Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
What are some cheap ways to get rid of lice?
Did one of your kids get sent home from school with lice?
Both of them actually. Which doubles the cost of getting rid of them.
A really cheap solution is to shave all their heads.
I can't do that! That's insane!
That's why the Egyptians shaved their heads. Oh, and remember to wash all their bed stuff
and pillows in hot water twice to kill any head lice that got into the linens.
OK, do lots of laundry. What else can I do?
One low cost but time intensive solution is to get several fine tooth combs. Go through
their hair from scalp to end with the comb several times a night to remove all eggs.
I don't have time to nit pick!
As I said, it takes time and patience but it is free. Unless you need to buy the combs,
but you can reuse those.
I need a solution that gets the kids back to school ASAP. And I don't want to spend
hours combing their hair.
Pyrethrum kills lice and their eggs. You can get cheaper generic pyrethrum shampoo and
cream for the kids at the drug store and use that.
What else do I need?
Wash their hats, jackets with hoods, and linens. Run their hair brushes and combs through the
dishwasher twice.
Why the dishwasher?
The hot water will kill any nits and lice on those items, and it is cheaper than buying
barbicide to clean them - or buying new brushes and combs altogether.
I just feel so frustrated and ashamed of this.
Lice have been with humans for at least a million years, as genetic studies of lice
show. It's only with regular bathing and clothes washing that they've become freakishly rare.
Except among kids.
Teach your kids not to share hats, clothes, hair brushes and hair accessories with others.
My kids actually picked it up sleeping on the same sleep mats and couches as others.
Then the daycare needs to throw those things out so other kids don't pick up the lice.
But that is their expense, not yours.