Home collected substrate & wood question.

[JohnEDove]

I live in a desert climate so this might not work for you but I place leaf litter in a plastic garbage bag then place the closed bag in a metal trash can, painted black, in my yard. Believe me the temps in that can will kill anything after a day. I generally keep the can full.
Another method I have used for small amounts is place the leaf litter in a microwave safe container, add a little water, and microwave it for 20 minutes.
For wood and bark I have an old bath tub set on blocks that I boil the wood and bark in.

[strange_screams]

here here, splendid idea, no one as of yet has mentioned the microwave, well done

[froggsong]

lmao... I have had a few rather bad experiences with the microwave... Not EVERYTHING is microwaveable... I've had some stuff I was attempting to sterilize catch on fire.