How to check for clothing lice? - briefly
Inspect seams, cuffs, and folds of garments using a fine‑tooth comb or magnifying glass, searching for live lice or attached nits on the fabric. Re‑examine the items after 24–48 hours to catch any organisms missed initially.
How to check for clothing lice? - in detail
Detecting lice on garments requires systematic visual inspection, tactile assessment, and appropriate tools. Begin by selecting a well‑lit area; natural daylight or a bright lamp provides the clearest view. Lay each piece of clothing flat on a contrasting surface—white fabric on a dark background or vice versa—to highlight any small, moving organisms.
- Visual scan – Examine seams, folds, cuffs, and pockets closely. Lice and their eggs (nits) appear as tiny, oval specks attached to fibers. Adult lice are brownish and about 2–3 mm long; nits are firmer, white‑to‑light‑brown, and positioned at a 45° angle to the fabric strand.
- Tactile check – Run fingertips or a fine-toothed comb designed for lice over the fabric. The comb’s teeth dislodge hidden insects and pull out nits stuck to fibers.
- Magnification – Use a hand lens (10×) or a smartphone macro attachment for detailed observation. Magnification confirms whether suspected specks are live lice, nits, or debris.
- Temperature test – Place a small sample of the suspect area in a sealed plastic bag and expose it to a hair‑dryer set on high for several minutes. Lice cannot survive temperatures above 50 °C; dead insects become immobile, aiding identification.
- Isolation – Store examined clothing in sealed bags for 48 hours. If live lice are present, they will move within the bag, confirming infestation.
After inspection, treat confirmed items by washing at 60 °C or higher for at least 30 minutes, followed by tumble drying on high heat. For fabrics that cannot withstand high temperatures, seal them in airtight bags for two weeks, depriving lice of a blood source and causing death. Repeat the inspection process after treatment to verify eradication.