So I went on a mad murderous killing spree (Rio Bug Zapper)

Member Name: sandra101

Product:	Rio Bug Zapper
Date:	18/09/08 (226 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: No chemical, re-usable

Disadvantages: Takes 2 weeks for completion

I have to admit I'm not best pleased at having to post this review I really would have preferred never to have gone through the experience and don't really like sharing but due to the fact that headlice are becoming more and more resistant to the chemical treatments I've decided to stand up and be counted as someone whose children (2 of them so far) have had the dreaded lurgy and share how we annihalted the lousey little nits.

Going back a few years I noticed No. 2 son was scratching his head a fair bit, not really knowing much about this sort of thing and hoping I would never have to encounter it I gingerly lifted up a few bits of hair and had a quick look. Nothing there - relief. He continued to scratch over the next few days and I checked again, I probably have to admit at this stage that I don't think I was looking properly because I didn't want to find anything.

By this stage I was convinced there had to be something there. I got one of the boys really strong magnifying glasses and turned on the full height lamp and stood him directly underneath it. I raised the magnifier to my eye and lifted a piece of hair and you have never heard anything like the blood curdling scream I let out. This bug looked about an inch long and was on my child. Looking back I suppose magnifying his head wasn't the best idea I've ever had, I then checked No. 1 son and wasn't just as shocked when another giant beast showed up. In reality they are only a couple of mms long but under this particular magnifying glass it was more like an inch. As it was latish in the evening I I couldn't do anything for him, I spent the rest of the evening stripping bed clothes, cushions pillows etc. just in case any of the little buggers had decided to set up home.

Another way to check I have read about since is to buy a special nit comb and after putting conditioner on the childs hair simply comb through it with this and the nits\louse etc. if there are any will come out because they cannot hold on due to the slipperiness of the conditioner.


Even writing this is making my head itch, sorry if its doing the same to you.

Obviously that evening I was straight onto the internet getting info. on removal methods etc. I read a number of articles on dangerous chemicals that had been found in the chemical treatments which had possibly led to very serious medical problems. There were also articles on how the varmints were becoming more difficult to kill as they were developing an immunity due to overuse of the chemical treatments. I kept searching I wanted something better, the fastest acting most deadly method of annihilation available. Then I found it The Rio Bug Zapper - perfect for me it was a gadget and it promised to electrocute the little uninvited guests to DEATH!!!!

Next morning I was off down the town looking for this harbringer of death and picked it up in Argos I think for a very reasonable £14.99.

- - How does it look - -

On opening the zapper it is about the size and indeed shape of an epilator but instead of the rotating heads especially designed to rip out hair there is the equivalent of a very fine toothed comb made of metal. There is a little brush similar to what you would get with a lady shave to clean out between the grooves.

- - Using the lovely killing machine (sorry Rio Zapper) - -

Insert an AA battery and switch to on. There will be a bit of a buzz to show that its working. Section of the hair as best you can and comb this electronic device slowly and deliberately through each bit. Anytime the comb comes across a beastie the buzz will stop and at this point you need to lift the comb away from the hair and clean out between the teeth to remove the dead body\bodies.

I don't mean to be gross and fair enough it was my husband who went on the killing spree but there was a great sense of satisfaction seeing all the little black dots on the kitchen roll. He did No.1 and No. 2 son in less than five minutes each.

As the zapper only kills the living lice we (the royal we of course cos hubby always did it) ran the comb through the hair every night for two weeks just too be sure. As the nits which are the eggs of the louse can emerge and thus begins the cycle all over again.

I have continued running this through their hair every few weeks just so I can catch it early, I don't mind being the checker I just don't want to be touching them if there are creepy crawlies in there. It does occasionally indicate that it has found a louse but luckily that has been a tangle or piece of fluff caught in the hair.

This is also when I began to add tea tree oil to the final rinse when I was washing there hair as mentioned in my previous review and so far so good - no more infestations.


- - Recommendation - -

While this bug zapper is more expensive than lotions\potions it can be used over and over not just once so there is an immediate saving. It can also be used to easily and quickly check heads on a regular basis. The bugs cannot build up a resistance to being electrocuted.

Easy to handle, quick to learn piece of kit, which really works and best of all no chemicals.

Summary: Great item to keep in the house for checking or just in case