Please help me kill these suckers dead.
August 12, 2008 12:52 PM Subscribe
How can I make sure that I get rid of all lice and their eggs when I don't have the option of washing my clothes/bedding/etc. in hot water? Conflicting google information has made me resort to AskMe for now.
After three months of living in Thailand and not even getting sick off of the food, I've come down with head lice a week before I head back to the States. (And it is unfortunately without-a-doubt head lice.) Oh, and did I mention that I'm bug-phobic? Awesome.
I'm headed to the doctor tomorrow with a Thai friend to help me translate to get some medicated shampoo stuff that should take care of the actual problem with my hair. What I'm really concerned about, though, is the bedding/clothing issue. I know that generally in the States they're not the most difficult things to get rid of as long as you clean well and wash everything in hot water. The hot is a problem for me here. Washing in hot water is literally not an option in the town I'm living in. The washing machines at my apartment building only operate on cold, and I even talked to some of the laundry places around and they can't do it either. So, if I can't wash my clothes in hot water, what on earth can I do to ensure that I get rid of these little suckers for good?
I've been looking a lot on google, and I'm getting conflicting information of how to ensure to really get rid of head lice. Some sources say that they can only live for up to a few hours without human contact, some say up to two weeks, some say something in between. I don't know if I can treat my head and just go away for th weekend and everything in my apartment will be dead, or if I need to do something else. While some websites suggest that will work, it seems way too good to be true. If I could just wash everything in hot water I wouldn't be so worried. But, as I said, I can't.
So. Any methods to make sure lice and their eggs are not in clothing/bedding/etc. other than washing everything in hot water? What on earth can I do to make sure when these suckers are gone, they're gone? Please keep in mind that I am in Thailand, and that not everything that may be available in other countries is available here.
After three months of living in Thailand and not even getting sick off of the food, I've come down with head lice a week before I head back to the States. (And it is unfortunately without-a-doubt head lice.) Oh, and did I mention that I'm bug-phobic? Awesome.
I'm headed to the doctor tomorrow with a Thai friend to help me translate to get some medicated shampoo stuff that should take care of the actual problem with my hair. What I'm really concerned about, though, is the bedding/clothing issue. I know that generally in the States they're not the most difficult things to get rid of as long as you clean well and wash everything in hot water. The hot is a problem for me here. Washing in hot water is literally not an option in the town I'm living in. The washing machines at my apartment building only operate on cold, and I even talked to some of the laundry places around and they can't do it either. So, if I can't wash my clothes in hot water, what on earth can I do to ensure that I get rid of these little suckers for good?
I've been looking a lot on google, and I'm getting conflicting information of how to ensure to really get rid of head lice. Some sources say that they can only live for up to a few hours without human contact, some say up to two weeks, some say something in between. I don't know if I can treat my head and just go away for th weekend and everything in my apartment will be dead, or if I need to do something else. While some websites suggest that will work, it seems way too good to be true. If I could just wash everything in hot water I wouldn't be so worried. But, as I said, I can't.
So. Any methods to make sure lice and their eggs are not in clothing/bedding/etc. other than washing everything in hot water? What on earth can I do to make sure when these suckers are gone, they're gone? Please keep in mind that I am in Thailand, and that not everything that may be available in other countries is available here.
Try boiling your clothes in a big pot. Just make sure that you have some kind of batting (like, some towels that you don't care about) touching the surface of the vessel. The water won't go above 212F, but the sides of the pot might. Add some kind of mild soap to that after you turn the flame off, and you've probably got a solution. I hope.
Good luck!
posted by Citrus at 12:58 PM on August 12, 2008
Good luck!
posted by Citrus at 12:58 PM on August 12, 2008
Response by poster: While I could figure out a way to get some sort of big bucket, I have no way to boil water. My apartment building doesn't have a kitchen, and neither do the apartment buildings of any of my friends. I could use water as hot as my shower can go, but I'm pretty positive that it's not hot enough to kill the lice, or else I'd just take a long hot shower and be done with it. :(
posted by plaingurl at 12:58 PM on August 12, 2008
posted by plaingurl at 12:58 PM on August 12, 2008
Best answer: Do you have electricity? Buy an electric tea kettle.
posted by bcwinters at 1:02 PM on August 12, 2008
posted by bcwinters at 1:02 PM on August 12, 2008
If you are male, I think you should just shave your head - problem solved.
posted by Penelope at 1:05 PM on August 12, 2008
posted by Penelope at 1:05 PM on August 12, 2008
I'm not sure where in Thailand you are, but I figure that there's got to be a place that you can build a bonfire?
Just thinking out of the box...
posted by Citrus at 1:07 PM on August 12, 2008
Just thinking out of the box...
posted by Citrus at 1:07 PM on August 12, 2008
When my sister had head lice my mom put some of her stuffed animals and other soft, non-washable things in garbage bags for two or three weeks to kill any lice. I imagine you could put your bedding in plastic bags too. This would mean getting new bedding for the meantime, though.
posted by christinetheslp at 1:08 PM on August 12, 2008
posted by christinetheslp at 1:08 PM on August 12, 2008
What about buying a cheap propane camping stove, and a large pot? You could boil your clothes in that. (and uh.. make sure you do it outside)
posted by cgg at 1:08 PM on August 12, 2008
posted by cgg at 1:08 PM on August 12, 2008
I'd think extra heavy bleach in the wash, then perhaps an extra wash to make sure they're well rinsed, would do as well as hot water. Bleach is some vicious stuff.
posted by nanojath at 1:12 PM on August 12, 2008
posted by nanojath at 1:12 PM on August 12, 2008
Yes, you can put everything in a sealed plastic trash bag for two weeks (I used to go more like four weeks just to be sure) and the lice will die off. The other solution is insecticide spray. In the States they sell lice spray to use on non washable items - I used to use it on pillows and the couch and stuff - but probably any strong insecticide will do. If I were you I'd spray things heavily in the early morning and then let them air in the sun all day to get some of the smell and toxins out.
If you're leaving in a week anyway, why not wait to treat your head the morning of your departure? Wash your hair, put on all brand new clothes, pack your stuff in plastic bags inside your suitcases and then take it all directly to the laundromat when you arrive. Voila, lice are just a memory.
posted by mygothlaundry at 1:26 PM on August 12, 2008
If you're leaving in a week anyway, why not wait to treat your head the morning of your departure? Wash your hair, put on all brand new clothes, pack your stuff in plastic bags inside your suitcases and then take it all directly to the laundromat when you arrive. Voila, lice are just a memory.
posted by mygothlaundry at 1:26 PM on August 12, 2008
This Berkeley Parents Network link has lots of advice about getting rid of lice. Mygothlaundry's advice seems pretty sensible but you might also try treating your scalp with the method of your choice, washing your clothes at a laundromat and running them through a dryer if available which might reach the required 130 degrees. Good luck.
posted by firstdrop at 1:32 PM on August 12, 2008
posted by firstdrop at 1:32 PM on August 12, 2008
Can you heat water up in a large rice cooker (or something), then pour that water into the bucket?
I've also seen small heating elements - essentially a metal bit on the end of an electrical cord - for making tea. You might need a few of these if it's a large bucket. Heat the water, then add the clothes (no setting clothes on fire or scorching them).
posted by amtho at 1:59 PM on August 12, 2008
I've also seen small heating elements - essentially a metal bit on the end of an electrical cord - for making tea. You might need a few of these if it's a large bucket. Heat the water, then add the clothes (no setting clothes on fire or scorching them).
posted by amtho at 1:59 PM on August 12, 2008
Best answer: I just did a bunch of research on lice transmission for my job. I found this page from the Centers for Disease Control very helpful. There is a lot of hysteria about lice, but they usually respond to the first treatment.
Upshot:
-lice generally can live only about 48 hours away from a host
-they are reluctant to leave a host and lice are usually transmitted directly person-to-person. They don't normally live in clothes or infest blankets
-Nits (lice eggs) are laid directly on hair shafts and attached with a sticky glue
-Lice usually don't lay eggs on non-hosts - they don't lay eggs in clothes, etc., on purpose. Some may end up in clothing if it has been worn on the head of an infested person.
-Use an OTC scalp treatment for the person with lice
-Wash clothes in hot soapy water: hot is defined as at least 130F.
-For things that can't be washed in hot water, enclose them in plastic bags and keep them in there for one week. If there ever were any nits or lice in there, they will be dead.
posted by Miko at 7:18 PM on August 12, 2008
Upshot:
-lice generally can live only about 48 hours away from a host
-they are reluctant to leave a host and lice are usually transmitted directly person-to-person. They don't normally live in clothes or infest blankets
-Nits (lice eggs) are laid directly on hair shafts and attached with a sticky glue
-Lice usually don't lay eggs on non-hosts - they don't lay eggs in clothes, etc., on purpose. Some may end up in clothing if it has been worn on the head of an infested person.
-Use an OTC scalp treatment for the person with lice
-Wash clothes in hot soapy water: hot is defined as at least 130F.
-For things that can't be washed in hot water, enclose them in plastic bags and keep them in there for one week. If there ever were any nits or lice in there, they will be dead.
posted by Miko at 7:18 PM on August 12, 2008
I looked at the page Miko linked, and it looks like head lice eggs take ~ 1 week to hatch. So, while 48 hours away from a host would kill live ones, the eggs might linger longer.
posted by amtho at 9:27 PM on August 12, 2008
posted by amtho at 9:27 PM on August 12, 2008
AND that page lists three different types of lice, so YMMV.
posted by amtho at 9:27 PM on August 12, 2008
posted by amtho at 9:27 PM on August 12, 2008
Do you have access to an iron? Ironing your bedding, especially the pillowcases, after washing them, even in cold water, should kill everything.
posted by Sar at 11:17 PM on August 12, 2008
posted by Sar at 11:17 PM on August 12, 2008
Best answer: Cooties don't live in your clothes. I'd more concerned about vacuuming out the couches and that kind of crap. The discrepancy in time might be live cooties as opposed to unhatched eggs maybe? ALSO - people you're in contact with may be infested!! You got them from somewhere and it may have been or might now be people you know! (Ugh! Fun times.)
Cooties want to be on you, so they'll only really get left behind in/on things that touch or get near your hair. Doesn't happen all that much but all you need is one!
I'm going to be bold and say cold water is fine but if your washer is a bit crappy just wash 'em twice? Hot water just washes better... Can they survive hot/cold extremes? I don't know. But I do know if you wash them down the drain - they can't get you no more :) Eggs are attached to hairs (usually quite solidly) it's pretty safe to say if you wash, wipe, sweep and vacuum up all and any hair that's kicking around and throw it in the trash then that'll take care of that.
Speaking of hair nothing beats a cootie comb. (!!!With long metal teeth!!!) Use a really thick good quality conditioner. Wipe the comb on paper towel, keep combing (in sections about a sq. inch at a time) 'til there are no more cooties and the eggs have finally slid their way off your hair (Fuck you cooties and fuck you long hair). Hair really needs to be sopping wet but you'll figure that out as you go. They can become immune to the more popular brands of cootie wash... (The best poison I ever came across had Tea Tree as the main ingredient.) Ugh!! I hate those big greasy bastards!! Goodluck :)
posted by mu~ha~ha~ha~har at 5:27 AM on August 13, 2008
Cooties want to be on you, so they'll only really get left behind in/on things that touch or get near your hair. Doesn't happen all that much but all you need is one!
I'm going to be bold and say cold water is fine but if your washer is a bit crappy just wash 'em twice? Hot water just washes better... Can they survive hot/cold extremes? I don't know. But I do know if you wash them down the drain - they can't get you no more :) Eggs are attached to hairs (usually quite solidly) it's pretty safe to say if you wash, wipe, sweep and vacuum up all and any hair that's kicking around and throw it in the trash then that'll take care of that.
Speaking of hair nothing beats a cootie comb. (!!!With long metal teeth!!!) Use a really thick good quality conditioner. Wipe the comb on paper towel, keep combing (in sections about a sq. inch at a time) 'til there are no more cooties and the eggs have finally slid their way off your hair (Fuck you cooties and fuck you long hair). Hair really needs to be sopping wet but you'll figure that out as you go. They can become immune to the more popular brands of cootie wash... (The best poison I ever came across had Tea Tree as the main ingredient.) Ugh!! I hate those big greasy bastards!! Goodluck :)
posted by mu~ha~ha~ha~har at 5:27 AM on August 13, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by crush-onastick at 12:56 PM on August 12, 2008