10 Quick Tips on How to Clean for Scabies

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how to clean for scabies

Updated 3/10/2018

Keeping a clean environment is an essential component of your scabies cure.

While getting rid of the mites in your skin is challenging enough, it can be even more challenging trying to avoid re-infestation.

If you’ve read around a bit on the Topix Scabies forum or elsewhere online then you have undoubtedly read complaints from people along the lines of “Scabies cannot be cured” or “Permethrin and Ivermectin won’t work, nothing works!”

But that is far from the truth.

People have been cured, some very quickly, with these medications for decades.

Why these poor people can’t seem to shake their infestation comes down to two simple factors:

1) They aren’t using the medications correctly. (I’ve already covered that in?this post.)

or

2) They aren’t doing a good enough job of keeping their environment clean.

An unclean environment = a constant risk for re-infestation.

Related: How to Get Rid of Scabies at Home Fast

You don’t want to fall into the same miserable trap as the hopeless people I mentioned before. So let’s go over some tips that will help you to out in your quest for cleanliness.

simplify declutter your stuff

Table of Contents

1.) Remove Unnecessary Stuff from Your Environment

Consider it an opportunity to practice simplicity.

Anything you don’t think is necessary to keep in your life during this process – stow it away.

Household items like excess furniture, clothes, bedding, towels, rugs, blankets, couches. Store them in a spare room if you can, or if you have no spare room just wrap fabrics up in plastic so they are as easy to disinfect.?

Remember, it’s a good idea to disinfect everything you’ve come in contact with. All it takes is a squirt bottle that you can carry around.

The more clutter there is the more you have to clean and the more risk that mites will be hiding away.

I mention more about this in the post 100 Practical Tips for Scabies.

deep clean everything

2.) Deep Clean Everything

Surfaces – Use disinfectant sprays. Spray down anything you or other infested people come in contact with.

This Permethrin spray is very effective for this.?So is?Eco Living Scabies & Bed Bug Spray. Make sure to reapply after every use of an item.

Pets – We love our pets and we love to pet our pets. But for our sake all this petting is going to do the opposite of helping us contain the mites – your pet will spread them to whomever they come in contact with.

Though scabies mites are unlikely to actually live off of your pets’ bodies it is highly likely that they can carry the mites on their fur for a long time if left there. You don’t want that.?

As a solution, you can either get your friends or relatives to pet sit, wear gloves when you pet your animals or give your animals a good washing. Ideally wash with a strong solution, like this Sulfur concentrate pet dip for baths.

Carpets – With counter tops, a quick swipe of a disinfectant will do the trick. Especially if you have thick carpets like shag. It’s a good idea to borrow or buy a?steam cleaner.

The heated water and soap will kill off any mites that are currently calling your carpet home, not giving any mites a chance to burrow and wait.

does lysol kill scabies

3.) Does Lysol Kill Scabies?

This is a common question I get.

Lysol is a powerful disinfectant and will kill scabies on surfaces.

Ultimately permethrin spray is my top recommendation for cleaning surfaces. But I recommend Lysol as well.

Use Lysol or Lysol wipes to clean tables, handrails, car surfaces. Any surface you’ve touched while infected.

what is the best scabies spray

4.) What is the Best Scabies Spray?

If you’re going to be cleaning your environment with a disinfectant spray you want to use the best ones.

The most important thing, of course, is to use a spray that kills the mites on contact.

Below are the top recommended sprays for scabies:

how to get rid of scabies on mattresses

5.) How to Get Rid of Scabies on Mattresses

The first thing you’ll want to do is cover your mattress.

Give your mattress a quick spray with some Lysol/permethrin cream/alcohol

Place a mite-proof zippered mattress encasement keeps over your mattress to completely keep the mites away from it.

You can purchase protective mattress covers for all bed sizes here.

Alternatively, you can purchase an air mattress with a plastic cover built in. These are easy to sanitize on a daily basis with Lysol, disinfectant wipes etc.

Now that your mattress is covered you can sleep on it.

Your daily ritual while infested should be to put on fresh sheets every morning. Don’t sleep on the same sheets twice.

Use some bleach or tea tree oil in the wash cycle. Dry all of your sheets on HIGH heat and for a long cycle before using them again.

how long can scabies live in a mattress

6.) How long Can Scabies Live in a Mattress?

Scabies can live for two weeks or more without a human host.

It does depend on the surface though.

A countertop, for example, isn’t a great host place for scabies. They’ll likely die before two weeks there.

But a mattress provides a nice temporary home for the mites. It provides safety and often provides food. All of the dead skin cells that slough off onto our mattresses provide sustenance for the mites while they are waiting for the next human host.

Gross huh?

All the more reason to put a zippered mattress encasement over your bed like mentioned previously.

If your mattress is likely to already be infested I recommend not using it. If it’s your only mattress then put a zippered case over it and don’t take it off until at least a month after you’re cured.

how long does scabies last on furniture

7.) How long Does Scabies Last on Furniture?

Scabies can live on furniture for two weeks or more.

Scabies mites prefer to have a human host but without one they can still hang out and live for quite awhile.

If you think you have scabies mites on any your furniture you should either store it away until the infestation is over with (at least 3 weeks after) or you should clean your furniture regularly after each use.

how to get rid of scabies on furniture

8.) How to Get Rid of Scabies on Furniture

In an ideal world, you could easily wash and sanitize your furniture with scabies compatible surface cleaner spray.

Unfortunately, many people have upholstered furniture. This type of furniture?is much harder and more time-consuming to clean.

If you have upholstered furniture I recommend covering them with a vinyl cover or covering them with sheets. You must clean these surfaces after every use. Vinyl cover with surface cleaner and sheets in the wash with high heat.

If you have plastic furniture stored away this is a great time to bring it out and put your fancier, harder to clean furniture in storage for a little while.

Just be sure whenever you use your furniture that you clean it after. Either wash your protective coverings or clean the surface directly.

does rubbing alcohol kill scabies?

9.) Does Rubbing Alcohol Kill Scabies?

Yes, rubbing alcohol can kill scabies on direct contact.

You can use rubbing alcohol when cleaning your environment.

Rubbing alcohol is not recommended for treating your skin, though.

For that permethrin cream and internal ivermectin are recommended.

how long can scabies live on clothes

10.) How Long can Scabies Live on Clothes?

Scabies can live on clothes for two weeks or longer.

If you have clothes that might be infested with scabies you should either:

A.) Put them in a trash bag and store them away for at least a month. Ideally a month and a half. You should only bring them out after you’ve been cured.

B.) If you don’t want to put them in temporary storage you should clean your infested clothes regularly. Never wear the same clothes twice in a row. Wear them once and clean them before wearing again.

Make sure when washing contaminated clothes to dry with HIGH heat on a long cycle.

105 thoughts on “10 Quick Tips on How to Clean for Scabies”

  1. I’ve been trying to treat it for half year with no success. I used permethrin, ivermectin and it seemed to work only for a moment. Fortunately after applying a treatment, which is described in a linked ebook it looks like scabies finally disappeared. I applied it 4 weeks ago, cleaned all my clothes and daily-use items and so far nor scratches on my skin or any itching. I’d like to share with you a book about how to win with those annoying parasites. I hope, it will help you to get rid of scabies.
    PS: Do NOT give up!

    1. the best way and the cheapest way to get rid of bed bugs scabies and things that nature infested in your home is a spray bottle and regular rubbing alcohol you must saturate the areas that you think they are red and contain it to a room repeat this 4 to 5 times because I have been given mattresses infested with both

      1. Robert galindo

        I cannot get rid of scabies

        1. Go to eBay n buy the 10percent martins permethrin spray it is very CHEAP ILL SAY LESS THAN 30 dollars … u must follow up with how u clean up.. but apply it mix with lotion of ur choice bathe then set then apply ur homemade lotion for 8-16 hours then again four days later doctors recommended a week but with my research the eggs hatch after 3r4th day n we dnt want them to start fuckin n population so I wouldn?t wait a week but to each is own n also ur phone is ur deadliest u keep it in ur hand so it need to b cleaned n wiped down with every use I hope this was helpful to sum1 becuz this can truly drain u if u dnt kno how to n the doctors will not help

          1. Maybe it would be wise to start carrying a small bottle of the Premethrin spray with us when traveling, etc.. for prevention… with what we are all going through on here an old saying, ‘ an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure ‘ rings true. Like the Buggy Bed Entrepreneurs..
            Someone is going to invent something… watch and see.
            I’m just starting.. (scratch, scratch).. ordered my stuff on Amazon today. I DO NOT WANT TO EVER GO THROUGH THIS AGAIN… EVER.

    2. I got scabies from a bunk on a commercial fishing boat. For 6 months I used doctor prescribed or over the counter pharmaceuticals to no avail. Went online and found Kleen Free, an enzyme solution that causes their bodies to break up. I ordered it and when it came, 5 days, GONE! They never came back. I didn’t have to worry about the environment, just put the solution on my skin. They can’t live in the environment without feeding on someone.

      http://naturalginesis.com/ is the company that makes this product Kleen Free.

      1. Can you tell me if the solution you bought was their ” Klein green”? It appears to be an all purpose cleaner, did you use it on your body?

        1. It is crap, does not work & it is a hassle to get your money back.

      2. never fuckingever

        amazon reviews show this stuff to be crap

    3. Martha Walker

      Please give me the name of the spray.

  2. Sheryl Mitchell

    Very interesting post! I needed some good advises about cleaning my home. Especially about carpet, because so far I just vacuum it, but it needs more attention. Thanks for sharing!!

  3. Charlene

    The first time we picked up scabies at a summer cottage rental and knew nothing about how to clean our home environment to prevent reinfestation. The doctor was difficult to deal with and offered no extra help. It took us several months before it dawned on us that we needed to place vinyl mattress covers on our beds. That was the place we were reinfesting ourselves even though we sprayed and vacuumed the mattresses each day. Once our skin healed, and the scabies were truly gone, we left the vinyl covers on for a few more weeks to be certain. I wanted to share this tip as it seems to be one detail I have not read on many websites. Thank you- Charlene

    1. margaret lee

      I KEEP VYNYL MATTRESS COVERS ON MY BEDS.

    2. Where can I buy a vynle mattress cover?
      I am currently powdering all of my carpet, bedding and furniture with
      “fossil shell flour” which tares the mites to pieces, making my home a deadly environment to them but harmless to us!
      I hope that it works!

      1. Betty Thompson

        Did the Fossil Shell Flour work for you? Have been to many Drs over the last year and no one said I had scabies till 10 days ago. I now have to debug my home. Please let me know if this has worked for you and if not, what did.

      2. Walmart, for $4.98 for a fitted cover, $9.98 for one that fully encases the thing with a zipper. (Full size, I’d assume there is a small difference as you size up or down)
        Something has been biting me since it warmed up in early May. At first I thought it was the ticks I saw on my leg in early May. But something keeps bitting me at night and I fear some sort of mite from the woods or a motel. I don’t see any bugs so it must be small and unseen. Going to throw out a lot of extra stuff, spray with permethrin, and try rubbing down with a cream. I tossed a foam mattress cover nearly 15 years old and soft thick fabric mattress cover and got a vinyl one. Seems that the bed may be where I’m getting bit. Something like this got me a year ago too when it was warm, always seemed to wake up with a couple bites. Problem is my sectional is a few years old and a custom built $2500 quality product, not some Chinese junk and I need to really clean it out, not toss something nice. Other stuff can get tossed. Too many 10 year old rugs everywhere in my place, my sister went with bare floors with her dirty kids, probably much cleaner. I have no idea what is biting me but it must be some sort of mite, could it come from open windows this time of year and warm environs? Did I bring it in from the woods, or pick it up at a public place?

    3. The vinyl matters covers are useless if you do not clean your bed linens frequently. Vinyl covers only protect the mattress itself, but the upper layer of sheets and comforters are exposed to your skin with the mites. You’d be best buying a disinfectant called ‘BenzaRid’ or anything that contains Benzyl Benzoate (an active chemical that is scientifically proven to kill the mites). SPRAY the hell out of everything that you actively touch; bed, rugs, carpets, sofas, chairs, car, etc.

      Reinfestation is a common reason scabies symptoms linger onward for months. A clean environment is THE second most important part of getting rid of them, secondary to actually taking either permethrin or ivermectin to rid the mites on your skin.

      1. Greg Long

        Thanks CU. The sterilization spray was the question I had. Does solution stink?

      2. I’ve been struggling with this for going on 8 months, because I was misdiagnosed. I have done everything in the world to get rid of these things. I’ve been treated with the prescribed premethrin like 4 times, I have been taking bleach baths and scraping the protective covering off during the bath, and applying the Martins 13% diluted mixture immediately after the bath. I pour the mixture over my entire body and leave it on until the next bleach bath. I also apply Tea tree oil . This has been the only relief and difference I have seen yet. Of course I am OCD and am doing laundry like every two days and don’t wear or use anything twice. I have bought all new socks and have gotten rid of my shoes as well. They are tricky and very resistant after awhile.

      3. Dose anyone know if emuaid kills scabbies on the body because the permethrin cream burns my kids skin

  4. I rented a steam cleaner and LITERALY washed n dried every article of fabric in my home. I sprayed with the permethrin spray. But it can be privy to do this continually so I made a spray bottle of tea tree oil n water. And I spray everything down daily with it. I scrubbed my home down with bleach n a steam mop. Here’s hoping they’re gone.

    1. i was wondering when someone was going to say tea tree oil…they make it in many ways, in creams, oils to mix with water, in a spray bottle to spray ddirectly onto your skin,, i used this oil as aromatherapy in my closets, and it took 2 weeks and with the help f benaryl pills at night and both benadryl cream and cortizone 10, it was out of my house and body in 2 weeks, rash and all. no dr visits, just webMDs home remedies.

      1. TEA TREE OIL !! Amazing stuff !! I’ve been researching most of the night. I always keep essential oils on hand. I mixed 5 drops of tea tree oil with Coconut Oil (carrier oil), applied from neck down, so far no itching and redness has diminished. From ALL that I researched, Tea Tree seems to be by far the best to use WITH Ivermectin and Permethrin. All topical. Also, the spray for sheets, shoes and clothes. I am thinking about spraying my carpet, leaving it on and vacuuming up after 8-10 hours.. can’t hurt. I’m also going to use the tea tree body wash and shampoo. Scabies has altered my life to such a state that I am miserable and depressed. I was so sleep deprived that my Dr. prescribed a sleeping medicine that knocks me out. I’m in a fog the next day and round I go. Not to mention the little red bumps that I pick at in my sleep.. anyway, yes; Tea Tree Oil ROCKS !!

        1. How much coconut oil did you use with the 5 drops of tea tree oil?
          Jay

  5. i heard scabies dies in the closet in several days. but i have leather jacket in the closet, will it live off my leather jacket and survive to re-infect me?

    1. Scabie King

      The scabies will feed on the leather and become stronger. I once had a leather jacket during a scabie infestation, and the mites became so strong, that they started bullying my son. They would not let him go outside for any reason, and requested that he bring them food for their transformation. What was the transformation you ask? They molted and grew to be the size of my 6 year old son and started mimicking his traits. I would suggest you throw out your stupid leather jacket, because this is not 1950, and they are not cool. This is just my experience, but you can do whatever you want. Good luck fucker!!!

      1. jesseca

        Leather will never be out dated for true riders, if you can’t say it nice then don’t say it scabies king,

        My doc said four hrs in the sun sealed in two garbage bags will kill them,

        1. Would someone please post name of that book that someone mentioned? Thanks ml

          1. that person hasnt came back to tell us the ebook. webMD has home remedies that helped me without the 150 dollar permethrin cream, but i use a ot of tea tree oil and benadryl. see my earlier comment just a few comments above.

    2. RoN Leckfor

      I would say no, as the leather is not living tissue, is highly treated, and will not offer nutrients to the scabies

      1. I wiped down my leather sofa with rubbing alcohol and water. I agree that it has nothing to offer…

  6. Help me!

    How soon can you start cleaning once you’ve been treated!? Doing oral medicine and starting to deep clean, but should I continue to deep clean…and how long?!

    1. if your not in contact with th room for a few days, they need host, a human host, to feed on… i cleaned with gloves while i was being treate, i slept on a cot for a few nghts, sprayed tea tree oil everywhere and waited 3 nights. the best anti itch is either cortizone 10 or benedryl, also with the pill at night time cuz you will itch like crazy after a few hours of sleep and will not get any more sleep without it, even dollar general has their version with same drug. apply the cream, and DO NOT SCRATCH no matter how badly it itches for about 3 to 5 minutes. then you will be feeling relieved enough and asleep again

  7. Melanie Raphael

    Thank you for these practical tips and ideas. I just wondered about pillows? Washing the pillowcase daily but what about the pillow itself and blankets? In South Africa where I live our only medication for scabies is Benzyl Benzoare and a sulphar soap caked Temosol. Have started the treatment last night but am a bit overwhelmed by the process of all of this.

    1. Tiffany

      Put your pillows in the dryer…must be at least 122 degrees and for minumum of 10 minutes

      1. Marianne Wilson

        True about the 122 degrees according to online advice I came across to treat my own scabies. But most advice say dry 20-30 minutes highest heat level possible. Remember, the last ten minutes of a dryer cycle is the process of cooling clothes down. So consider drying 30 total minutes. That translates into twenty minutes of drying highest heat possible and verify how hot your dryer gets by running it about 15 minutes, then hold a metal probe meat therminitor? inside the dryer to verify the heat level

      2. Adrienne

        Thank you for this advice about the pillows and God bless you all and good luck…permithin cream is helping me currently saw a doc who prescribed me this plus a an steroid cream for the awful itching. I cannot stress enough making sure your living situation is sterile and clean and all the things à I am doing to maintain this.

    2. Sheryle Lakey

      Take your pillow to the laundromat and put them in the dryer for an hour before washing them on high heat that should kill The Scabies mites but they have to be completely dry before you put them in the dryer so don’t wash before doing this

      1. Thanks for your advice but when you really think about it, that is not cost effective. May cost $2-$4 just to dry one hour. Then another $2 -$5 to wash Pillows Then another ,$4 to dry again.
        Pillows only cost $2 to $10.00 each.
        Why bother, throw the pillows away and purchase new ones.

    3. My pillow is in a new garbage bag nightly with a new pillow case over it every night. The plastic under the pillow case is not as bad as it sounds. Anything to get rid of scabies. Use a new trash bag to line the seat of my car or sit on my sons bed when needed to. Just make sure not to reuse even once!

  8. Hi.. can anyone tell me what I can use to clean my sofa I vacuum every day,but I don’t steam clean it! Help I don’t want to be reinfested!! Thanks

    1. Freaked out

      Maria, did you ever find a solution?

      1. bruce baumeister

        NU Stock will get rid of these nasty critters

        1. Amber Frank

          Too bad nu stock smells so absolutely revolting and the smell of it life lingers for weeks:

    2. Maybe invest in renting a Steam cleaner and buy that Permethrin spray?(Amazon) really inexpensive. Spray and leave it on a few hours, then vacuum? It’s a repellent for lice/ scabies… I’m going to use it on my mattress and mattress cover, carpet, clothes.. anything cloth. Just an idea.. good luck !!

      1. How did that work out? Are you now still covered in bumps? I steam cleaned anything i could, sprayed everything else with tea tree oil and vinegar solution, packet it away, moved into a new apartment, used the cream for the 4th time, only used things that have been packed and sealed off a week ago… Done anything i could possibly think off. Still only made a difference for one day, got reinfected again, i think.

  9. you can get rid of scabies and bed bugs by using regular rubbing alcohol with a heavy saturation of the materials you must repeat it 3 to 5 times based on the infestation

  10. we used a spray bottle like you’re going to do windows and did a heavy concentration you can start treating it as soon as you start treating yourself and beat them both at the same timesome people and doctors and different things that nature will try to sell you on expensive stuff that don’t work rubbing alcohol is well-known and can be checked to get rid of bed bugs online

    1. Marianne Wilson

      Good way to santize, but rubbing alcohal is flammable. Just don’t smoke in the house and take care not to infuse fumes. It can be poisionous to a human and could make you sick. Good to sanitize razors and stuff though

  11. I wonder how many people who get reinfested do so because if their cell phones? I sipped mine down with alcohol then when dry put mine in a ziplock bag with a little D.E. And will leave it there until this is over.

  12. This is a wonderful website. I’m so grateful to have found it. I thought I had had an allergic reaction to something, but after 3 weeks, finally found out that it was scabies (the Dr. initially said it was bacteria in my shower loofah).I started permethrin treatment today and want to eradicate every trace of this thing.

    I’ve been putting everything in the dryer (blankets, pillows, sheets, etc.), but I was wondering if spraying Lysol was enough to cover my mattress with. I’ve also vacuumed my mattress and have disnifected everything I have come in contact with with Clorox wipes and Lysol. I don’t want to buy permethrin spray since I read it’s highly toxic to cats and I have a cat who is very curious.

    Should I turn my mattress over? I’m afraid doing so will bring any mites back. Help!

    1. Spray bottle with rubbing alcohol and water… maybe flip mattress and spray too. I thought I had allergic reaction also. My trust in Drs. is zero. Had to figure this out on my own. Hope you threw the loofah out. Best of luck..

      1. Has anyone know for sure, the length of time the scabies mite can live?? I’m been using rubbing alcohol for three months now. All the time. It doesn’t kill scabies under the skin. I mop my carpets and floor with a bleach and water mix. I spayed SIPHOTROL, sold at the vet’s. Spray and leave the house for 2hours. Slipped covered mattress. Washed, dryed and bagged all sheet, and clothes. Never wear anything twice. I thought I had bed bugs. Then I remember in 2013, I had the same thing happen. Keep trying to exterminate bed-bugs and then this horrible itchy red rash appeared. I used the cream from the pharmacy. That cleared it up. No doctor I’ve seen during that time said scabies. I was in bed bug mode, as am now, so the bleaching, always clean clothes, everything into a hot dryer, And once again I’m using that cream a lot, three tubes. Total body first day. I put more on directly to the infected spot on the second day. Then again in six days total head to toe. I has a red spot on my face. I put cream on there and today it’s almost gone. So who knows long that scabies live without a host. I’m reading 72 hours to two weeks. They can, crawl, or fly, they need to attack to skin. Pet seemingly can’t have them or animals have mange. Please, correct me if I’m wrong.

  13. So my son was just diagnosed and the doctor of course recommended the whole family be treated. My question is the furniture and how to clean that? Also I have a bag-less vacuum…how do I clean that after we vacuum the house?

  14. My son had it really bad both me and my husband and his girlfriend and kids had a mild case of scabies. My sonnwentbto a dermatologist gave him a tube of stuff to treat all three of us, then instead that you can soak in Epsom salt, by scrubbing yourself till the salt burns a little thennsoray yourself with white vinegar, both kills the mites and eggs but man does the vinegar burn but it’s virtually it. I also sprayed all the bedding, couch and chair in vinegar. I also neither my clothes inside out with it, it’s working.

  15. Natalie

    I’ve read everything.I feel so hopefully.I’m going back to my Alcohol.But my body need immediate Permethrine.Thanks

  16. Angeline

    My grandson was diagnosed with scabies, before I took him to the Dr. I started itching and developed pimples on my upper back, only. I then visited my Dr. and we both started the Permethrin cream. Before yhis I attended water arobics regularly and believe the bleach from the pool kept the scabies from infecting the other parts of my body. My upper back did not get exposed to the water. I’m presently washing and disinfecting everthing. I was told that scabbies can’t live in bleach is this so?

  17. Hopeless

    I have been dealing with this for 3 years or more please help don’t know what to do I wish I were dead am desperate no one believes me feeling hopeless please please somebody help me… they have infested my house and everything help

    1. Rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle – Don’t dilute it !!! Spray literally “EVERYTHING” beds, clothing, furniture, “anything” you come in contact with in your house ? ALSO DON’T FORGET: Your vehicle also needs to be treated as well. It will smell of rubbing alcohol for lil while but opening your windows and doors will air smell out quickly? Putting your pillows in “hot” dryer for 20 min and washing entire bed in “hot” water and spray mattress. If you have pets give them bath as well ! Good luck ?

      1. ELIZABETH MEDINA

        What about the box spring?do I need to treat it too?

    2. Make sure it is laundry soap. I’m itch using tide, Pyrex, gain, etc andd only use baking soda and water but you can check out borax too…

    3. Sheryle Lakey

      I had scabies for 4 years I know you’re feeling the Ivermectin worked for me but I had to treat myself 3 times so I treated myself wait a week treated myself again waited 2 weeks and treated myself again I made my own Permethrin cream with some good lotion and mixed 10% to make it a 5% solution with the lotion. I put it from head to toe even rub a little in my nostrils in my ears everywhere because I had had them for so long after you lotion yourself from head to toe under your fingernails and everything you can’t shower for 3 days and you got to leave that crap on you like that I stuck to three sets of clothing put everything else away from me for that time of treatment after my first treatment I waited a week treating myself again waited 2 weeks and treated myself again and I actually had to do it one more time after that about four weeks later

    4. My sister has scabies, although she has not been able to get a diagnosis in South Africa, I?m a microbiology student and read forums like this to help her. She uses her own bathroom and I spray all surfaces with a solution of bleach, I also wash the dishes additionally with something called pine gel to protect the others in the house. Luckily we do not have carpets downstairs but there is a forensic cleanup service available to clean entire rooms in SA. Hope this helps anyone

    5. Bathe in tea tree. Everyday. Dont try and wash clothes just bag them up. Uhaul sells cheap plastic matress bags for moving, $4, tape it up. Use a new garbage bag on your pillow anytime you use it, also anytime you sit down. Spray everything with alcohol or tea tree. I make a body spray that is aloe from trader joes $7, $2 witch hazel, and 1/2 oz tea tree ( $15 for 4oz on amazon). This is not forever. Also take para guard tincture and pill regimen $35 / one month supply. Then your skin tastes like garlic and walnuts to them and they move away and die. Bathe 3 times daily with 5 dropperfulls of tea tree in water for 30 min. Scrub the tub with dishsoap or bleach after every wash. Never re wear clothes or sheets. Yes you will become reinfected in small amounts but you will be able to get rid of them and in 1 month should be back to a nearly normal life. For clothes talk to a thrift store about getting their overstock/ ask your friends for donations/ offer to take clothing swap leftovers. Use any perscribed permetherin and ivermectin you can get. Good RX app gives instant coupon prices. $20 instead of $400. Use scripts sparingly. Rely on your regimin of tea tree and cleanliness but us meds when you feel you are winning. Otherwise they will probably just build a resistance and you will run outta meds.

      1. Also! Mix tea tree with moisturizing lotion and put on after bathing. Full strength tea tree on obvious infected areas. Tea tree evaporates quickly and is less effective without water lotion or oil to help it absorb into the skin. I think scabies can go through plastic and cloth but it definately helps minimize them.

  18. SURRENDER, a product for fire ants brings instant relief (by MARTINS). Stinks to high heaven. We call it cabbage dust. Kills like crazy; roaches, ants. spiders & bedbugs & mites. Trying on my carpet tonight. Can find it at Walmart or your local feed & seed store. Cost more on line.

  19. My youngest daughter is seven .She and I both have developed scabies. Used the cream and sprayed mattresses washed all linens and sprayed and vaccumed couch..its been about five days and I have signs of them on my forehead and now under my chin. She also has new places on her hand and cheek..dr. hasn’t called back..what is the best thing to get and use..dr.just now called back saying it probably is the after affects of treatment..but does not make sense to hand new breakouts ..I will go get and do any cleaning.we can’t go to the beach and stay and infest others..if anyone has really good advice for me …please..I am willing to try anything..this has got me scared for my health and my seven yr old. And my mother is very I’ll and I don’t want to go to her home and infect her.thank you so much…

  20. Sending Love and Wishing Everyone Suffering Hope and Peace. I have been there. Yes, crazy bad, but this is to send free support.

    kp.org/listen over $400 of free guided imagery Podcasts sold elsewhere for about $20 each, well produced by a respected mind body psychotherapist. You can download or listen- download on iPhones as listen needs Flash and no Flash on iPhones. Recordings including for immune system, stress and relaxation, pain, sleep, forgiveness and anger- understandable toward non-believers and doctors who misdiagnosed us and these thing attacking us, etc. All valid and understandable, but makes our work harder. We need to give our minds and bodies a mini vacation from the endless cleaning, treatment and researching. I listened while in the bath and/ or falling asleep, and any time I had a break.

    Free excellent stress EFT tapping video by Julie Shiffman on Marcela’s site
    http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/01/15/eft-tapping-anxiety.aspx#! It really helps, I started crying the first time. We are carrying to much to persevere through this; we need a release- tap it out! Also lots on EFT on youtube.com and emofree.com

    And something that helped me- I sent loving thoughts to my skin… my skin that i was hating, p***ed off at and wish would fall off me. At one point when I couldn’t tell what was what with symptoms old and new, reactions to treatment, etc I t took a break from the effective but drying Kleen Free and straight tea tree oil. I hadn’t been using any lotion or moisturizing oil afraid that any moisture would support their life extension in some way. But one night I took a warm neem, borax, epsom salt bath as a break from usual scalding baths air dry and kleen free spray and air drying… after I put grapeseed oil and tea tree oil (ok not a complete break : ) As I rubbed it on I sent loving energy and said thank you to my skin for sending out all of toxins, for doing all of this work of swelling up and getting the debris and toxins out of my body, of growing new skin. My skin did feel a somewhat calmer and my mind somewhat more at peace… Yes, I would have rather had an instant cure, but as long as we are together (me, my mind, body and skin) I figure we can support each other and be on the same team…

    People who don’t have it and don’t understand ask about stress and suggest if we just relaxed or didn’t think about it so much. That is both impossible and possible. Stress and our thoughts didn’t create it. It’s real. And it seriously needs to be dealt with. And we can support ourselves to do all of this by finding the openings, when it’s possible to consider letting in a resource that can help us feel relief, relaxation or distraction for however brief of a time. I think I read on Mercola.com or somewhere that stress turns off our immune system temporarily, and increases inflammation. Our already very inflamed skin doesn’t need that, and we Do very much need our immune system to fight this and the debris and the treatment reactions. We will be stressed, it is stressful, and we can accept that rather than judge it; and we can take some of those times when we are inclined to read more chats about treatments, symptoms, cleaning, eradication, etc as a reminder to cordon off some of our mind and time for something nurturing and restorative support.

    To All of Our Peace, Health and Healing
    Sending Love,
    Christine

    1. I totally agree with you, Christine. It is important to not ignore the emotional and/or spiritual parts of our being as those parts are not separate from the physical parts of our bodies. It’s easier said than done though, especially in such a toxic political economy where self-care, a necessary and crucial need to thrive, is a luxury for so many struggling just to make ends meet. It’s a damn shame we all have to be forced to deal with this issue individually when resources squandered on maintaining the pharmaceutical industry and medical industrial complex could be used for clinics specifically for people and animals dealing with things like this, skin mites. This is a public health crisis but it is not dealt with as such. Ok, rant over… but who’s with me?

      1. Sheryle Lakey

        I went to the local feed store and got my Ivermectin and Permethrin for under $20.

      2. Yess! I went vegetarian because of scabies so that i would be more emotionally capable of dealing. It has helped. Im basically on a parasite flush diet to try and help me deter them from my skin. Oatmeal in the morning, hummus sandwich for lunch and often times a rice dish for dinner. I feel pretty good and much more effectively prepared for bug battle.

  21. Meredith

    I will try to make this brief and to the point as I have spent a year trying to find a cure and read most of the forums from sufferers which is tiring, upsetting and frightening.
    This is my experience:
    1. Went undiagnosed by doctors and dermatologists for all this time.
    2. Spread to family.
    3. I prepared 7 days of clothes and bed sheets. Covering the mattress with plastic.
    4. Put the sheets and clothes in a plastic bag for 7 days. Label the bag on the day you put them in. They are ready for use again after this. Many websites say 48 hours but I wanted to be sure. If you want to wash everything, it must be at 60 degrees. Always wash after a treatment.
    5. I took Ivermectin orally and topically having tried numerous cures. This one worked but only if you clean the environment. You may feel itchy after treatment but this is the horrible things dying off you skin.
    6. I kept ALL my personal things to myself like towels, cloths, toilet paper etc. Used paper towels in kitchen etc.,
    7. If your family has it you ALL need to treat and do the same as above at the same time.
    8. They need skin to survive and eventually die off fabrics if you do the above.

    I really hope this helps. I know how debilitating it is and how upsetting when doctors and even dermatologists can’t diagnose it. It’s been a very tough year. Wishing you all the very best of luck. Just remember re-infestation is the problem. Thank you all for your comments too. It all helps

  22. Does permeyhian 5% cause any side affects?

  23. Mercedes Martinez

    I Boiled water held a hand towel i dipped in it on lesion for 20 minutes off and on as much as i could tolerate, followed by 50% alcohol, tea tree oil, oregano oil and topped it with a mixture of honey and curcumin. My itching subsided.
    I did take the prescribed cream and 4 tablets of oral medicine ivermeti and put premethrine cream on lesions.

  24. Mercedes Martinez

    If by really have to itch :
    I boiled water, let it cool then dipped a hand towel in it, held it against my lesion as much as i could tolerate 20 minutes off and on.
    Then I put 50% alcohol, tea tree oil, oregano oil and 1st put a mixture of honey and curcumin.
    On the second application of all of the above I topped it with Vaseline, itching ceased.

  25. Poor Zoe. Bless her heart. Glad that”s all over & behind. & geez they need to seriously lysol everything down at that daycare. How do the workers keep from getting sick every week?!?!?!!?!? Your hair!!! GORGEOUS!

  26. Ordercustomessay

    I suffered from Scabies in 2011 and got rid of it after trying so many things including tea tree oil baths. Before going for natural alternative ways I went to a dermatologist who prescribed Ivermectin and Permethrine to me. But these meds also didn”t work for me. I realized that I needed something to boost my immune system so I took silver ion liquid and garlic oil capsules. I think scabies mites don”t like garlic smell. Another thing I noted that scabies increases if you are exposed to hot weather or you use hot water in shower. So I started soaking myself in cold water with few drops of tea tree oil and it proved effective. Still the mites didn”t die completely so I followed my grandfather advice to apply my urine topically and it worked miracle for me. I used to apply my urine at night and wash it off in the morning. Miraculously it dried the nasty mites and my skin became healthy just like before. Many of you might reject this idea but let me assure you that I suffered for months and tried almost every possible thing before trying my urine which was proved to be best and cheapeat cure for scabies.

    1. sHaring-minds

      Thanks ordercustomssay! I’m going to try this. Have tried about all else over the past 6 months and I’m tired. Even tried potentising my urine and using it internally like a homeopathic remedy, but did not think of using it pure, externally. The numbers are going down through homeopathy and other means but I still need something to clinch it and I’m fed up of running around smelling either like a bakery (on a good day) or an apothecary (on a bad one) – and not knowing what all of this is eventually doing to my skin. At least urine is safe! Thanks for the tip,

  27. I went to Urgent Care 6 days ago with a raging case of Scabies – The initial diagnosis 2.5 months ago was “Eczema”. I was give a prescription of Triamcinolone Acetonide (Steroidal Ointment) and sent home ….

    The small ‘pimples’ started about four weeks later, which led eventually to a rash, which became and “angry rash” with a devastating itch.

    I couldn’t take this “Eczema” any longer 6 days ago, and dragged my weary arse to Urgent Care, where, even then, the doctor referred to the condition as ‘Dermatitis’ (This might be an overall definition that includes eczema and scabies) …. He looked at it and said “It kinda looks like scabies, so we are going to treat it as scabies …”

    I’m going “What ? … Scabies ? …. This is SCABIES!? …” …. I was told it was Eczema and was treated for Eczema ! …. As you might imagine, I was horrified …

    Looking down at my arms, I now realized I had burrows drilling from my wrists to my finger webs … more on my forearms …. Later when I got home and stripped down, I saw burrows EVERYWHERE ! .. Moreover, the borrows were swelling in size … It was a freekin horror movie come to life in my body !

    I had no idea what the hell was going on or what Scabies was, so I found the Topix forums, and realized that this was going to be a tough road to hoe … The frantic comments and desperate posters could scare the HOOCH out of any person …

    I was prescribed 5% Permethrin cream, which posters said ‘DID/DID NOT work …. also Ivermectin was available, which MAY/MAY NOT work … and a litany of other methods and materials that had various kinds of effectiveness …

    So, I applied the cream 5 days ago, and went the full 14 hours – Chin to soles, under trimmed nails, extra between toes and fingers, up to chin and back hair line …. I also figured I was close enough to being ‘elderly’ (61YO) to apply to forehead to hairline and temples to hairline … I also circled my outer ears, just for good measure …

    Sure enough … The next day, the swelling dropped and the borrows had diminished in size … the different lumps in different places all became subdued, although the itch was still present. I could tell this was working as advertised … I was told I would need a second application in 7 days, and I thought – Why seven days ?

    I decided to check more ‘stoic and respectable’ websites, like the CDC and the AAD, and found the reason – The lifecycle of the scabies mite has a specific time schedule, and it can be used to our advantage. It goes like this:

    Eggs hatch inside the burrow in 3-4 days into the Larvae stage.
    It remains in the burrow as larvae for one day, then transforms exits the burrow to find it’s own shallow burrow, where 3-4 days later, it molts in to a ‘protonymph’, and 3-4 days after that, a ‘Tritonymph’ …

    It is not yet an adult, and only adults can lay eggs.

    In each change from larvae to tritonymph, the bug moves to another burrow.

    In yet another 3-4 days, the tritonymph changes to an Adult, where the female adult will move to yet another shallow burrow, and await a male for mating.

    This whole process takes about 14 days to produce a mating capable female adult mite.

    Permethrin is said to kill both live bugs and eggs, but some eggs might escape the first application, which is why the second treatment is necessary.

    If you count five days from the first application – ALL remaining eggs should have hatched, but are still in the pre-adult transformational stages for another 12 days. They are now laying in shallow burrows. They are ready to kill before they mate and create new eggs …. If you follow the one week between applications protocol, you will kill the remaining live bugs and NO eggs will exist. If you follow the protocol …. It WILL work, and you will be rid of all bugs and eggs.

    However, here is the rub – You HAVE TO CLEAR YOUR ENVIRONMENT OF ANY BUGS OR EGGS …. You have to be super clean by the time you take your second application … Otherwise, live ADULTS will re-infest your skin and start laying eggs – AGAIN ! … It disrupts the benefit of controlling the lifecycle of these little monsters, and they will AGAIN appear after the second application.

    Also, it is my understanding that eggs can linger in the environment for 17 days and remain viable. We MUST clear all bugs and their eggs from our little world for treatment to be successful … The car .. the workplace … the shed out back – EVERY place you touch stuff is your environment, so pay heed and vacuum/sanitize EVERY place you will be for one month … This is why it pays off to strip your environment down to a few items …. It’s only a few items to sanitize, to vacuum, to launder, to wipe clean …. Sealed bags are your friend (labels and binder clips also) …. Got a spare room ? … Fill bags with unnecessary crap, label and seal them, then toss them in the spare room … I will consider taping the door to seal it and put a date on the door when it can be opened.

    This is why people say “Permethrin doesn’t work” … Now, don’t get me wrong, there could be outliers that have superbugs that don’t die when they use Permethrin, but I don’t see that in the literature. According to the experts at CDC .. Scabies mites are not resistant (yet) to Permethrin (Or Ivermectin, for that matter)

    Another reason that people disbelieve the effectivity of Permethrin/Ivermectin is the presence of itching after the second application. It needs to be understood that the itching is caused by the body’s reaction to mites in the skin … Their BYPRODUCTS i.e. poop is a foreign invader in the skin, and the body generates histamines to attack the foreign invaders. Permethrin does not REMOVE the poop – the poop is still there, so the rash and itching will persist, even as the burrows and bumps heal over time. I understand that this can take upwards of 6 weeks for the body to finally deal with all that poop! … I am guessing this is autophagic in nature, which is part of the body’s natural homeostatic response to toxins in the cellular environment. I fast for autophagy, occasionally, and I suppose one could speed up the breakdown and removal of the poop by using water fasts .. Maybe …

    But my point is – It WILL work if you follow the protocol, but it wont work if you let mites linger in your environment after the first application.

    I am afraid I am guilty of this, because 1) I had no idea exactly what I needed to do before my first application – I just wanted those little b@stards OFF OF ME !

    and 2) It is damned HARD to clean your environment of all bugs .. immediately.

    I am five days in, and I am STILL not there … I am pretty sure I have been reinfested, even today, so I will need a THIRD application …. I bought the Martin’s 10% Permethrin and will make my own cream starting Tuesday, but I am sitting here, drinking coffee and taking a break while I strategize my next step ….. This is freekin HARD ! …. and this is why the regular treatment fails for so many ….

    Once I send this message, I am going to get off my arse and continue cleaning up … I have borax on the carpets … I am calling the dump to pick up my old upholstered furniture and my big old comfy bed … I am switching to a cot for the next month … I am taking all objects that make the clutter of my home, and bagging that crap and sealing the bags for at least a month … I am ridding my life of crap I haven’t used in ages, and I will be ready to roll come Tuesday … I will NOT get reinfested again …. I am going to work the protocol, because it does make perfect sense …. I am glad that I did that first application ASAP, because I wanted it to STOP ! … But now I am not so ignorant, and I am now racing to “git’r done” by Tuesday, or even Wednesday … (8 days is still less than 14) ….

    1. Thank you Trajan for your thorough response. It makes complete sense now as to why applying permethrin made me itch terribly and develop hive like rashes. I thought I was going nuts!!!! Patience is also part of this awful process.

    2. Trajan…Now “That’s what Im talkin about !! Thank you for the break down of the life cycle, the information and tips ! the encouragement, and most of all, the great attitude that you have through this awful time that we’re going through…( I’m noticing the date stamp on this and it’s been about 14 months since you posted …). I know you’re doing well, girl…I just started. I will heed your advice and knowledge, thanking you again, in hopes that others read your post and realize that the protocol works if ‘ it is worked right ‘. Love and Light~

      1. Got permethrin cream 4 times from my regular Dr. Then went to my dermatologist. He said it’s all in my mind and he sent me to a shrink for medication.
        Still not over the itch and bumps and squirmy feeling things crawling on me. I went to my regular Dr again and he said go home and figure it out with no meds.
        Going to another dermatologist tomorrow.
        The more I am becoming educated about this problem I have learned That I am reinfecting myself by not sanitizing everything I touch. Will start wearing gloves.
        Now it’s on my scalp, nose, ears and they are getting in my eyes at night.
        This is a nightmare and I am learning to heed the advice being shared on all these forums.
        Thank you for sharing your great advice. Going on 7 weeks now. I am hoping to get much better in the next 2 weeks.

  28. Infested. Bought Permethrin online10%> . Diluting it and spraying everything…me, digs, house…etc. washing and drying EVERYTHING high heat. doc gave me Permethrin cream @$90…worked for a few days but the tube was so small so pricey…I’m taking charge TODAY. This is a NIGHTMARE.

    In m a CLEAN person and have no idea where I got scabies from. I am exhausted from no sleep, feel gross, and am bewildered.
    Hopefully the concentrated Permethrin from Amazon (dilluted) will work. Bought hand cream w castor oil and adding Permethrin to it to use all day. I sprayed the dogs and about to spray myself……. Pls let this work. It’s a miserable predicament.

  29. Jessica

    Seriously, if no one has tried Neem oil for scabies please do so! My son was diagnosed and has been dealing with scabies for nine months. The regular prescriptions given for scabies was not working. Finally out of desperation I started reasearching online for natural cures and came upon Neem oil. This oil is beyond AMAZING. I could notice a difference in my sons skin the very next day after the first application. This wonderful oil also tremendously reduced his itching. It?s almost all gone now. Can?t say enough good things about Neem oil. Check it out guys.

    1. Neem oil worked on my son, very gentle. It did not help me except to heal dry skin amd make me less itchy. Tea tree works on me.

  30. Rene Olivas

    What about scabies on the face? It seems many of the treatments are harmful for the face.

  31. I’ve been living with thes nasty buggers going on a year ,dermatologist , G.P. And he gave me 23mcg ivermectin tablets to take 1week apart I guess he didn’t even look up the proper dosing !!!! 3mcg’s per 15 lbs I weigh 130 lbs am5’7 !!!!! So I FINALLY found this website !!! I have MS and just the thought of having to do all this work seems impossible !! BUT IM GOING TO DO IT !!! MY QUESTION Is can you put the pyrethrine cream ( home made 50/50 ratio ) on my scalp also I can felle the creepy crawlers on my head !!! All you say is to put it from the neck down ! What about your scalp ?

  32. Try the old school burnt or used motor oil cover body leave on as long as you can stand and wash away with Dawn dish detergent,

  33. Hieronymous

    I am curious. According to the medical professionals scabies mites won’t live for more than three days without a human host. I would like to think that this is based on scientific evidence. However, you claim that they can live for two weeks or longer. On what do you base this assertion? Please don’t misunderstand me, I am open minded about this.

    1. Hey. From my experience and anecdotally from others I’ve continually noticed re-infestations occurring beyond 3 days. I attribute this to a resiliency with these bugs that just wasn’t really acknowledged medically before. Also, I think if they have dead skin cells (food) for sustenance I think they can eat for longer. I doubt that they can reproduce without a host, but I certainly think freshly hatched eggs can make it through adulthood beyond 3 days.

    1. Thanks Carmen.

      I just started to fall in love with Biology again.

  34. Have you ever had scabies in the scalp and forehead area? If so, what did you use for that condition. Thank you.

  35. Clean and disinfect your entire house or apartment by all the suggested guidelines. Clothes, pillows, bed sheets etc., cleaned and dried at the recommended temperatures. If you can afford to, throw all these cheap things in the garbage. Get a prescription for Ivermectin and take the appropriate dose. Leave your house or apartment. Go to Walmart, and buy an air mattress, seal it in plastic. Get a prescription for a one month supply of a sleep medication because you might have trouble sleeping on the air mattress. Stay at a hotel with a high reputation. Don’t stay with friends or family. Join Wyndham rewards or another site that gives you hotel discounts so it’s not so expensive. Buy 14 days worth of new clothing and seal each days worth of clothing in a sealed plastic bag. Wash these in hot water and dry at high temperature or throw them out if you can afford to. Change either hotel rooms every day or stay at a different hotel every day (Again, highly reputable hotel). If you are super-paranoid buy new air mattresses. Make sure you see a dermatologist and get a refill for a second dose of ivermectin to take after 14 days or make sure you got enough tablets with the original prescription for the repeat dose. This is extremely important because the drug is relatively safe and there is hard to determine if a reinfection occured. Plus, the time needed for you to cleanse, leave your house/apartment may be a day or two, so if you’re out of there and you can take your second dose 14 days later and return at day 17 say, you’ve killed all these suckers and you’re house/apartment is for sure free of them. Permethrin is very often applied inappropriately by people, that is, if you miss one spot, those irritating mites find that one spot and survive. Ivermection is a oral tablet working internally, no need to worry about inadequate application. Go back to your house at say day 15 if you can’t afford to keep staying at the hotels. At some point, either see your dermatologist if they are good enough to know and diagnose that you are cured or stay the hell away from your house/apartment for the next 14 days so pretty much a month. Hope this helped. It’s a horrible disease and ends up costing you so much more money if you keep getting reinfected. When you end up back in your house/apartment, those scabies mites will definitely be out of there. Buy new pillows, etc if you need to, dont even bother with a dust ruffle. Who cares if you have one or not.

  36. I don’t have a hot water option for my washing machine, or a clothes dryer, how can I ensure my sheets and things are clean, if I keep them sealed for 72 hours will it be fine, I can’t go to a dry cleaners!! Help

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