Nits in Riding Hat!?

[SJW13]

My DD is infested with these lovlies - is it possible she keeps reinfesting herself with her riding hat?-If so how (& what with) would you clean a riding hat?? Unfortunately she wears mine and I borrowed it the other day and low and behold have two lice when I combed through yesterday...

[Chevre]

spray with tea tree oil. the little buggers will soon hop off.

[mathanxiety]

Freeze it for two weeks ot seal it in a plastic bag for two weeks if you can do without it for that long.

[foofi]

I would say it is unlikely unless the hat is in constant use - what would they live off? Thought they needed the warmth of your head or something.

[bloss]

Message withdrawn

[4andnotout]

I found nitson my dd1's pillow in the afternoon whilst she was at school, i was horrified as i thought they wouldn't survive that long.

[bloss]

Message withdrawn

[mathanxiety]

They made the long haired children in my DCs' school tie it up in plaits or cut it short during a nit nightmare last winter. Also sent home dire warnings about sharing hats, scarves, shirts, hairbrushes, combs, etc. They also policed after school activities where the children used to dump their jackets in a heap -- made them hang them up neatly and separately. The school also advised really thorough hoovering, washing of all bedding, etc. It takes just one nit in one warm hat to start the whole cycle going again.

[tatt]

a louse is unlikely to survive more than 24 hours off a head and after 48 hours you can be sure they will be dead. So you only need to leave the hat unused for 2 days max. See e.g www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A457111