When ordinary olive oil, either used alone or as a supplement to pediculicidal products, is applied to active head lice the lice are literally drowned by the oil after several hours. Step three is the most important step in the battle because before the oil is washed out, the hair must be methodically combed using a special metal nit comb. The lice are stymied by the oil and are easier to comb out. The fourth step is making sure the surrounding environment is clear of the lice. The weapons researchers recommend people use in preventing any reappearance are the vacuum cleaner and dryer.
Dry heat is a very effective against lice, so instead of washing an infested item use the dryer.
Vacuuming the home after infestation is important to pick up any shed hairs or stray vestiges that could still be still lurking in the carpet. The fifth step is visually checking close to the scalp for any nits with a metal nit remover. The infested person should be checked over a three-week period. The lice can be pulled off by a fingernail, placed on a tissue and thrown away. The Journal of the American Medical Association reports that the US rate of prone infant sleep position is declining.