How Long Can Head Lice Live on Furniture?
WouterIf you suspect that you have head lice, you may want to wash your furniture and bed linens in hot water (around 130 degrees F). You can also vacuum furniture to remove lice. Using hot water is also an effective way to kill lice and their eggs. If you cannot wash furniture, place it in a sealable bag for 72 hours. You can also use medicated shampoo or rubbing alcohol to kill the lice.
While head lice are primarily spread from head to head contact, they can live on furniture as well. While it is unlikely that they will live on furniture, they can live on it if it comes into contact with human hair. In addition, furniture may have become infested with them if it is exposed to the hair of a person infected with head lice.
Once you’ve treated your child’s head for head lice, it’s important to wash bedding and furniture. However, you must keep in mind that even if the infestation is eliminated, it may reappear. It is best to separate infected furniture and furnishings from the person who has infected them.
A louse’s life cycle is long – a single adult louse can live for more than thirty days on its host. A female louse can lay up to six eggs per day. The eggs are incubated for seven to ten days, and after the nymphs hatch, they will mature and become an adult.
