There is a lot of information out there on the subject of and treating head lice, and there are a few myths and misconceptions that can accompany the information as well Once you've concluded that your home has been infested by head lice, you'll need to be up to speed on what you have in front of you in terms of dealing with them as well as knowing what steps to take regarding the treatments.
To do this you'll need the facts and not some of the myths that are commonly associated with the behavior of the lice and how they affect humans.
You may come across some information indicating that head lice can jump or even fly.
This is simply not the case for either and they do not spread communicable diseases.
They do, however, crawl and as such it through direct contact that these critters spread from host to host.
Direct contact can and does include contact of such items such as combs, scarves, hats, and other shared clothing or hair accessories.
For this parasite the human scalp provides both life sustaining elements in the form of food and warmth.
Both of these elements must be present in order for the head lice to survive and without them, they won't live for very long on their own.
Under normal conditions the lifespan of a typical louse is approximately one month in duration.
However, without the nourishment and the warmth from a human host this lifespan is reduced to about 24 hours.
Humans do not contract the lice from pets or other animals, the lice have no preference in terms of male or female or the actual length of the hair of the human host.
When treating head lice you should not limit the treatments to just the hair itself.
You will also need to make sure that you treat the furniture, the bedding, the clothes, and anything else that the infested person may have actually come in contact with.
If you can toss any suspect items into the washing machine on a hot cycle where temperatures will reach at least 120 degrees Fahrenheit this will destroy the lice.
If you've got items that you think you want to treat but cannot put them into a washing machine, you can accomplish the same thing by putting the items in the dryer on a hot cycle for about 20 minutes.
For hair accessories such as brushes and combs you can soak them in hot water for 10 to 20 minutes at the recommended temperature.
Or, soak them in a solution such as Lysol for approximately one hour.
Don't forget to completely vacuum your carpets, the interior of your car, as well as any furniture or upholstery that may have been in contact.
Be sure to include the bedding or mattress of the infected person as well.
Completely fogging your home with a pesticide or using such pesticides on your furniture and floors is not necessary in order to kill the head lice.
Be patient and meticulous when it come to treating head lice and ultimately killing all of them.
Many people get started on the right track and then fail to do the follow up work and as a result a re-infestation flares up.
But, by being vigilant and following the proper procedures you can eliminate these pests before they rapidly propagate and require a much greater effort in order to eliminate them.
To do this you'll need the facts and not some of the myths that are commonly associated with the behavior of the lice and how they affect humans.
You may come across some information indicating that head lice can jump or even fly.
This is simply not the case for either and they do not spread communicable diseases.
They do, however, crawl and as such it through direct contact that these critters spread from host to host.
Direct contact can and does include contact of such items such as combs, scarves, hats, and other shared clothing or hair accessories.
For this parasite the human scalp provides both life sustaining elements in the form of food and warmth.
Both of these elements must be present in order for the head lice to survive and without them, they won't live for very long on their own.
Under normal conditions the lifespan of a typical louse is approximately one month in duration.
However, without the nourishment and the warmth from a human host this lifespan is reduced to about 24 hours.
Humans do not contract the lice from pets or other animals, the lice have no preference in terms of male or female or the actual length of the hair of the human host.
When treating head lice you should not limit the treatments to just the hair itself.
You will also need to make sure that you treat the furniture, the bedding, the clothes, and anything else that the infested person may have actually come in contact with.
If you can toss any suspect items into the washing machine on a hot cycle where temperatures will reach at least 120 degrees Fahrenheit this will destroy the lice.
If you've got items that you think you want to treat but cannot put them into a washing machine, you can accomplish the same thing by putting the items in the dryer on a hot cycle for about 20 minutes.
For hair accessories such as brushes and combs you can soak them in hot water for 10 to 20 minutes at the recommended temperature.
Or, soak them in a solution such as Lysol for approximately one hour.
Don't forget to completely vacuum your carpets, the interior of your car, as well as any furniture or upholstery that may have been in contact.
Be sure to include the bedding or mattress of the infected person as well.
Completely fogging your home with a pesticide or using such pesticides on your furniture and floors is not necessary in order to kill the head lice.
Be patient and meticulous when it come to treating head lice and ultimately killing all of them.
Many people get started on the right track and then fail to do the follow up work and as a result a re-infestation flares up.
But, by being vigilant and following the proper procedures you can eliminate these pests before they rapidly propagate and require a much greater effort in order to eliminate them.