How to Save Your Gadgets from Creepy Crawlies

So you’re sitting in the living room and your TV shuts off.

12:53 09 February 2020

Or your game console won’t turn on after you just had a gaming session the other day. It could always be a power, surge, software or hardware issue, but one thing to keep in mind is how it may be a case of the creepy crawlies. It might not be the first thing that comes to mind but you may have bugs in your electronics that are preventing them from functioning properly. It’s a scary thought, we know. But there are a few things you can do to handle and contain this situation and prevent it from getting worse or happening again.

We’ll go over a DIY solution of how to spot, treat, and prevent pests in your electronics.

1. Identification

First we need to make sure it is pests we are dealing with and if that is the case, what type of pest it is. Cockroaches tend to be one of the most common types of pests that you can find hiding in your gadgets. Places you can frequently find them hiding in are game consoles, routers, modems, refrigerator motors, power supplies, and TVs. Your TV and game consoles will be especially susceptible, as they will see the most usage, with their heat attracting roaches, and are closest to floor level, which allow for easy access. Once we are able to identify what type of bug and roach we are dealing with, we can move on to the inspection step.

1. Inspection

Once we know we’re dealing with roaches, we have to inspect what areas may be affected and how serious the possible infestation may be. When checking your consoles and electronics, go over your ports and openings, things like vents, cables, and battery ports. If you are confident in opening your console, you may do so to inspect your electronics. Just be mindful this may remove your device warranty. When inspecting your devices, make sure to be careful not to damage the components inside. If there is no evidence of pests, your devices may just simply no longer be functioning due to normal usage or power surges. When performing your inspection, you are searching for roaches themselves or evidence they leave behind such as droppings or their egg cases. If you can positively identify you have a pest problem, you can move onto the treatment phase.

1. Treatment

Once you’ve properly identified roaches, you can start treatment. Wear protective gear before dealing with pests. You’ll be handling pesticides and chemicals so ensure you are protected. Masks and gloves are advisable. First clean the areas that you suspect harbor the roaches. You want to remove any other food sources using warm water and chemical free cleaners, as chemicals may deter roaches from the treatment process. Once everything is clean, you’ll be using Roach Bait in these areas. You won’t need to apply a lot, a small amount no bigger than the size of a pea. Roach Bait will be ingested and taken by roaches to nests or colonies for their young, helping control for possible further nest and other roaches. After a few days, you should see a reduction in the roach activity around your home and the problem areas. For any stragglers, you will use an aerosol insecticide to kill off any pests that target both roaches and their young. Keep pets and people away from the sprayed area until it is dried. Once the roaches have been eliminated, you’ll want to do a final check of your previously infected areas. Unplug and open up any of your electronic devices and clean out any residue left by the roaches.

Now that your home is clean from pests, you need to do your part to help prevent the problem from returning. Keep your home clean and sweep and wipe areas frequently of crumbs and food residue. You can use preventative products for pests, with applications only needing to be done once every few months. You can read more about some of the most helpful pest tips to help with keeping your home roach and rodent free. And always remember, if the problem is more than a few bugs and is an infestation that you cannot handle, contact a professional for them to properly handle the problem.

With your home and electronics and pest free, you need to keep them that way. Try to keep any electronics elevated off the floor, and frequently clean them using pressurized air to get into all those vents and ports. Keep the rest of your home clean and free of things that would entice and unwanted guests.