School is back in session. Along with new school supplies and new classes, there might be another new visitor to your child’s classroom: lice. In nearly four decades of the pest control business, we’ve had our fair share of run-ins with these unwelcome critters. So don’t fret, our team of experts is here to help through the decontamination process.
Lice are more common than you might think! According to health.com, six to 12 million children in the United States get head lice each year, so you are not alone. We know it’s not fun finding out your child has head lice. However, since they are relatively common and there are ways to get rid of them. Here are a few tips if your student comes home with a few hitchhikers on his or her head this school year.
Once you find lice, check everyone in your home.
Even if you don’t think you have lice, everyone who lives in the home with the child is susceptible to getting lice. In order for lice to go from one person to the other, head-to-head contact is required. Lice don’t have a preference if you’re old or young. Everyone can be a host to these pesky little guys.
Invest in an over-the-counter lice treatment.
Most drug stores carry lots of options for over-the-counter lice treatments. There are many debates on which product is the best, but our advice is to just act as quickly and as thoroughly as possible. When you’re searching for the over-the-counter treatment, make sure the active ingredient contains pyrethrin. Medicines containing pyrethrins are approved for use on children two years of age and older, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
There are tons of home remedies for treating lice, such as covering your hair in olive oil and mayonnaise. We suggest going with the over-the-counter treatments before getting too carried away with the condiments.
What do I do with my child’s toys and bedding?
A short stay in the dryer should kill off any lice that are found on your child’s bed or plush toys. Lice don’t live very long without a food source. Experts recommend that you place sheets, comforters, stuffed animals and other soft objects that came into contact with your child into the dryer for about 45 minutes. The heat should kill off any lice that have moved from your child’s head to the object. If you’re not sure if your child touched or played with a certain toy, better to be safe than sorry – toss it in the dryer, too.
Getting rid of lice is a pain. Getting rid of pests in your home should be as painless as possible. With Clark Exterminating to help you, your bug problems will be solved, quickly and with a smile! We service central Arkansas and have been in the business for 36 years. We offer free in-home estimates and offer 10 percent off of your first pest control service with us. Give us a call today and we’ll start helping you solve your bug problem as soon as possible.
Little Rock: 501-228-0322
North Little Rock: 501-758-0322
Conway: 501-329-0396
Benton: 501-776-1388
Bryant: 501-847-1388
Jacksonville/Cabot: 501-843-1322
Hot Springs: 501-623-2335
