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Lice Removal the Inexpensive Way
by Melinda
Gregory 7/7/10
Lice. Mention the word, and even the non-squeamish will involuntarily lift a hand
to scratch their heads. Combating the tenacious little creatures can be a long, drawn-out,
expensive affair. While there is not much of a cure for the length of time needed
to battle lice, there are ways to cut down on expenses associated with an infestation.
With a little persistence and patience, you can rid yourself, your kids and your home
of lice for good.
Over the Counter and Prescription Products
Herein lies the most expensive part of ridding a person and home of lice. A box of
treatment can cost at least eight dollars, and the amount of product recommended to
kill lice often necessitates buying more than one box. Determined not to be left out
are drug companies who have jumped on the lice-removal bandwagon with an assortment
of products that "help" kill lice. Even if you have insurance to help cover the costs
of these treatments, chances are you still have to fork over a co-pay.
Do It Yourself
Here's a secret the companies who manufacture such lice-removal treatments don't want
you to know: you can successfully remove lice and their eggs all by yourself without
store-bought or prescription chemicals. In fact, the only thing you need to fully
rid yourself, your children and your house of an infestation is an investment of time
and some common household products you probably already have in your refrigerator
or pantry.
Total Lice Removal
The ultimate way to completely remove lice from your life is a time commitment to
wage war daily on the lice and their eggs. This includes a daily head search for lice/nit
removal and a daily regime of laundry and vacuuming. That's it. All treatments aside,
the only way to ensure the lice who've designated you as their buffet leave for good
is to aggressively search and destroy all things lice.
First and foremost is making sure the lice and nits are gone from the scalp and hair.
Whoever has lice needs to be checked daily and thoroughly. All you really need to
do this job properly is a comb and a bucket or bowl of water. Simply have the infected
person sit comfortably while you search their hair one small section at a time. You're
looking for any crawlers, which can be brown or white in color, as well as eggs. The
eggs are usually small (the size of a poppy seed), also brown or white, sit really
close to the scalp on the hair shaft, and stick to the hair shaft like glue. To remove
the egg, take it between your fingernails, pull it down the hairs and deposit it into
your bowl of water. Removal of a live, hatched lice is much the same: grab it, get
it off the head and put it in the water. While lice are notorious survivors including
the ability to survive being doused by water (which is why you can't get rid of them
simply by washing your hair), they won't be able to come back when you empty the bowl
of water down the drain.
If you feel the need to do some form of treatment, there are many at-home remedies
you can try. Some people swear by coating the hair and scalp with mayonnaise, setting
plastic wrap or a shower cap over the mayo and leaving it overnight. This also can
be done with olive oil and is supposed to help suffocate lice. Also, you can mix up
equal parts of vinegar and water and use this as a pre-removal treatment in place
of chemicals. These actions certainly will not cause any harm, but the key to totally
ridding yourself of vermin is the daily hunt and destroy mission.
After removing all lice and eggs that you can see, you're next step is to vacuum.
You'll want to vacuum the carpeted areas in your house as well as chairs and mattresses.
Don't buy into the room and furniture sprays sold in conjunction with lice treatments;
they won't do anything but put chemicals into your home. Vacuuming, when done daily
until no more lice are seen on the head, is sufficient to get rid of any eggs or lice
that may have fallen from the head.
Washing is also an important part of lice removal. Remove and wash your bedding daily.
Yes, it's a lot more work, but getting rid of the lice permanently is well worth the
extra few loads of laundry. Wash any blankets, sheets, pillowcases, etc. that you
have come in contact with. If there's something that can't be washed (stuffed animals,
for example), place them into a garbage bag, seal it tight and store it for about
two weeks.
If you or a child acquires lice, don't panic or despair. It will take some time, but
winning the war is very satisfying - and very inexpensive.
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