Last update: 05-07-2022 Home & Garden

Silverfish Pest Control - 6 Proven Ways to Get Rid of Silverfish

Silverfish are small insects that often appear in household interiors. They typically live in bathrooms and kitchens, which provide them with perfect conditions of high moisture levels and warmth. One can notice them when picking something up from the ground as they scuttle, glistening with silver color. They don't pose any danger, but aren't pleasant to look at, either. Plus, they multiply rather quickly. Is this your problem as well? Check how to get rid of a silverfish infestation.

What are silverfish, exactly?

Silverfish are nothing else than small household bugs. They appear mostly in places of high humidity. One can spot them in bathrooms and kitchens – usually around the drain.

Silverfish have characteristic elongated bodies. Their color is distinct as well – a bluish grey, which makes them look like fish, hence the name.

Where do silverfish come from?

The presence of silverfish doesn’t mean that a household is dirty. These insects aren’t very demanding as for their diet. They appear whenever they can find traces of food in rooms’ corners. Interestingly enough, they eat even paper and hair. Humidity and high temperature are the most important factors. It’s enough for them to survive.

What do silverfish eat?

Silverfish don’t need anything special to eat. As mentioned, they eat almost any scraps they can find. They can manage if they can find crumbs, paper or organic material (hair, dead skin cells) in a bathroom. But they also love eating:

• sugar,
• scraps of fruits and vegetables,
• rice,
• flour,
• bread crumbs.

Interestingly enough, silverfish can also consume remains of other insects, e.g., pantry moths, and wallpaper paste. Fungi and mold are also their food sources.

Do silverfish bite?

Except from the fact that silverfish are unpleasant to look at, they won’t do any harm to humans. You don’t have to worry that they bite or transmit any diseases – there’s no such danger, in this case. But it doesn’t mean that silverfish are completely harmless. Note that they might pose a threat to home equipment. If a silverfish infestation is big enough, they might not only attack pantry supplies, but also eat, e.g., wallpaper.

Silverfish repellent – cinnamon

Cinnamon is a great help when trying to get rid of silverfish. Its smell makes the insects avoid places where it can be traced. But it doesn’t mean that you have to sprinkle cinnamon all over your house. You can use special essential oils instead.

Cinnamon sticks might be an excellent solution. It’s available in this form in any grocery store. Place a few sticks in the kitchen and the bathroom. This should repel silverfish effectively.

Silverfish and vinegar

Vinegar is a highly universal liquid which can be used for many issues – having a supply of it at home is always recommended. You can use it e.g., to clean the refrigerator and remove the unpleasant scent from it. Vinegar is great against viruses and bacteria – it disinfects surfaces and is safe for allergy sufferers. You can also use it against silverfish.

Are you wondering how to use vinegar to get rid of silverfish? It’s easy. All you need is a spray bottle – pour the substance in it and spray in onto any surface where you spotted a silverfish. Are you not a fan of the acidic smell? You can add a few drops of essential oil to it. We recommend the following scents:

• lavender,
• clove,
• mint,
• cinnamon,
• tea tree.

Baking soda for silverfish

Baking soda is a real dirt killer. You can use this powder on many occasions, e.g., when dealing with a burnt iron or cleaning an oven. But baking soda is also a great help on an everyday basis – for cleaning household interiors.

Just add some baking soda to the water when moping the floors or wiping shelves. You will notice after a few cleaning sessions that the silverfish problem is resolved.

Silverfish traps

Are you dealing with a real silverfish infestation? Do you want to get rid of them before other methods you have already used start working? Just buy special sticky traps. You can find them in any supermarket. They aren’t expensive. Such products usually come in pairs and cost no more than a few dollars.

Chemical silverfish killers

If nothing you have used so far works, it means it’s time to look for chemical products. One can find various pest control remedies that eliminate these insects. Most of them contain permethrin. This substance is also perfect against ants and cockroaches.

Silverfish pest control products are available in different forms. For instance, you can purchase dissolvable powder. But a bug spray is a much more convenient option.

Pest control – the most effective way to get rid of silverfish

Have you not noticed the issue in time, and now you’re dealing with a full-scale silverfish infestation? Do you want to get rid of it fast? Pest control is the best option, in this case. You can’t do it yourself, though. You need to hire pest control specialists.

Are you wondering if it’s an expensive service? Everything depends on the size of your house or apartment. Such a service usually costs about $150.