How can lice be removed with vinegar at home? - briefly
Apply a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and water to the scalp, leave for ten minutes, then comb the hair thoroughly with a fine‑toothed lice comb to extract lice and nits. Repeat the procedure after seven days to eliminate any newly hatched insects.
How can lice be removed with vinegar at home? - in detail
Vinegar, typically distilled white or apple‑cider, creates an acidic environment that loosens the adhesive used by nits to attach to hair shafts. The acidity also irritates lice, prompting them to detach more readily. For effective home treatment, follow a systematic protocol.
Begin by washing the scalp with a regular shampoo to remove excess oil and debris. Rinse thoroughly and towel‑dry until hair is damp but not soaking. Prepare a solution of one part vinegar to two parts lukewarm water; the mixture should be comfortably warm to the touch. Apply the solution generously, ensuring coverage from the roots to the tips. Allow the liquid to sit for five to ten minutes; during this interval, the acidic action weakens the nit’s grip.
After the waiting period, use a fine‑toothed nit comb, preferably metal, to systematically work through each section of hair. Start at the scalp and pull the comb down in slow, steady strokes, wiping the teeth between passes to remove dislodged nits. Repeat the combing process at least three times, spacing sessions twelve hours apart to catch any newly hatched lice.
For thoroughness, repeat the entire procedure over a span of seven days, as the life cycle of lice may produce additional hatchlings. Concurrently, wash all bedding, clothing, and personal items in hot water (minimum 60 °C) or place them in sealed plastic bags for fourteen days to prevent reinfestation. Vacuum carpets and upholstered furniture to eliminate stray insects.
Key steps
- Shampoo, rinse, and lightly dry hair.
- Mix one part vinegar with two parts lukewarm water; apply to hair.
- Let sit 5‑10 minutes.
- Comb with a fine nit comb from scalp outward; clean comb after each pass.
- Repeat combing three times, spaced 12 hours apart.
- Continue treatment for seven days; launder or isolate personal items.
The described regimen leverages vinegar’s acidity and mechanical removal to achieve reliable eradication of head‑lice infestations without prescription medication.