How Long Do Head Lice Live on Bedding?

When you suspect you have head lice, one of the first things you need to do is treat the bedding. This can be done in a couple of different ways. First, you need to wash your bedding on high heat. This should kill the lice. Then, you need to wash any stuffed animals and pillows. You can also freeze these items to kill the nits.

Lice are usually found on the head, but may occasionally come off the head of a human. After 48 hours, they may fall onto bed linens. If you notice any of these symptoms, you should start washing your bedding as soon as possible. Make sure to wash it on the hottest setting available. This will kill the head lice and their eggs.

During the day, head lice live on human heads for a few hours. However, they need a human host to survive. When they’re off a human, they can survive for 12 to 24 hours on bedding. They can even survive in bedding if they’re soiled or damp. Lice can be spread from one person to another through head to head contact or sharing clothing and space.

Once you’ve been diagnosed with head lice, you need to wash your bedding. This is important to kill any remaining lice that are still living on your bedding. You should also wash your bedding on a hot water cycle after a treatment.