Question about bedbugs and wood?

[Waveraider]

I stopped by a yard sale on the seedier side of Indy today, and bought an old GE stand-up/cabinet radio. Had the receiver and speaker cover(cloth), but no speaker. I have a nice blue tooth speaker that I plan on putting inside of it, but my wife told me it's not coming in the house, because she's afraid it might have bed bugs. Anybody know about this?

 

[1911ly]

They can live in cracks/small areas. They can live for a a year or more without eating. It would have to have came from a really badly infested home. How well do you know the environment it came from?

I only can remember one person that have had them. It was at a summer cottage of some friends when I was a kid. I remember it being a big deal for them. I guess they are making a come back from what I have heard over the last few years.

 

[patience0830]

Put it in a sunny location inside a clear garbage bag for an afternoon. Once baked bedbugs are no longer a threat.

I don't think it would handle a ride in the dryer well.

 

[Waveraider]

I'm freaked out about the thought of them. I've heard horror stories.

There was a lot of spider web's/nests in it, so I think it was in a garage or shed.

I like the idea about the bag in the sun. I have some large clear bags at work, and the long 4th of July weekend should work well. Thanks.

 

[PaulKersey]

I worked in that industry (corporate and then owned small business) for a number of years. Bedbugs are making a comeback and as patience0830 stated, heat is a good solution. When buying an old item of unknown origin, I would be more concerned about roaches than bedbugs. It is very common for used appliances or old furniture to give roaches an entry point into your home. Thankfully, there are excellent baits available that really knock down a roach population, especially products that contain fipronil. I don't have a ton of direct bedbug experience, as it was not as common at the time. However, the most common infestations we saw were on bed lines, frames, etc. When you check into a hotel, be especially careful of the back of the headboard. Infested rooms will often have a ton of bedbugs attached there. That will tend to make a vacation go south in a hurry.

 

[DeadeyeChrista'sdad]

Damn things give me the Willies. But, as stated above, not much can stand a couple of afternoons baking in full sunlight inside clear plastic. I tried the "hillbilly solar kiln" method on some relatively green and wet wood a couple of years ago, and it was impressive, to say the least.

 

[Cameramonkey]

Put it in a sunny location inside a [STRIKE]clear[/STRIKE] BLACK garbage bag for an afternoon. Once baked bedbugs are no longer a threat.

I don't think it would handle a ride in the dryer well.

FIFY. You want the black so it absorbs the heat.

 

[Timjoebillybob]

FIFY. You want the black so it absorbs the heat.

I used to think that also, now I'm not so sure. I took my daughter to a solar cooking thing at the local park, where they made "solar ovens". No black was used, clear plastic and aluminum foil. The one they made was basically the corner of a cardboard box covered on the inside with foil, stuffed inside a clear plastic bag with an additional foil covered flap at the bottom to reflect more light inside. 70 degree day and within 15-20 minutes the temp in the "oven" was over 120.

 

[hoosierdoc]

The plastic would get hot if black plastic used. You want the item to get hot, let the sun hit it

 

[HoughMade]

Deep freezer, about 0 deg. F, for over 24 hours works as well.

Don't ask.

 

[BiscuitsandGravy]

Burn it down. Oh wait, you want to preserve it. Sorry.

 

[patience0830]

FIFY. You want the black so it absorbs the heat.

I don't want the bag to get hot. I WANT the item in the bag to get hot. Clear lets the heat in. Now if you put it in a black bag inside a clear bag, that might improve the heating qualities.

 

[Leadeye]

Take as much apart as you can and spray plenty of Bonide Termite and Carpenter ant killer.

Better living through modern chemistry.