When I bring my potted plants inside for the winter each year, I put them in my tub down here in the basement, open up a bug bomb, close the door and stuff a towel down at the bottom to keep any fumes from leaking out. I do this twice to kill any bugs and possibly eggs in the dirt. Seems to work pretty good for me so far.

Since it's a sewing machine, I believe you could set it outside and wipe it with a damp treated cloth (wear protective gloves). use a vacuum and wipe it down again. A white cloth so you can see what you have. I have suggested to clients who purchase homes with carpet to have the place professionally cleaned or possibly remove all the carpet for that very reason. Brand new carpet can get bed bugs if the installers transfer them from home. We quit buying used furniture from private individuals unless we know them really well.

I don't buy from thrift shops or yard sales anymore. I seldom buy anything used like I use to. A bedbug problem can cost thousands of dollars and disruption to your life to get over. Some may not be around long enough to breed in the home some do. My friend picked some up at a hotel and it took her almost a year for her house to be completely free of them. She felt like burning it down. It is becoming a big problem even in small towns.

About Bed bugs..
 

On the other thread some people stated that they had known bedbugs to
brought home from hotels.
I always check this place before planning a trip:

http://bedbugregistry.com/

I never carry regular luggage. I sew cloth tote bags and pack my things
in them. Once home they come straight from the car into the washer and dryer.

It's scary to go on a trip and wonder if you are going to be exposed
to them or not.

What precautions do you take against them?

Here is a good in depth article on checking for bedbugs. After reading it I wanted to buy an RV!

I read this online, so if you put them in a hot shed for the summer, I think you will be safe:

Myth 3: Bedbugs can typically live a year without a meal
Scientists debate this point, but evidence suggests that at normal room temperature, about 23 degrees Celsius, bedbugs can only survive two to three months without a blood meal. But because they are cold-blooded, their metabolism will slow down in chillier climates, and the insects may live up to a year without feeding.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/ar...bout-bed-bugs/

"Bed bugs ex- posed to 113°F will die if they receive constant exposure to that temperature for 90 minutes or more. However, they will die within 20 minutes if exposed to 118°F. Interestingly, bed bug eggs must be exposed to 118°F for 90 minutes to reach 100% mortality."

You see on the TV shows about hotels they just bring in a big heater to treat the room, it doesn't get THAT hot. Hey, here's an idea - call your local pest control company and see if they have bedbug dogs that can do a "sniff test" on the machines!

Put them in black plastic bags and set in the sun for a couple days. That'll do em in.

Ii wonder if micorwaveing the book with the bed bugs would work?????

I have heard of putting potted plants inside a large sealed plastic bag, with mothballs, for a few days, to kill bugs (like scale or aphids). That might work with bedbugs.