Vinegar and Head Lice

Head Lice

What would you do if you found you or your child had Head Lice? Head lice, known to biologists as Pediculosis capitis, can be picked up in many of the places we frequent. Your children can pick them up in school. They might be picked up in a neighbors house. They might even hitch a ride on a family pet. A very common source for lice infestations is the common coat hook where hats, coats and clothes are hung together, making it easy for lice to hop from one coat or hat to another.

But where ever they come from they are enough to drive you crazy. And even though Head lice do not transmit disease or have any lasting effects. unless treated properly, they can make life pretty unpleasant. Their itchy infestation can become a recurring problem.

Lice are tiny, about a millimeter or two in length. These wingless insects feed on the human scalp. They can be easily killed with various of over-the-counter shampoos and treatments. Their eggs are called nits. When a louse lays a nit, the nit becomes glued to a hair. This puts the newly-hatched louse near it,s food supply when it hatches. The nits are so small and their glue so strong they can,t be combed out. And unless you can remove all the nits, the lice will have a picnic on your head.

But you can get rid of head lice once and for all. and vinegar can help.

The Vinegar Man recommends the following way to treating the infestation and preventing the recurrence of Head lice.

After shampooing, rinse the infected area head thoroughly with white vinegar. The acetic acid in the vinegar will dissolve the glue holding eggs to the hair.

Use an over-the-counter head lice preparation to kill the lice. Be sure to read and follow the directions carefully.

Rinse the hair thoroughly once again with white vinegar to dislodge nits.

In order to get rid of all remaining lice eggs, you should use a fine-toothed comb to comb out the entire head of hair. Take you time and do it well.

Repeat treatment using the de-lousing preparation in seven to ten days. If you still find nits, rinse with vinegar again and comb the hair thoroughly.

To prevent reinfestation, wash and dry your clothes at the hottest temperatures possible. It is the heat rather than the soap and water, that kills the lice.

Soak the combs and hair brushes in hot water which is at least 150 degrees F.) for at least five minutes.

Vacuum pillows, sofas, chairs and other upholstered furniture as well as carpets, mattresses, and even car seats. Then dispose of the vacuum cleaner bag far away from your home. Better yet burn it if possible.

If you have followed these instructions carefully you should be frre of these itchy little devils for a while.

P.S. for readers in countries which have difficulties distinguishing R,s and L,s in English: Note rice is the food, lice is the bug. Now you can see why it is important to learn the difference between R&L sounds in English.