Where do lice live in a household? - briefly
Lice reside on human hair and scalp and can be transferred to items that touch the head, such as hats, combs, pillows, and bedding. They cannot sustain themselves on furniture or carpet without a living host.
Where do lice live in a household? - in detail
Lice are obligate ectoparasites that survive only while attached to a human host. In a residence they are found primarily on the hair and skin of people, but their eggs and nymphs can be deposited on objects that remain in close contact with the infested individual.
- Scalp and head hair – adult head lice cling to hair shafts near the scalp, where warmth and moisture support feeding. Nits are glued to the base of the hair strand, often within a half‑inch of the skin.
- Body hair and clothing – body lice inhabit the seams of shirts, underwear, and socks, laying eggs in fabric fibers. They move to the skin to feed and return to clothing for shelter.
- Personal accessories – hats, scarves, headbands, hairbrushes, and combs frequently contain nits and live lice because they are repeatedly placed on the head.
- Bedding and linens – pillowcases, sheets, blankets, and mattress covers can harbor nits that have fallen from hair. Lice survive only a short time away from a host, but eggs may remain viable for several days.
- Furniture and upholstered surfaces – couches, car seats, and other upholstered items can temporarily hold lice that have dropped from a person’s hair or clothing, especially in areas where the head rests against the material.
Off‑host survival is limited to 24–48 hours for adult lice and up to a week for eggs under optimal temperature (20‑30 °C) and humidity. Consequently, the most reliable locations for detection and eradication are the host’s hair and the items that maintain direct, regular contact with it. Regular laundering of clothing and bedding at temperatures above 60 °C, combined with thorough combing of hair using a fine‑toothed lice comb, eliminates both the insects and their eggs from these environments.