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Vacuum cleaner infested with dirty maggots!

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james_s:
I remember opening a box of muffin mix once that had larvae crawling around in it. The allowable amount of "filth" in food products is pretty gross really, best not to think about it.

Zero999:
Thanks for the replies.

I doubt the larvae got in there though vacuuming a moth infested rug, because it's not been used for ten years. It's possible the eggs have been dormant for that long, but I think the eggs were more likely laid this year.

I'm hesitant to use poisons because they will be sprayed out of the vacuum cleaner's vent, when switched on. Is there anything I can use which won't leave any residue? I'd also rather remove the larvae, rather than simply kill them because they'll rot, which won't be pleasant either.

Yes, it's a wet vac' but it has separate filters for wet and dry and it's currently fitted with the latter. The wet filter is lost amongst the rubbish. I could try washing it in hot water and strong detergent, but it's not designed for it and it will take a long time to dry. I'll have a look into buying a replacement filter. Using the vacuum for the last time, before dumpling it could also be an option, but it's my dad's and I think he wants to keep it.

Would putting the filter in a bag and deep freezing it work? That might kill the larvae but it probably wouldn't harm any unhatched eggs and there's still the issue of removing them.

I like the compressed air idea, but don't have a compressor. I wonder if canned air would do? I suppose I need to be careful not to blast the little buggers to pieces, which would be messy.

Currently the vacuum is in the back garden, protected from the rain by a bucket. Is leaving it outside for long enough for the larvae to turn into moths and bugger off, a viable solution? I suppose it could take awhile and there's the risk of them damaging the filter if they run out of dirt to eat.

Has anyone else had problems with household appliances or electronics being infested with vermin? If so, what did they do?

SiliconWizard:

--- Quote from: Zero999 on August 05, 2019, 09:48:06 pm ---I'm hesitant to use poisons because they will be sprayed out of the vacuum cleaner's vent, when switched on.

--- End quote ---

I absolutely second that. Any chemicals that you're going to use will be diffused for quite a while when using the vacuum cleaner... unless you can wash them off thoroughly, but really can you not find a replacement for the filter? And if not, maybe you can even build one yourself out of some piece of new A/C filter?

Gyro:

--- Quote from: Zero999 on August 05, 2019, 09:48:06 pm ---I doubt the larvae got in there though vacuuming a moth infested rug, because it's not been used for ten years. It's possible the eggs have been dormant for that long, but I think the eggs were more likely laid this year.

--- End quote ---

Well that's good at least.


--- Quote --- I'll have a look into buying a replacement filter. Using the vacuum for the last time, before dumpling it could also be an option, but it's my dad's and I think he wants to keep it.

--- End quote ---

I see it's a Lidl one... Aldi have a nice shiny metal one in on Thursday.  ;)


--- Quote ---Would putting the filter in a bag and deep freezing it work? That might kill the larvae but it probably wouldn't harm any unhatched eggs and there's still the issue of removing them.

--- End quote ---

Yes it would. I've seen references to putting woollen clothing in a sealed bag in the freezer to kill eggs.


--- Quote ---Has anyone else had problems with household appliances or electronics being infested with vermin? If so, what did they do?

--- End quote ---

Well I used to work with traffic junction controllers that used to grow some spectacular ants nests if there was any sort of breech in the pitch infill around the cables in the base frame.

coppercone2:
lol , this is like a episode of the simpsons right now

your finances are truly hermetic

burn the fucker before it hatches

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