How can clothing be cleaned of lice? - briefly
Wash all garments in water of at least 130 °F (54 °C) and tumble‑dry on the highest heat setting for 30 minutes. Items that cannot be laundered should be sealed in a plastic bag for two weeks or subjected to professional heat treatment.
How can clothing be cleaned of lice? - in detail
Lice infestations on garments require a combination of temperature treatment, chemical agents, and proper handling to ensure complete eradication.
High‑temperature washing is the most reliable method. Set the washing machine to at least 60 °C (140 °F) and use a regular detergent. The heat kills both adult insects and eggs, which cannot survive prolonged exposure above 55 °C. Follow the wash cycle with a dryer set to the highest heat setting for a minimum of 30 minutes; drying at temperatures above 70 °C guarantees mortality of any surviving stages.
If the fabric label prohibits hot water, apply a two‑step approach. First, soak the items in a solution of 0.5 % permethrin or a commercially available lice‑kill spray, ensuring full saturation. Allow the solution to remain on the material for 10 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. After rinsing, place the clothing in a sealed polyethylene bag and store at room temperature for 48 hours; this period prevents hatching of any remaining eggs, as they require a blood meal to develop.
For delicate items that cannot endure heat or chemicals, use a freezer method. Seal the garments in airtight bags and freeze at –20 °C (–4 °F) for a minimum of 72 hours. Freezing halts metabolic activity and kills all life stages.
Additional precautions:
- Separate infested clothing from non‑infested items during processing.
- Clean washing machine drums and dryer lint traps with a disinfectant after each cycle.
- Vacuum storage areas and discard vacuum bags to remove stray nits.
Regular inspection of clothing after treatment confirms success. Visual checks should focus on seams, cuffs, and folds where lice and nits commonly reside. If any live insects are observed, repeat the appropriate decontamination step.
By adhering to temperature control, appropriate chemical application, and strict segregation, garments can be rendered free of lice and their eggs.