How to clean clothing of lice?

How to clean clothing of lice? - briefly

Wash all garments in water at least 130 °F (54 °C) and dry them on the highest heat setting for 30 minutes or longer; items that cannot be laundered should be sealed in a plastic bag for two weeks. After treatment, vacuum the environment and discard the sealed bag to prevent re‑infestation.

How to clean clothing of lice? - in detail

Lice survive only a short time away from a host. To eradicate them from garments, apply the following procedures.

1. Immediate washing

   • Place infested items in hot water at a minimum of 130 °F (54 °C).
   • Use a regular laundry detergent; add a small amount of an insecticidal laundry additive if available.
   • Run a full wash cycle, then a second rinse to ensure complete removal of residues.

2. High‑heat drying

   • Transfer washed fabrics to a dryer set to the highest heat setting for at least 30 minutes.
   • Verify that the dryer temperature reaches 130 °F (54 °C) or higher; this temperature kills all life stages of the parasite.

3. Alternative thermal methods

   • For items that cannot be machine‑washed, seal them in a heavy‑duty plastic bag and expose them to direct sunlight for 48 hours, ensuring surface temperatures exceed 115 °F (46 °C).
   • Use a household iron on the highest setting, passing it over the fabric for several minutes on each side.

4. Freezing

   • Place non‑washable clothing in a freezer set to 0 °F (‑18 °C) for at least 72 hours. The prolonged cold kills lice and nits.

5. Professional dry cleaning

   • Submit delicate or dry‑clean‑only garments to a reputable service that employs solvents capable of eliminating parasites.

6. Sealing and quarantine

   • If immediate treatment is impossible, seal items in airtight polyethylene bags for a minimum of two weeks. Lice cannot survive beyond 48 hours without a host; the extended period guarantees death.

7. Disposal of irrecoverable items

   • For severely contaminated or heavily infested clothing that cannot be sanitized, consider discarding in a sealed bag placed directly into a trash container.

8. Preventive handling

   • Wear disposable gloves when transferring infested garments.
   • Clean washing machine drums and dryer lint traps with hot, soapy water after each cycle.
   • Store cleaned clothing in clean, sealed containers until use.

By adhering to these steps, all stages of the parasite are eliminated, rendering the clothing safe for reuse.