Gack! Not accurate advice. Most of the recommendations about oils and suffocating is based on the incorrect interpretation of a study by a doctor at Harvard ( who I had an email exchange with a couple years ago ). In fact lice can survive several days in oil.

Rather the single best treatment is to comb them out. In fact what you can do is use Mayo or a thick conditioner mixed with baking soda. This mix will make it very hard for the actual lice to move, thus making it easier to comb out the live ones. If I remember correctly eggs hatch about 7 days. Also If you can Identify the life cycle stage of the live lice you get out, you can roughly determine the cycle and no how much time you got before the eggs hatch.

Couple more things. Do not use and 'cide especially on kids, these are only partially effective, very toxic, and as happened in England, the lice can become immune to all but the most toxic doctor prescribed treatments. Just apply the mix, zone the hair to the width of the lice comb and be prepared for a couple of hours of good combing (treats and or entertainment needed for kids). Do this for 1-2 days (if your good) and then every 2-3 days check and comb and you should be good.

Lice also on can survive in a narrow temp range (was like 65-75 F) outside of the temp range and life span starts to drop off. If lice don't have a host they die in less than 12hrs (no blood so starve), they can't jump. The are only a nuisance and do not carry human diseases. They only feed on humans so pets are not carriers. Do not need use sprays or anything for household goods. just vacuum or if you can heat dry for 30+ minutes, if winter bag place in cold space in a week should be clear.

Yes my kids got lice ( twice from the same family - to say I was pissed.....) The second go around my kids where 100% lice and nit free the first day. and forgive any typos :)