Vacuum cleaner infested with dirty maggots! - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2019, 06:03:55 pm
content: I've been helping my parents to sort out their shed today and found an old vacuum cleaner. At first we were using it to clean the garage and I discovered some moths flying out of it. I opened it up, more moths flew out and I discovered a load of filthy maggots. Most of them are living in the filter but there are also some in the pipe, cylinder and underneath the filter near the motor.What can I do about this? I'm worried the maggots will turn into nasty moths which will lay eggs in furnishings, producing more fabric devouring maggots.I've tried brushing the filter but it didn't remove them. I'm not sure if the filter can be cleaned with hot water otherwise I'd wash it with a strong detergent. At the moment the vacuum is lying on the lawn, in the hope the birds will eat the maggots.

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2019, 06:13:36 pm
content: If it makes you feel any better, they're larvae, not maggots (fly).They've probably come from vacuuming a moth infested woollen carpet or rug.

author: Red Squirrel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2019, 06:24:33 pm
content: Mmm extra juicy protein.Might be able to use a pesticide like Cyonara or something and they will hopefully all die off.

author: maginnovision
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2019, 06:28:20 pm
content: Do your cleaning and then take the thing to a dump. Problem solved. If you can vacuum up a good amount of dirt/dust they'll likely die.

author: Nusa
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2019, 06:28:56 pm
content: It's clearly a replaceable filter. If you don't want to try cleaning it, buy a new filter.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2019, 06:38:08 pm
content: It's a wet vac - that filter should be the type which is washable. Dunk it in a bucket of boiling water.

author: soldar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2019, 06:40:16 pm
content: Diluted bleach. I use it on everything and it works wonders. I always have a spray bottle at hand.

author: joseph nicholas
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2019, 06:50:46 pm
content: Spray with Popoxur it works, sort of, for roaches.

author: taydin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2019, 07:05:09 pm
content: I would attack it with compressed air. But only if an air dryer follows the compressor. You don't want to humidify the filter and cause all of the dust to stick to it.Or if you don't have an air dryer after the compressor, you could wash the filter and then hit it with compressed air.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2019, 08:13:14 pm
content: Can't you just buy a new filter? I recently replaced the one in my shop vac, I think it was only about $10.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2019, 11:40:50 pm
content: is anyone else paranoid about their shop vac after seeing this lovely thread?

author: Red Squirrel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2019, 05:09:30 am
content: Nevermind shop vac just realized I have not emptied my central vac in like 5 years. Almost scared to go open that canister lol.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2019, 06:30:46 am
content: We had one of those central vacuums when I was a kid. The thing was more trouble than it was worth, often clogging the pipe if someone accidentally vacuumed up a toy or something. Also the hose was a pain to lug around and never seemed quite long enough to get where you wanted it. Eventually my parents bought a regular upright vacuum cleaner and abandoned the central one.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2019, 06:35:14 am
content: batteries

author: GK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2019, 07:38:46 am
content: Quote from: Red Squirrel on August 04, 2019, 06:24:33 pmI had weevil larvae in a packet of pasta a few months ago. Only noticed when I was about to pour the pasta out and saw a couple of the bastards floating on the top. I fished those two out and tossed the uncooked rest of the packet. It was late, I just wanted to eat and I wasn't going to check inside every fecking penne. I just threw on the sauce and thereafter didn't notice any difference.

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2019, 09:48:24 am
content: Let's not forget that any bag of flour will develop weevils if left for long enough, it's impossible to filter out the eggs. Use until the black bits get too large.

author: Electro Detective
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2019, 10:01:31 am
content: Take it outdoors and hit it with some low odour crawling insect spray, and game over..The next lot of invaders won't even think about sqwatting, much less visiting your vac

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2019, 03:53:22 pm
content: I wouldn't spray poison in there, remember when you turn on the vacuum it's gonna blow that vapor out all over the place.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2019, 04:07:11 pm
content: Quote from: Gyro on August 05, 2019, 09:48:24 amThat reminded me of a couple ofLindt assorted boxes of chocolatesthat my parents bought but were forgotten in the back of a cabinet. About a year later when I opened these boxes, several squares had small holes in them with maggots that had the exact same color as the milk chocolate. The boxes had no holes or gaps on them - they were really bred from the inside.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2019, 08:25:41 pm
content: 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.

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2019, 09:48:06 pm
content: 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?

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2019, 09:56:05 pm
content: Quote from: Zero999 on August 05, 2019, 09:48:06 pmI 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?

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2019, 10:00:27 pm
content: Quote from: Zero999 on August 05, 2019, 09:48:06 pmWell that's good at least.QuoteI see it's a Lidl one... Aldi have a nice shiny metal one in on Thursday.QuoteYes it would. I've seen references to putting woollen clothing in a sealed bag in the freezer to kill eggs.QuoteWell 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.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2019, 10:01:15 pm
content: lol , this is like a episode of the simpsons right nowyour finances are truly hermeticburn the fucker before it hatches

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2019, 10:06:59 pm
content: Quote from: coppercone2 on August 05, 2019, 10:01:15 pmAhah, I like this one!

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2019, 10:11:31 pm
content: Yeah, seriously though, that's what I would personally do, dump the whole thing.I usually hate trashing stuff that could still work perfectly, but something that infested - eek. Even the motor could be full of larvae and other pests. Unless you're willing to completely disassemble and clean it, it's probably never going to be clean...

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2019, 10:13:19 pm
content: It's only a few grubs. Just remove what you can and one or two may be left. No need to be squeamish. You've eaten worse and don't even know it.

author: ogden
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2019, 10:37:52 pm
content: Quote from: Zero999 on August 05, 2019, 09:48:06 pmYou either have vacuum cleaner with bag or you clean container and filter. Dry-clean filter with brush and compressor. Petrol station air pump when no-one is around can be useful as well. Wash container with some WC or generic cleaner. Honestly I would clean such filthy filter *only* when vacuum needs to be used right now and there's no other way. Otherwise just look for replacement filter or new vacuum.

author: Electro Detective
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2019, 10:47:58 pm
content: Quote from: Electro Detective on August 05, 2019, 10:01:31 amQuote from: james_s on August 05, 2019, 03:53:22 pmNot really, it dries quickly and a better deal that flying maggots and their by-products hanging around forever.If crawling insect spray is a concern then use the insect room spray, or even personal insect spray will do ok too.White cleaning vinegar sprayed and allowed to dry may finish them off too, and any mold lurking in there.Personally I like to dissassemble, clean and vac a vac with another vac(and vice-versa) and spray any suss parts and filters with Glen 20 (original scent please) and allow to dry.No smells, no crawlies, no allergic reactions, no nothingand awesome 'day one purchased' suction for months (and years..)i.e. either maintain vacs properly, or buy another, or just sweep up and let sleeping maggots lieEven hardcore OCD freaks don't realize it's their filthy vac causing most of the repeat 'seasonal' health/allergy issues, not from the idle dust, hairs, and crawlies they suck upBesides, unless you have a maintained Kirby style upright vac with foot adjustable rotating brush head,you're only doing a half baked job of it anyway, merely shifting vintage dust around with any regular or overpriced tech hyped vac

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2019, 12:26:08 am
content: Quote from: SiliconWizard on August 05, 2019, 10:11:31 pmIt's a shop vac, not a food mixer. Who cares if it's perfectly clean as long as it's not crawling with bugs or full of nasty toxic substances.

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2019, 03:28:49 pm
content: It's probably a good idea to keep the hose attached (if it wasn't already). Moths probably don't want to have to walk that far!

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2019, 08:39:26 pm
content: Gyro,I can't find the vacuum cleaner you're talking about on the Aldi website.coppercone2,I've not watched The Simpsons for years. I think it went downhill in the early 2000s. Maybe the newer episodes are better.SiliconWizard,I'll see what the motor and wiring look like, but it's not mine, so I can't make the decision whether to dump it or not.ogden,I don't think it's worth cleaning the filter, which costs under £8 and is the only option, if he wants to keep the vacuum: I'm certainly not going to clean it! Of course I'll have to take the thing to pieces and remove any remaining grubs from the motor and pipes, but that shouldn't be too difficult.https://www.filtamagic.com/acatalog/Parkside_Canister_Vacuum_Cleaner_Filter_1256.htmlMr. Scram,There are a lot more grubs tucked away in the filter and other parts for the vacuum than the photographs show. I'm not being squeamish. The problem is they'll turn into moths which lay eggs in furnishings and hatch into more fabric eating larvae.Electro Detective,You lost me when you mentioned cleaning it with another vacuum, which would just move the pests from one to the other. If the other vacuum had a bag this might work, but there's still the risk some of the grubs would end up in the pipesjames_sYes, it doesn't have to be squeaky clean, but the grubs must go!

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2019, 08:49:58 pm
content: https://www.aldi.co.uk/wet-and-dry-workshop-vacuum/p/018746287808400

author: ogden
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2019, 09:12:02 pm
content: Quote from: Zero999 on August 06, 2019, 08:39:26 pmYes. *If* you don't want to clean filter - buy new one. Why do we even have this discussion? You did not want to harm maggots or what?

author: edy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2019, 09:35:01 pm
content: You've got a nice snack there.... Have a look at what they are selling for human consumption:https://www.edibleinsects.com/?s=Mealworms&post_type=product

author: KL27x
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2019, 11:41:05 pm
content: I would think one sunny summer day would send them all crawling away into the grass. If you're in a rush, hair dryer?

author: Electro Detective
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2019, 12:27:35 am
content: Quote from: Zero999 on August 06, 2019, 08:39:26 pmI should have been better specific re using two vacs.The second vac is to clean up the mess in a normal non-maggot situation when servicing a bad news vac, especially indoors on a rainy or windy day(and so the neighbors don't cop the fallout)In a scary maggot or mystery odour situationboth vacs will get fully nuked and serviced either way anyway, to be sure..As I mentioned before, zapping the vac bag (preferably when new) and or plastic collection cylinder with low odour insect spray and allowed to dry,will/should/works for me/ymmv/ to keep things under control and avoid internal infestationsor if concerned about that, spray white undiluted vinegar and allow to dry.I've been playing with vacs for years, this is what works,especially for slackers and OCDers that don't empty their vacs, especially after a big spring cleanand just 'hide the obese vac away' as it competes with the room decor..FWIW: if I come across a maggot filled vac, it will get zapped with insect death spray first, and wrapped in a plastic bag and let it sit for a day or two outsideThen I'll sort it out and put it back into serviceFYI to everyone: if your vac emits any smell or odour when using it, even slight and you've sorta become 'used to it'it's not doing you any favors and vice versaRead the manual and chuck on some disposable gloves, eye-wear, breathing mask, roll up those sleeves and clean it.Also a good time to inspect and check cable/s, chargers and whatever powers it for safety and function

author: Electro Detective
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2020, 10:11:28 am
content: Quote from: delongtrevor on May 22, 2020, 08:57:18 amGreat adviceand yes, water is good, but better with a mild dishwashing detergentI've been doing rooted neglected vacs for years, from Kirbys, Hoovers, Electrolux, to mod con Dysons and other boutiques,and generic cheapies which many do ok when in top shapein the simple ways described in my previous comments above = no problemWhite Vinegar, IPA spray, Glen20, and dried insect spray, does not bring about lung disorders, put users on life support machinery, promote early funerals,or allow corona to get a foot in to your cleaned vac system,that if done properly, should create no smells or odors whilst in use,and advise maggots and moths your maintained vac is now officially a NO GO zoneor else..Again, if people think big money buys a good vacuum cleaner that miraculously cleans and services itself without user support,buy yourself a set of stainless lungs too, and demand a killa discount for buying both

author: not1xor1
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2020, 06:08:44 pm
content: Quote from: delongtrevor on May 22, 2020, 08:57:18 ambleach (sodium hypochlorite) is corrosive as is pure chlorine, but they are not carcinogenic (unlikely many other chlorine compounds).

author: not1xor1
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2020, 06:14:54 pm
content: Quote from: Gyro on August 05, 2019, 09:48:24 amA quick and safe (no chemicals involved) way to deal with that problem is to put the flour bag in a plastic bag and then in a freezer at -20°C for several days. You can also get rid of other kind of parasites (e.g. med flies larvae in fruit) at milder temperatures like 4°C.

author: paulca
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2020, 06:21:47 pm
content: I have to confess I get infested once.Started to notice tiny dead bugs on the window sills. Then I spotted them walking across the kitchen ceiling. Eventually they were climbing across the TV, so I went looking.Box of cereal on top of the fridge. Caked in them. It had sat there unused for about 2 years.Took me ages. To get rid of them.They were just larder beetles though.

author: KaneTW
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2020, 07:01:52 pm
content: Quote from: delongtrevor on May 22, 2020, 08:57:18 amBleach is in many household disinfectants and in many municipal water supplies. The residual concentrations won't do anything to you.QuoteNo, it does not. Some organochlorides are carcinogenic, but they are not produced in significant quantities by disinfectant action of bleach. Also, bleach contains sodium hypochlorite, not dissolved chlorine.QuoteHydrogen peroxide will kill the larvae. If you don't want to go the chemical route, heat will kill the larvae. Lots of other things will, too.QuoteClean the filter, clean the insides, and you're good.

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2020, 08:40:43 pm
content: It was left in the garden over winter and with the lockdown I'd forgotten about it, since I've not been there. I'll ask my parents about it. Hopefully the filthy buggers froze to death (unlikely as we had a mild winter, with hardly any frost) or pupated and flew away.

author: Wojciech Krolopp
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 22, 2020, 09:51:22 pm
content: Quote from: taydin on August 04, 2019, 07:05:09 pmYou can also put it on welding table and burn some 6010 welding rods. UV will kill everything.

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2020, 09:56:12 pm
content: Or use a germicidal lamp maybe? Preferably an undoped one which produces ozone.Seriously though, I want to remove the grubs, not just kill them, as they'll rot and smell really bad.It's in my parent's garden, which I can access, without going through their house, so I'll have a look some time over the weekend. I expect they will have gone by now. It's well protected from rain, so I hope it's not gone rusty. If I go and look at it, I'll post some more pictures.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2020, 10:10:52 pm
content: Throw the filter in the bin and wash the waste container with hot water and a bit of bleach. Hose the remains down the drain. Buy a new filter.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2020, 12:34:43 am
content: Quote from: james_s on August 05, 2019, 03:53:22 pmDo it outside and then run it for a while to let it dissipate. A lot of chemicals are highly toxic to insects but not much concern to bigger animals or humans.

author: Rerouter
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2020, 12:52:04 am
content: Those larva do not die easily, I've caught them recovering from direct hits of insect spray before, and 2 swings of bug bombs did not remove themNow that you know some are in your house. prepare to see them in cycles of 4 weeks, you need to hunt them like an infestation, they love laying below any wooden skirtings, once they spin the coocoon, they seem much more immune to most insecticides, so In the past when I have faced off against them, the best method was squishing them, and cleaning all walls down with a diluted bleach,It is redicuosly hard to get rid of them, they came in to our house from a small general store, found them crawling out of a box of cereal on the shelves of the same place when I started figuring out the why.sadly my mother prefers that general store and keeps reintroducing them, despite my many, many! protests.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2020, 12:53:31 am
content: Quote from: amyk on May 23, 2020, 12:34:43 amFair enough, just make sure you know what you're doing.Personally I'd just throw the filter in the garbage and then hose out the canister and give it a good scrub with detergent and let it dry out in the sun and reassemble with a new filter. A spray with disinfectant works nicely to eliminate the smell if stuff has sat in there damp.

author: not1xor1
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2020, 06:28:47 pm
content: Quote from: Rerouter on May 23, 2020, 12:52:04 amif they are lepidoptera you might try bacillus thuringensis. A broader spectra of insects is dealt by other biologic toxins like abamectin or spinosad. There are more chances no tolerance to those has been developed yet.All of those products have low toxicity for both humans and furry pets.