So your child came home from preschool with an itchy red rash, and the doctor diagnosed it as scabies? Don’t panic. Anyone can get scabies, no matter how clean they are, and curing your child of scabies is as easy as applying a cream. Getting rid of the scabies in your house is a bit more difficult, but doesn’t need to be an overwhelming task. Here’s a step-by-step plan for serving those little bugs their eviction notice.

Cleaning to Get Rid of Scabies

Apply the cream the doctor prescribed before bed, and let the child sleep. There’s no use in cleaning before the scabies are off their host.

Turn your water heater up so the water can get above 130 degrees F. Wash the infected person’s clothes and bedding in hot water as soon as they get up in the morning. Don’t forget to turn the water heater down when you’re done to prevent scalding.

Bag up soft items like stuffed animals and throw pillows from your child’s room that cannot be washed. Keep them in plastic bags for at least three days. Scabies cannot survive longer than that without a host.

Bathe your child and clean yourself up as you do. Dry your child off with a clean towel, and dress him in clean clothes. Transfer the clothes from the washer into the dryer.

Vacuum your whole house. Throw the vacuum bag away when you’re done or wash out the vacuum canister.

Take a shower then put your cleaning clothes through the wash. Sit down with a cup of coffee and congratulate yourself on a clean scabies-free house.