Head lice is one of those topics that I am totally embarrassed to admit that I know first-hand how to handle… but here we are, post-lice outbreak at my house and I have completely destroyed all of those nasty crawling critters. Hallelujah! Knowing how to easily kill them with a homemade lice spray for furniture and bedding is information that I just had to share with you all.
About this recipe
I’m known as a bit of a clean freak, so it just goes to show that no matter how “clean” you and your family are (and I have been cleaning like a mad-woman lately even before the outbreak).
It can literally happen to anyone, so don’t feel so bad about it if you find yourself wondering how to kill lice (especially if you have school-aged kids).
I do have to share with you all the hilarious story about the discovery though.
My oldest child has been a bit of a hypochondriac, so I almost brushed off her concerns when when she told me that she thought that she had head lice.
Just to appease her, I started looking through her hair and sure enough I saw a couple of critters within a matter of moments…
I almost threw up, I was so freaked and grossed out.
Of course, after the initial shock, my mind started racing and I started googling, shopping, and trying not to panic.
The thought of having to shampoo every bed, couch and carpet in my house in addition to washing all the bedding, plush object, and even the drapes had me so stressed out it was pretty horrible.
After doing some research, I figured out my course of action…er the solution to the problem.
I wanted to find a way to treat all of the soft surfaces so that I wasn’t spraying chemicals all over everything, and luckily I figured out a natural way to kill the lice in the upholstery.
How do I know it works, you may be asking? The answer is a simple one.
- To see my other non-food recipes/ home remedies, go here.
I had vacuumed a mattress, sprayed on this concoction of mine (the lice spray recipe that I’m sharing), and came back a couple of hours later to find a couple of dead adult lice bug corpses just hanging out on the mattress.
Like, I could totally plainly see the dead lice with my naked eye.
If that isn’t proof enough, I don’t know what else would be… but the fact that I was able to completely wipe them all out in a matter of a day or two says something as well.
I’m still a little mortified that I had to even deal with this particular misfortune, and more-so that I have the nards to share this with all of you…
It was far more stressful than I ever would have imagined.
So, I am hoping that by reading this, and me swallowing my pride to share this tip, it will save you a bunch of headache and money too.
Because using this spray means that you don’t have to get your carpets, couches, and beds shampooed or replaced.
Homemade Lice Spray Recipe (free printable)
Here is a free printable card with this (non-food) recipe so that you can print it out and always have it on hand if you wish.
DIY Lice Spray For Furniture And Bedding Recipe
Easily mix up a bottle of this lice treatment spray to both kill live headlice on soft surfaces, and to prevent future breakouts in your home.
Materials
- 1 Large Spray Bottle (that sprays a fine mist)
- Water
- White Vinegar
- Tea Tree Essential Oil
Instructions
- In a new 32 oz spray bottle, take the lid off, fill it half way full with warm water.
- Fill the other half full with White Distilled Vinegar (5% Acidity)
- Add 15-20 Drops Tea Tree Essential Oil
- Put the lid back on, tighten it, and shake well.
- Vacuum any upholstery that may need it, otherwise you can just evenly spritz all your soft surfaces with this spray. Shaking the bottle periodically while spraying to make sure the tea tree oil stays mixed.
- Let dry.
- Repeat daily during a lice outbreak, otherwise treat your upholstery with the spray once or twice weekly to help prevent future outbreaks.
Notes
If you're worried about damaging any of your soft surfaces, you can find an inconspicuous area and do a test treatment.
Less tea tree oil is required during prevention than during an active infestation, but play with the ratios and see what works for you.
This spray can be used to freshen soft surfaces occasionally as well as it works similar to a Febreze type product.
Recommended Products
Please note that I am an affiliate with Amazon.com. When you purchase through my suggested product links, the cost for you is the same but I do receive a small commission for everything in your shopping cart. Thanks so much for the support!
-
Ola Prima Australian Tea Tree Essential Oil - Therapeutic Grade for Aromatherapy, Diffuser, Hair, Toenail, Face, Acne, Dropper - 4 fl oz -
Lucy's Family Owned - Natural Distilled White Vinegar, 1 Gallon (128 oz) - 5% Acidity (White Vinegar, Gallon) -
Mop Mob Leak-Free Chemical Resistant Spray Head and 32 oz Bottle 5 Pack Heavy-Duty Industrial Sprayer with Low-Fatigue Trigger and Nozzle for Auto/Car Detailing, Window Cleaning and Janitorial Supply
Various Other Tips For Handling A Lice Outbreak
My neighbor, thanks Jenn, told me that she adds a few drops of tea tree oil to her kids detangling spray so that when they are brushing and styling their hair it provides a good deal of prevention.
I was so embarrassed when I had to tell Jenn that my kids had lice and to check her kids, but she was super sweet about it and told me her little trick.
She said that it has prevented her kids from getting head lice from countless times that lice has been going around at school and such.
I don’t know about you, but I have already added that little tid-bit to our daily hair routine to make sure that we are preventing any future outbreaks as well as helping us treat any lice that may have been missed by the lice treatment kit.
Another good thing to do is to wash all hair brushes, combs, hair ties, scrunchies (for all our VSCO girls, lol).
When I was a kid I remember my mom throwing all of the brushes in the dishwasher during a lice outbreak, and I would throw the hair ties and scrunchies into a mesh laundry bag and just run them through the wash.
The best, most helpful, thing I can think to tell you is that instead of having to full on wash all the blankets and pillows and such.
You can sometimes get away with just throwing them in the clothes dryer, on low to medium heat, and the heat will kill the lice, and the lice will end up in your lint trap so you don’t have to worry about finding dead lice all over your blankets and kids toys.
Now that the head lice scare is behind us, I’m relearning to not immediately think that I have head lice again any time that my head even slightly itches.
Lol, but I’m sure that it will take my mind a bit of time to really get over that disgusting trauma.
FAQ’s
This home remedy spray for lice on furniture works pretty much on contact. I do suggest ventilating the room and allowing it to completely dry before resuming use of your items that were sprayed.
I have heard that tea tree oil can be toxic to cats. So, always make sure to do your own research and read up on all suggested ingredients and how they may affect your particular pet before using.
*I will add more FAQ’s as the questions get sent to me.
Conclusion
In conclusion, tackling a lice infestation can definitely be a challenging task, but with the right tools and a bit of DIY spirit, you can effectively combat these pesky pests, in your home’s upholstery, couches, beds, carpets, plush toys, furniture, and even car interiors.
By following the simple homemade lice spray for furniture recipe we’ve provided, you can create a natural and cost-effective solution that not only helps in getting rid of lice but also ensures the safety of your loved ones by avoiding harmful chemicals.
Remember, regular cleaning, vacuuming, and occasionally using this lice spray can go a long way in preventing future infestations and maintaining a healthy living environment.
While the process may require some effort, the peace of mind that comes from knowing your home is lice-free is well worth it.
Additionally, be sure to always follow good hygiene practices and educate your family members and friends about lice prevention (you can read what the CDC says about head lice prevention here).
By doing so, you can minimize the chances of future infestations and enjoy a lice-free, comfortable living space.
We hope this DIY lice spray recipe has been helpful in your battle against these unwelcome visitors.
Feel free to share this knowledge with others, and may your home stay lice-free for years to come!
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Check out my other cleaning tips
- To see my other non-food recipes/ home remedies, go here.
Otherwise, here are direct links to several of my other cleaning/laundry related posts that you’re also going to love:
My most popular laundry & cleaning articles
Other laundry & cleaning tips
Other good resources for diy lice killing spray / solutions
Maybe you don’t wanna go the way that I showed you how to do this (or think my particular recipe sucks)…if that’s the case, here are some other good reputable resources that you could try instead:
- https://houserituals.com/how-to-kill-lice-on-bedding/
- https://mommypotamus.com/natural-remedies-lice/
- https://lettiandco.com/what-to-spray-on-furniture-for-lice/
*This cleaning article was originally shared to this blog on 11/13/2019, and has since been updated to improve user experience, add video instruction, as well as to make it as shareable as possible across the social medias.
**Please note that I do try my hardest to provide factual, but easy to understand, information about each topic. If you notice a discrepancy in my methods, facts, or see something that you deem “misinformation/incorrect” please make sure to notify me about it. I would prefer that you send me an email with a link to a more reputable resource on that subject, so that I can correct it as soon as possible. Thanks so much for helping this site become the best that it can be!
