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Original poster

Tiny white specks crawling over laptop!

25 replies

ouchmyfanjo · 07/09/2019 10:07

I say crawling, they are so tiny but they are definitely alive and moving. Sounds like I've gone mad i know. They are tiny. What can they be, baby spiders? I've wiped it down and can't see any elsewhere but they're so tiny they only showed up on black screen and keyboard. Ugh!

OP posts:
bobstersmum · 07/09/2019 10:16

No idea what that could be, interested to know!

bobstersmum · 07/09/2019 10:16

Take a pic?

LissieJess · 07/09/2019 10:16

Silverfish?

QOD · 07/09/2019 10:20

Burn the house down. Leave the laptop

Simkin · 07/09/2019 10:23

Oh no. The pixels have escaped. This is very bad, OP. Carefully close the laptop, place it in a steel box/safe and call for help.

SpamChaudFroid · 07/09/2019 10:25

It couldn't be a mild hallucination from lack of sleep/too much caffeine? My eyes make stuff up like this all the time.

Original poster
ouchmyfanjo · 07/09/2019 10:26

Tried to take picture but they are so small they don't even show up. They look like a speck of dust until they move, maybe 1/2mm.
Tempted to burn laptop but who knows where else they may be. Where would it end ?Grin
Just gone back to laptop after spraying and wiping it down (squashing speck things in process) only saw one more and got rid of that. So perhaps 20 in total. Makes me think spiders?
Definitely not silverfish. In scale if a silverfish would be a jumbo jet my moving dust particles would be a cat, maybe even tortoise.

OP posts:
Original poster
ouchmyfanjo · 07/09/2019 10:29

Spam, definitely not hallucination. I have looked very carefully and triple checked it's not me, these things are real I tell you!
Argh you think I have a pixel invasion Sim? Who do I call?

OP posts:
Original poster
ouchmyfanjo · 07/09/2019 10:32

Just seen 2 more on keys.got one, another escaped under keyboard. Shot there could be a whole colony under there. I need my laptop but not with these.
I turned it on to see if they were all gone and to do what i need to on it but maybe the warmth and vibration is bringing them out. Help!

OP posts:
Ghostpost · 07/09/2019 10:33

Dust mites?

Original poster
ouchmyfanjo · 07/09/2019 10:35

Thanks Ghost. Off to Google. Didn't think they were visible to the naked eye.

OP posts:
loubielou31 · 07/09/2019 10:35

Could they dust mites? (I have no idea how big a dust mite is?)Confused

BrieAndChilli · 07/09/2019 10:36

Hoover the keyboard. That should help to get any that are hiding under the keys?

Sunflower160 · 07/09/2019 10:41

Sounds like dust mites! I came across some when we were renovating our house. So tiny you can hardly even see them

WhataMissMap · 07/09/2019 10:42

Psocids?

Original poster
ouchmyfanjo · 07/09/2019 10:48

Been reading about white mites. Think it's that. Seriously not dealing well with this. There aren't many on laptop but it's now the thought that they could be everywhere but not visible on fabric, carpet etc.
I'm on my own with kids and have work to do and stuff to go out for. Won't be able to relax.
From quick read I think insect spray or flea spray may work along with hoovering and damp dusting.Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
ouchmyfanjo · 07/09/2019 10:53

Miasma I googled those but not sure, think they may be slightly bigger. Sunflower how did you get rid of them?
Will get Hoover out but feeling overwhelmed. Would now like to rip out all the carpet...

OP posts:
Original poster
ouchmyfanjo · 07/09/2019 10:54

Sorry should have said missmap.

OP posts:
Simkin · 07/09/2019 11:02

I'm a bit disappointed it wasn't the pixels but never mind.

The trouble with googling is that the info you find is put there by pest control companies who want you to panic. Come on, if you've got kids you've had to deal with all manner if disgustingness and you can deal with this too. Vacuum the keyboard and the surrounding area as thoroughly as you can be bothered and then have a look later to see if they have come back or there are more. No need to burn the house just yet.

Karkasaurus · 07/09/2019 11:05

Sounds like mites. I found some paper mites on some old paper at work and threw it over the office.

I'm not normally squeamish, but I had just never seen anything like it in my life. Like white little nits crawling over it!!

Original poster
ouchmyfanjo · 07/09/2019 11:07

Thanks Simkin, you're right. I'm disappointed it's not pixels too.
Thanks for helping me get a grip. Will do brief Hoover round area then going out to get on with the day.

OP posts:
Notreallyawaitress · 07/09/2019 11:09

We’ve been trying to eradicate them from our kitchen for the last three weeks. First noticed them moving on the shiny black coffee machine, up until then I thought it was dust/pollen blowing in from outside. Tried flea spray, bleach, vinegar, dehumidifier and still they keep coming back. At my wits end Sad

FurnitureAndBackgammon · 07/09/2019 11:11

I've seen the odd one of these before, tiny tiny tiny. It never occurred to me to do anything so I just left them Confused
Haven't died yet.

Drogosnextwife · 07/09/2019 11:15

OP I wouldn't worry, there are things like that all over your body and your house you just don't see them.

Original poster
ouchmyfanjo · 07/09/2019 11:19

Sorry to hear that notreally. Apparently damp/humid conditions are what they like so kitchen may be difficult to eradicate them from. Hope something works for you soon.
Karkasaurus think that's it, they are so tiny it makes them harder to deal with. I'm the person who will pick up spiders no problem but it's the thought of these tiny things crawling everywhere.
Furniture you're right, at least they are harmless. At worst they can cause an allergy but guess it depends how many there are.
I'm off to try and forget about them for a bit.

OP posts:
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