How to Get Rid of Silverfish

Silverfish (also known as 'silverfish bugs') are harmless insects, but they can be quite bothersome if these slender, grayish-silver creatures infest your home. They feed on books, dead skin cells, adhesives, and starches, and prefer damp, dark environments. If you find silverfish in your home, you can get rid of them by setting traps, blocking their entry, and keeping your home well-ventilated. Read the guide below to learn how to eliminate silverfish.

If you're dealing with a silverfish infestation, you can handle it without calling for professional help by using common household items:

• Make a simple trap using a glass jar, tape, and bread.
• Use old newspapers to create a quick and cheap trap.
• Sprinkle diatomaceous earth to kill silverfish.
• Use cedar wood shavings to repel silverfish.
• Place herbal sachets to keep silverfish away from your cupboards.
• Spray lavender essential oil or orange essential oil to prevent silverfish from entering.

Locate Their Hiding Spots. Silverfish are nocturnal creatures, making it difficult to spot them during the day. However, you can track their whereabouts by the signs they leave behind. Look for damp and dark areas with tiny droppings that resemble pepper grains. Small holes, yellow stains on clothes, walls, cereal boxes, or cardboard items will point to their hiding places. Silverfish also molt, so you might find small shed skins in areas like bathrooms, basements, or anywhere you suspect silverfish are living.

Set up a DIY Glass Jar Trap. Take a large glass jar or any other jar you have. Wrap tape around the outside of the jar. Place a piece of bread inside. Set the jar in areas where you believe silverfish are active. Be sure to tape the jar all the way to the top. The silverfish will crawl in to eat the bread, but won't be able to escape because the jar is too smooth.

• Place the trap at night, when silverfish begin foraging for food.

Create a Newspaper Trap. Roll up a newspaper, secure it with a rubber band, and moisten it. Before going to bed, place the newspaper in areas where silverfish are frequently seen. By morning, the silverfish will have crawled into the newspaper to feed, as it provides both food and warmth. Dispose of the newspaper (do not unroll it) or burn it. Repeat this method until silverfish are no longer present.

• Set multiple traps as needed to capture silverfish throughout your home. Depending on the severity of the infestation, you may need to set traps for several nights in a row.

Use Store-Bought Traps. If you prefer not to use glass jars, you can purchase specialized traps for catching silverfish at hardware stores. Any type of sticky trap will work. You can buy cockroach traps or other small traps and place them around your home to eliminate silverfish. Use breadcrumbs or starchy foods to lure them in.

Sprinkle diatomaceous earth in cabinets and dark corners. This is an additive used to eliminate various insect species. It is made from exposed fossilized materials, with fine, sharp particles that can pierce the skin or outer shells of insects, causing them to die without harming humans or pets.

• Sprinkle the powder in cabinets, along wall corners, and any other places before going to bed. In the morning, use a vacuum to clean up the diatomaceous earth (along with the silverfish).
• Wear a mask while sprinkling the powder, as it may cause lung irritation.

Use boric acid. This naturally occurring substance can kill silverfish as well as their eggs. Sprinkle the powder along wall cracks, under bathtubs, and in areas where you notice signs of silverfish. Since boric acid powder can be harmful to the lungs, take caution when applying it. Avoid sprinkling it in areas where pets may access it.

Purchase a pyrethrin spray. Spray the pesticide along cracks, baseboards, and silverfish hiding places to kill them. Do not use it in kitchens, food storage areas, or places accessible to children and pets, as this substance is toxic.

Sprinkle cedar bark in their habitats. Silverfish dislike the scent of cedar, so you can deter them by spreading cedar bark around their living areas. While cedar bark might make your house look cluttered, sprinkle it outside, in the basement, and in other convenient locations. Clean up and replace the bark weekly.

Place herbal sachets in kitchen cabinets. Silverfish dislike the scent of herbs, so placing sachets filled with cloves, cinnamon, and other fragrant herbs in your kitchen cabinets can be a safe and effective method to prevent them from crawling into your food.

Use an orange and lavender essential oil spray. The scents of orange and lavender are highly effective in repelling silverfish and are also safe for humans. Purchase essential oils of orange and lavender from health food stores. Dilute with water, shake in a spray bottle, and spray in areas where you want to repel silverfish. This method is particularly useful for cabinets, drawers, and bedrooms.

Keep your home dry and well-ventilated. Since silverfish thrive in damp environments, ensuring your home stays dry is a highly effective way to prevent them from returning. Consider using a dehumidifier to reduce moisture in your home. Alternatively, turning on the air conditioning or a fan can help if you don't want to use a dehumidifier.

Seal all cracks and gaps where silverfish may lay eggs. If your home has many dark, damp cracks, sealing them is a good way to prevent silverfish. Use caulk to fill cracks in walls, gaps in flooring, and any small holes in the walls or floors. The kitchen, bathroom, and basement are especially important areas to seal.

Eliminate silverfish food sources. Keep your floors clean and free of food crumbs to reduce their population. Avoid stacking books on the floor, always wash dirty clothes, and don't leave them in one spot for too long. In addition to the primary food sources, consider the following:

• Cardboard boxes: Store boxes on shelves rather than on the floor where they can become damp.
• Food containers: Store food in tightly sealed plastic containers instead of regular boxes.
• Wallpaper: If your wallpaper is old, consider repainting or replacing it with new wallpaper.
• Old clothes: If you're storing old clothes in the basement or a dark closet, place them in plastic bags to prevent silverfish.

Vacuum regularly. Vacuuming helps reduce food sources and removes silverfish eggs from carpets and wall cracks. Vacuum at least once a week. If necessary, sprinkle baking soda on your carpets, leave it for a few hours, then vacuum it up. The baking soda will dry out the eggs, making it easier to vacuum them away.

• Keep your plumbing system tidy to avoid creating a damp environment.
• Silverfish prefer places they consider safe. This means they live in damp, cluttered spaces with plenty of hiding spots and paper. Keeping your home tidy is a great way to discourage silverfish. Regularly organize your belongings to inconvenience the pests.
• Create open spaces. Silverfish might crawl out to forage. Try placing a tempting book on the floor to lure them out. Eliminate them when they appear.
• Check the basement and attic first. Piles of paper and wood are excellent food sources for silverfish.

• Be cautious when using chemicals, as some substances can be harmful to your family and pets if ingested or inhaled. Be sure to read the instructions carefully before use and follow them precisely.