Head lice do not survive long if they fall off a person and cannot feed. Follow these steps to help avoid re–infestation by lice that have recently fallen off the hair or crawled onto clothing or furniture:

Machine wash and dry clothes, beddings, and items used by the infested person before or after treatment. Use hot water (130°F) and high heat drying. If you can’t wash or dry clean items, seal them in a plastic bag for five days.
Soak combs and brushes in hot water (at least 130°F) for 5 – 10 minutes.
Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay. However, the risk of getting lice by a louse that has fallen onto a rug or carpet or furniture is very small.
Do not use fumigant sprays or fogs. They can be toxic if inhaled or absorbed through the skin.

Treatment issues

The following reasons may cause treatment for head lice to fail:
*Misdiagnosis
*Not following treatment instructions
*Head lice resisting the medication
*Reinfestation after successful treatment