Can bed bugs get in and out of electronic items like speakers in stereo etc.,?

Freezing is an option, but certain conditions must be met. Be sure to follow instructions carefully! https://www.bedbugs.umn.edu/bed-bug-control-in-residences/freezing

@snowberry electronics without LCD panels I see. Thanks.

But how about moisture when you put it and then gets thawed?

@flo Yes I thought of that too. It’s all about the prep work.

Ordinary plastic bags are air permeable, which means that gases (including humidity) can pass through them. I would put the item in a freezer bag (freezer bags are not air permeable) and squeeze out as much air as possible before I sealed it. I would also make an effort to do this in an air conditioned room so the humidity left inside the bag would be as low as possible to begin with.

Taking these extra steps should minimize the chance for water crystals to form inside the electronics. After leaving them in the deep-freeze the required amount of time, let them thaw out inside the plastic bag before opening. That will also help prevent condensation inside the electronics.

And yes, they are pretty good at getting into and out of tiny spaces. That’s one reason they’re so difficult to detect and treat, until you already have a serious infestation.

Re. your previous to last post, that would make sense but is there all that instruction somewhere? Do you think people just know to do that?

The other thing is do exterminators deal with those kinds of items?

Exterminators likely use poison, but is far as I’m concerned, the less poison (toxic chemicals) in my life the better.

However one thing that was not mentioned is that diatomaceous earth is an excellent killer of bedbugs. It cuts through their exoskeleton and they dehydrate, which kills them. The only thing is that they have to walk through it for it to work.

If you’ve got a lot of bedbugs, you’re going to need more help than just diatomaceous earth. Also diatomaceous earth does not work if it gets wet.

They also make a machine that produces enough heat that it kills them. As with the deep-freeze solution everything in the room has to get to a certain temperature. I think the temperature in the room has to raise 120°F. I don’t know if electronics would be damaged by a bed bug heater or not. https://www.pestprothermal.com/?matchtype=e&network=s&device=t&adposition=%7Badposition%7D&keyword=bed%20bug%20heater&msclkid=940b9a75f29f16830788c165cf7ff9e6&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=PestPro%20Thermal%20Systems%20Search%20Campaign&utm_term=bed%20bug%20heater&utm_content=Bed%20Bug%20Exact%20-%20Heater

A really good exterminator might use a combination of methods.

@snowberry I’m not getting Activity For you” for your posts. Another day it was another poster.

“If you’ve got a lot of bedbugs, ...” I don’t. It’s about buying a second hand item like a stereo.

Yes, no poison please.

Vacuuming sounds good, but are there vacuums (for rent esp) that fit the earphone jacks etc.,?

A vacuum won’t work to eliminate bedbugs from the inside of electronics. Your best bet is to buy new, or freeze according to the instructions.

Sorry, I didn’t mean to imply that you had bedbugs now. I was trying to explain the various ways to kill them.

@snowberry I understand. And thanks.

Yes, you can possibly get them from a stereo speaker from a 2nd hand shop. I’ve never had them but a really close friend got them from buying furniture at an auction. He’s been trying to get rid of them for 2 years now. It’s VERY expensive to get rid of them; so, I strongly suggest that you carefully check anything 2nd hand BEFORE you buy it & take it home!!! The first so-called expert charged him $2,000 to get rid of them & they were back within about 2 months. The next “expert” charged him $1,800 & he guaranteed his work. He’s been back 3 times in the last year. The initial treatment they used was extreme heat; however, the guy that’s been back 3 times has been using some chemicals to reduce the population further because the heat is the expensive treatment. You need to watch styrofoam extra close because they seem to love styrofoam & can burrow down in it so it’s hard to see them!!!

I’d also recommend that you NEVER buy a used mattress as they frequently bring the little buggars with them. Even if you can’t afford a new mattress, it’s cheaper than buying a used one & having to get rid of the bugs!!!

Anytime you’re buying anything 2nd hand insist on giving it a close inspection to make sure it is bug free!!!

I don’t understand how not everyone has bedbugs aproblem considering they can get into anything it seems.

Buying used mattress and underwear is out of the question anyway even without bed bugs.

I think a lot more people have them than are willing to admit it. I know a friend of mine who lives in New York City got them. Turns out one apartment in the buiding he lived in got them & didn’t want anybody to know. Then they spread in 4 different directions.The next thing they knew, the whole building was infested. It’s been 3 years since the first treatment & they are still having outbreaks every so often.

Since my friend locally has had them, I’ve been doing a lot of research to try & help him find a better way to get rid of them. I’m scared to death to stay at any hotel/motel as their mattresses are a prime breeding ground & then they hide in your luggage & you inadvertently take them home with you.

I also found out quite by accident that another friend had them in her home. She’s not keeping people out of her house so her friends have been taking them home with them. At least my other friend warned me that he had them & was working on getting rid of them so I could avoid taking them home with me!!!!!!

Bedbugs and their feces glow in the dark under ultraviolet light. You can buy a battery operated ultra violet flashlight and check a used item for them. If the people selling a used item is willing perhaps they would allow you to unscrew enough of the electronic equipment to see inside so you can shine your flashlight.

Before you start using the flashlight, familiarize yourself with what bedbugs and their feces look like in ultraviolet light. Lots of lightly colored things will show up brightly besides bedbugs.

We live in Texas where there are scorpions. They glow a brilliant blue under ultraviolet light, so we use our ultraviolet flashlight to check for them.

I just prefer if scientists would invent something that prevents them in the first place. I know it’s easier said that done.

@flo That would be GREAT, wouldn’t it!!! I checked with my friend & he says other than the extreme heat that the exterminator is now also using “Transport” to continue to reduce the population.

@LadyMarissa What is “Transport”?

After the initial heat treatment, all the bed bugs were seemingly gone. Then about a month later they begin to show back up. Since the exterminator had guaranteed his work, my friend called him back out. The exterminator is now using something called Transport which seems to be further reducing the bugs my friend is seeing. I assume it is a chemical; but according to my friend, chemicals become your best friend when you see them effectively getting rid of those nasty critters!!! He has spent 2 years & over $3,800 to get rid of the bed bugs; so, he’s not going to fuss about a chemical being used at this point!!!

TRANSPORT MIKRON INSECTICIDE
https://store.doyourownpestcontrol.com/transport-mikron-insecticide-fmc

Ok. I have to get back to read it.

Yes. Place the speakers in a plastic bag and spray the speakers with bug spray, then seal the bag and let it sit for a couple of days.

If all you’re going to do is spray the speakers with bug spray, that might not do the job. They are resistant to some bug sprays, and for others, they might actually need to come into physical contact with the pesticide to kill them. If you don’t mind re-treating in a few months, go ahead and do as you like. Otherwise, it’s best to speak to a professional.