How Can Head Lice Get on Your Clothes?

When you wash your clothes with hot water and high heat, you can kill lice and the eggs that hatch inside. The temperature must reach at least 125 degrees F in order to kill them. However, it’s important to wait at least two days after the last time you wash your clothes. In some cases, you may need to rewash your clothes several times before you’re sure they’re lice-free.

To prevent head lice from spreading, avoid sharing your clothing, combs and towels with others. It’s also important to wash and dry your child’s clothing regularly. You should also make sure to wash all bed linens and clothing you shared with an infested person. Using a fumigant spray is not necessary for controlling head lice because fumigant fogs can be harmful if they’re breathed in or absorbed through the skin.

Head lice are tiny parasites that live on the scalp and spread by head-to-head contact. They also spread through items like scarves, hats and pillows. Although most people first discover the infestation when they notice itchy scalps or see the critter crawling in front of them, the problem can be much more complicated.

Head lice are very common in children’s clothes. However, body lice are less common and tend to affect people who don’t regularly bathe. The lice lay their eggs in clothing seams or bedding and travel to the skin several times a day to feed on blood. Pubic lice, also known as “crabs,” are generally found on the pubic region and are much smaller than head lice. These lice will feed on the blood of an infected person for nine to twelve days before they become adults.