anyone know any good tips for removing lice and mites from beds and soft furnishings?

Question

they are not fleas or scabies, they are too small to see and they cause unbearable itching

Answer 1

Take the hoover to your matress

Answer 2

Oh man, this is a very labor intensive problem. Ok...

First of all, you need to get the plastic mattress covers, you'll probably have to go to like Bed Bath and Beyond or someplace like that. You need to COMPLETELY seal up the mattress top and bottom, and they'll eventually die (from no oxygen). Wash all the pillows in HOT water, use bleach as well. Same with comforters etc., but you may not be able to use bleach, but you need to use HOT HOT water. Anything you can use bleach on though, use it. Unless you have a huge washer/dryer, it will be easier to do this at a laundromat. It may be easier to replace some things, like pillows etc. I would also call a good exterminator and have your house completely sprayed, inside and out. I honestly don't know what to do if the infestation's in upholstered furnishings, that's where I'd ask an exterminator. Good luck, I don't envy you in the slightest!

Answer 3

It is possible you are allergic to whatever you are washing your fabrics in. If you don't think this is the problem and if your soft furnishings are washable, vacuum them first then wash them in the hottest possible wash for that fabric. Same with the bed linen. Change bed linen regularly (at least once a week - more in warm weather) and use an anti-dustmite/allergy liquid in your wash (you can get anti-dustmite liquids which you add to your normal washing solutions). When you get out of bed in the morning, turn down the covers so that the air can get to it and dry any sweat. Make your bed just before you leave the house. Vacuum and shampoo your carpets, to keep dustmites under control. You can get an anti allergy spray to treat fabrics before washing so I would use this as a safe guard. I would also use this liquid if your soft furnishings are not washable and on your mattresses. Follow application with a good brushing and think about getting the items in question dry cleaned, where this is feasible. Turn mattresses regularly.

Then develop a routine so that you keep all soft furnishings, carpets and linen clean on an ongoing basis. (everything should be given a good going over at least once a month).

Answer 4

Useful cost effective and environmental friendly tip to rid your bedding etc or small furnishings of lice or mites for ages.
1/ Shake out items to be prepared preferably outside in the garden.
2/ Separate the coloured items from whites etc.
3/ Separate delicate items for a cooler wash perhaps hand wash if necessary.
4/ Wash your bedding items duvet - pillows also covers etc in a reasonably hot programme setting, [unless you have a large 8kg machine] go to the laundrette
5/ Add 25 drops of eucalyptus essential oil to each wash load - to kill the mites and lice.
6/ You may also add several drops to the rinse cycle and eg rosewood or lavender to give freshness.
7/ When items are completely dry - place each separately in plastic bags accordingly to size and place in large chest freeze for at least 24 hours.
8 Thaw out and air use as before all lice/ mites disposed of permanently until next spring clean.

Answer 5

Most bedding and sheets can be boiled. Boiling water not only kills the lice and mites, it will release the nits (eggs) from the fibers, which sprays will not do, (and some don't kill.) Boil the cloth for at least 1/2 hour then hang outside in the sunlight to dry. It may take more than one try.

Do not boil polyester fabrics, wool blends or rayon. For these fabrics, you may want to spray them with lice killing (and egg killing) sprays, seal them in plastic bags like those "space bags" and leave them for at least a week to kill all the hatching eggs, then wash in very hot water and detergent to remove all traces of the spray. Lice like to live in the bindings and seams of coverlets, blankets or sheets, more than in the middle open parts. Pay special attention to these parts when treating with insecticides.

If the mites or lice are in your mattress, the only way to get rid of them is professionally, or throw out the mattress and buy a new one.

Answer 6

You can put them in a bag and suck out all of the air, or spray them with a anti-lice spray. Mites are a different story even a clean house has them and you really can't do a whole lot to get rid of them, they eat your dead skin, you can try a antihistamine. A good option for your bed is to get a plastic bed cover and put that down before your put your sheets down, and then make sure to wash your sheets frequently. Also try not to sleep on the couch or let others sleep on the couch, it isn't good for the couch. For the soft funishings go to the grocery store and rent a hot water steam cleaner and use that on them.

Answer 7

Call a Pest Control place and have your house sprayed regularly. Also you can probably use the same methods as you would for scabies. Bag up all your unwashables for one month and wash everything else in hot water then when you are done take a hot shower yourself.

Answer 8

I know that putting items like soft toys and teddies in a plastic bag in the freezer 4 24 hrs/overnight kills mites the ones that sets off asthma

Answer 9

what you do is take them and put them in a trash bag then vaccum out all the air that you can without getting the stuff inside the bag lol and tie it up and leave it be for about a week and then the lice will die from suffication.

Answer 10

20 Mule Team Borax. It's in the laundry section of most supermarkets. Leave it on for ten days. Put a sheet over it so your not sleeping on it. Kills eggs too.

Answer 11

A steam cleaner, and regular vacuuming. You can wrap stuff like pillows in plastic bags and freeze them for 24 hours.