs that may be present on the fabric.
• Detergent: Use your regular laundry detergent. The primary goal here is the high heat of the water; while detergent helps clean the clothing, it’s the hot water that will eliminate the lice and potential nits.
• Avoid Overloading: Don’t overload the washing machine. Overloading may prevent proper washing, which ensures proper water circulation and heat to effectively treat the clothing.

Start the washing machine and allow it to complete a full wash cycle.

Step 4: High-Heat Drying

After the wash cycle is complete, immediately transfer the items to the clothes dryer. Use the highest heat setting available and dry the items for at least 30 minutes. This is another critical step as it ensures that any remaining lice or nits are destroyed.

• High-Heat Setting: Choose the hottest temperature setting.
• Drying Duration: Allow the items to dry for a minimum of 30 minutes. Longer drying times may be beneficial for thicker items like towels and blankets, ensuring that all parts of the items are heated adequately.
• Check for Dryness: Make sure the items are completely dry after the drying cycle. Any dampness can allow for a more hospitable condition for any lice that may have survived (although unlikely).

Step 5: For Items That Cannot Be Washed and Dried

Some items, such as delicate garments, dry clean-only fabrics, or items like plush toys, cannot tolerate high heat washing or drying. For these items, follow these alternative approaches:

• Dry Cleaning: Take dry-clean-only items to a professional dry cleaner. The process of dry cleaning should effectively kill any lice or nits. Inform the cleaner that you are trying to eliminate lice to ensure they take necessary precautions.
• Sealing in a Bag: For items like plush toys, you can seal them in a plastic bag for two weeks. The lack of a food source will cause any surviving lice to die off. Although nits need the warmth of human head to hatch, it will ensure that the bag stays lice free. Place the bag in an out-of-the way space so that they are not disturbed.
• Freezing: While freezing isn’t always as reliable as heat for killing lice, you can try placing small items in a sealed plastic bag and putting them in the freezer for at least 24 hours. This method may not be as thorough as heat, and should only be considered when other methods aren’t feasible. After freezing, air dry the items for at least a day.

Step 6: Cleaning Upholstery and Carpets

While lice do not live on furniture for very long, If the infested person has been in regular contact with upholstered furniture or carpets, you may need to address those areas as well:

• Vacuuming: Thoroughly vacuum carpets, upholstered furniture, and car seats. Immediately empty the vacuum cleaner bag or canister into a sealed trash bag to avoid spreading any lice that might have been collected during vacuuming.
• Steam Cleaning: For upholstered furniture and carpets, steam cleaning with hot steam can be an effective way to kill lice. Ensure the fabric is properly dried after steam cleaning.
• Upholstery Sprays: While not always necessary, you could use a lice-killing spray specifically designed for upholstery and carpets, following the product instructions carefully.

Step 7: Prevent Re-infestation

After you’ve successfully cleaned all potentially contaminated items, it’s crucial to take preventive measures to avoid re-infestation:

• Regular Head Checks: Check family members’ hair regularly for lice and treat as necessary to prevent reintroduction of the lice into your living environment.
• Avoid Sharing Items: Avoid sharing personal items like hats, scarves, hairbrushes, and combs.
• Proper Hair Care: If you or your family member are at an increased risk of getting head lice (e.g. young children attending school), consider tying up long hair or putting it into a bun. If you have school age children, ensure that they understand the risks of sharing items and close contact.
• Wash Clothing Regularly: Continue to wash bedding and clothes regularly and whenever you suspect possible exposure to lice.

Key Takeaways for Effective Lice Removal

• Heat is Key: Using hot water and high heat in the dryer is the most effective way to kill lice and nits on clothing.
• Thoroughness is Essential: Carefully collect and treat all potentially contaminated items.
• Address All Areas: Don’t forget about upholstered furniture, carpets, and other fabric surfaces.
• Prevent Re-infestation: Continue practicing good hygiene and avoid sharing personal items.

When to Seek Professional Help

If you are struggling to get rid of lice, if the infestation is severe, or if you notice that symptoms persist or return, consult a medical professional or a lice removal specialist. They can provide additional treatments or solutions that can help.

Conclusion

Dealing with a head lice infestation can be frustrating, but by following these detailed steps for cleaning clothes and other fabric items, you can significantly reduce the risk of re-infestation. Remember, consistency and thoroughness are essential to ensure that you completely eradicate lice from your home. By combining these cleaning methods with proper hair treatment, you can successfully manage head lice and maintain a healthy and lice-free environment.