Safety Products

Please be sure to read the product label of any insecticide you choose to use to get information on the personal protective safety gear you will need. In most situations, it is recommended that you wear long pants, a long sleeved shirt, closed toe shoes with socks, chemical resistant gloves, and goggles. In areas where ventilation is poor, a manufacturer may recommend you wear a mask or a respirator. We have put together two different safety kits that will make selecting the correct safety gear easier for you.

How To Kill Head Lice

By DoMyOwn staff

PLEASE NOTE: In this article we are addressing treatment of objects that may have come in contact with head lice in the home. Please see your doctor for information on the treatment process for people that have an active infestation.

Head Louse Description

The head louse is grey in color but does appear to take on the color of its human hosts' hair color. The louse is about 1/16" to 1/8" long, with the male being slightly smaller than the female. The body shape is ovular and flattened. Head lice have hook like claws at the end of each of their six legs to help them grasp hair.


Head Louse Biology


Female head lice lay about 7-12 eggs per day. The eggs of head lice are called nits. Nits are about 1/16" long, oval and white in color. Nits can be found attached to the hair shaft near the scalp of the host. Under optimal conditions eggs will hatch in 7-11 days. After hatching, the louse will go through three nymph stages before becoming a sexually mature adult. This gradual metamorphosis takes about 10-12 days.


Frequently asked questions

Q) Should I spray a residual insecticide around my house for head lice?

A) The answer to this question is NO. There is no reason to spray a residual insecticide around your home to treat for head lice. The adult head louse cannot live more than one or two days with out a blood meal. Nits cannot hatch if they are not on a human host, because their temperature cannot be maintained properly and the nit will not be viable.


Q) What should I do to treat my home for head lice?

A) Clothing, pillows, blankets and sheets should all be washed in hot soapy water and dried for at least 30-40 minutes on high heat in the dryer. Non washable items (stuffed animals, dry clean only clothing...) should be put in the dryer on high heat for at least 30 minutes. Any other items should be sealed in bag for at least 7-14 days.

Carpets and other flooring should be thoroughly vacuumed and the vacuum bag sealed in a plastic bag and thrown away. Furniture can be sprayed with Sterifab. Sterifab is an alcohol based product that includes a synthetic pyrethroid that is safe to spray on furniture and mattresses. Sterifab dries in about 20 minutes and does not leave any residual on the surface that is sprayed.

 

107 of 121 people found this article informative and helpful.

Was this article informative and helpful to you?   Yes |  No