Hi guys - not sure that this question belongs in Finishing but here it goes: what procedure do you recommend for fumigating the bugs out of furniture?  I have a large desk that has termite or carpenter and damage on one leg.  The desk is inside a giant plastic bag so that me house does not get infested.  Is there anything you recommend putting inside the bag that would kill all bugs say in a week's or month's time?

 

Thanks,

Tom

Check out your local big box store, or Walmart. They stock several bug bomb varieties that might work for you. Some are specifically for certain bugs. One is for ants. That one might be what you need.

I've had good luck with the Spectricide brand for other bugs.

I've been using Home Defense for ocasional ants we find in the house.  I spray it in out of the way places. Can't remember who make it . If its in a plastic bag you need from time to time open the bag and let some dry air in or else you got more problems. It says its safe to use inside the house???

Hi guys and thanks.  I think I'll go the bug bomb route and also air out the bag once in a while to eliminate condensation issues.  I totally forgot about that.

 

Tom

I faced this a few years ago.   A woman had an (Asian, surprise) end table and there was a bunch of frass (AKA bug poop) all over the floor.  I found that there are companies that do this, licensed exterminators, so I passed.  I don't think it was that cheap.

 

When storing beehives over the winter, I put them in a garbage bag with paradichorlobenzine moth crystals.   It keeps the wax moths at bay.  I don't know if it would kill what's in there or not.

Boric acid kills all ants.

Herb

bug bombs only coat the piece and don't get down into the nests where you really need it...

Hi Stick - I figure if I bag the desk and pop the bomb inside it I'll get some penetration into the wood.

 

Thanks,

Tom

I would start by trying to ID the bug.  Then get the appropriate chemical to combat it.  And hope it is not powder post beetles...

Cal

Bombs are almost totally useless. A co-worker (who was, also, a licensed exterminator) explained, as Stick mentioned, that it only gets on the exposed surfaces. The chemicals don't get into the "nooks and crannies" where the bugs are hiding. The bombing may only the first step. You, also, need to bait and leave a residual for the eggs that hatch out a week or two later.

 

If you have a do-it-yourself Pest Control store in your area, talk to them and get their advise. They are usually very knowledgeable and helpful. Remember, they have seen it all before. They will know the best way to handle the problem.

Edited September 16, 20178 yr by schnewj

FYI - I made a tent out of plastic wrap, blankets, sleep bags, etc that was all sealed off with the desk inside.  I had an electric heater inside that I ran for an hour and a half and got the inside of the tent up to 150F before the heater burned up and then let it sit for another hour or two as it slowly cooled off.  According to several internet searches, heat is the only way to reach the inside of the wood and is the most effective and least environmentally damaging.  I think several sites said 135 - 140 for an hour.  What I did was slight overkill but it did not damage the desk.

Sounds like you got the job done right.

Glad Bill and Stick chimed in before you wasted your time and $$ on my bug bomb idea.

To paraphrase Abraham Lincoln, " The trouble with advice from the internet is that you never know if it's any good."

 

 

 

I'm wondering, @Frenchtom if you mind following up- did you see a recurrence of termites after taking these measures? Thanks!

I hired "Truly Nolen" to kill termites in my place. 

 

My nicest furniture in one of my rentals was full of termites and the cost was $1200.00 to remove them... cheaper and easier than throwing away some of my nicest bedroom furniture and buying a new bedroom set.

 

What they did was get the temperature in the room up to 125 degrees for a few hours and that was it. I had to remove paintings, bedding and window treatments first.

 

They said poisons and gas won't get into those nooks and crannies...