For many years, long before commercial products were even thought of, home remedy louse treatment has been the answer to getting rid of the pesky, but harmless, critters once and for all. Lice are incredibly easy to prevent. They easily pass from one person to the next, but are very difficult to effectively treat.

Maintaining good hygiene, which includes not sharing personal items such as brushes and hats, and teaching children about the possibility of getting lice is important to prevent them from ever disrupting your household. The following home remedy louse treatment methods use simple items that are found in any general store, or probably right in your very own pantry or refrigerator.

Vinegar: Vinegar mixed with baby oil or any type of mineral oil in equal amounts should be applied to thoroughly saturate the scalp and hair. The mixture should be left in place for one hour, keeping the head covered with a shower cap, before shampooing normally.

Mayonnaise: Massage mayonnaise all over the scalp, saturating every strand, being sure to cover all of the roots as well. Leave on for an hour before thoroughly rinsing and shampooing.

Petroleum jelly: Much like mayonnaise, petroleum jelly is difficult to remove from the hair, but useful for suffocating lice, a messy method of lice removal but one that is effective. It may take numerous washings to completely clean the hair. Rubbing flour into the scalp prior to shampooing helps to absorb some of the jelly.

Limes: Lime juice mixed with an equal amount of garlic paste can be applied to the scalp and left on for half an hour before washing. Ground almonds, about ten or so, mixed into a few teaspoons of lime juice may also be used, leaving on the hair for half an hour before shampooing.

Herbal oils: There is many a home remedy louse treatment that involves the use of herbal oils, which are very gentle and easy on the scalp. Some of the oils most commonly used include rosemary, geranium, coconut, eucalyptus, tea tree, lavender, lemon, and even vegetable and baby oils.

One is not used alone, but rather in a mixture of several, such as three tablespoons of olive oil, a teaspoon of tea tree oil and another teaspoon of eucalyptus oil mixed into regular shampoo. The concoction should be left on the hair for at least half an hour while wearing a tight-fitting shower cap.

Shaving cream: Apply the foam type of shaving cream all over the scalp and hair for about half an hour to allow the chemicals in the cream time to kill the lice and their nits. This method may dry out the hair and strip it of some of its protective oils, so be sure to condition the hair thoroughly after treatment.

Beer: Use beer mixed with basil leaves and ten cloves, grinding them all together into a thick paste, then applying to the scalp and hair. Leave on for half an hour to an hour before rinsing and washing.

Rubbing alcohol: Soak everyone's combs, brushes, barrettes, hair bands and headbands in rubbing alcohol for at least an hour. Very hot water can also be used, or items can simply be thrown away and replaced.