Silverfish (Lepisma saccharina) are harmless, but it is not very pleasant to have them in the house. They feed on books, dead skin and other starchy materials, and proliferate in damp and dark environments. When you find that you have an infestation, you can get rid of it with traps, repellents, and making your home less hospitable. Read on to learn how to get rid of silverfish.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Using the Traps
Step 1. Find out where they are hiding
Since silverfish are nocturnal creatures, you cannot see them during the day. You can realize their presence for what they leave behind. In the dark, damp areas of the house, look for their droppings which are similar to black peppercorns. Check for small holes with yellowish stains on your clothes, but also on the wallpaper, cereal box and any paper or fabric items. Finally, silverfish shed their skin, and so you can find them in the bathroom, basement, and other areas where they might live.
Step 2. Make some handcrafted glass traps
Get liter jars or other glass containers. Wrap the outside of the jar with masking tape. Place a piece of bread on the bottom and leave it in an area where you suspect bugs are present. The silverfish will scramble to get the bread, but once inside they won't be able to get out, as the glass is too slippery.
Set the traps at night when the silverfish come out to feed
Step 3. Use newspaper traps
Roll up a newspaper and secure the ends with rubber bands. Then wet it. Put it where you think bugs live before you go to bed. In the morning, the silverfish will have bitten the newspaper to take refuge inside it, as you have provided them with food and a suitable environment. Throw away the newspaper (without unrolling it) or burn it. Repeat this process every night until you no longer see any traces of these insects.
Set up as many traps as necessary to disinfect the house. Based on the number of insects, it will take several consecutive nights
Step 4. Use commercial traps
If you don't want silverfish to touch your items, you can buy traps at DIY or gardening stores. Any kind of sticky trap is fine. Take some roach or other smaller traps and disseminate them at strategic points. Use bread or another type of starch as bait.
Part 2 of 3: Using Repellents and Insecticides
Step 1. Dust the closet and other risk areas with diatomaceous earth
It is actually an organic powder and is used to kill any crawling insect. It is a fossil material, harmless to people and pets, but the sharp edges of the grains that compose it pierce the insects' exoskeletons and kill them.
- Dust this substance in closets, in the basement, along the foundation and wherever you see fit, before going to bed. In the morning, vacuum to remove it (hopefully with silverfish inside).
- Wear a mask when spreading diatomaceous earth as it is irritating to the lungs.
Step 2. Try boric acid
This is also a natural substance and kills insects and eggs. Sprinkle it along the foundation, under the bathtub, or in other areas where you have noticed signs of the presence of bugs. Be careful not to inhale boric acid as it is toxic to the lungs. Do not use it in places frequented by your pets.
Step 3. Buy a spray that contains liquid pyrethrin
This chemical kills silverfish when sprayed on foundations, crevices and insect hiding places. Do not spray it in the kitchen and cupboards and in any case not near food. Do not use it in places frequented by children and pets, as it is harmful.
Step 4. Put some cedar peel in the places where they live
Silverfish hate the smell of cedar and therefore you can use it as a repellent. Since the peels get a little dirty, you may want to use this method outside the house, in the basement and in places where you don't care to have visible cedar peels. Vacuum and replace the peels every week.
Step 5. In the kitchen and in the cupboards, use scented sachets with spices
Silverfish don't like these fragrances, so make bags of cloves, cinnamon, or other strong-smelling spices and put them in places where it's not safe to use chemicals.
Step 6. Use a citrus and lavender spray
Both of these essences are unwelcome to silverfish and are completely harmless to humans. Buy lemon or lavender essential oil at a herbalist's shop. Dilute it with water and put it in a spray bottle. Spray the mixture where you think bugs are hiding. This remedy is great for closets, drawers and the bedroom.
Part 3 of 3: Preventing Recurrence
Step 1. Dehumidify the house
Silverfish like humid environments, so a dry home will discourage them. Buy a dehumidifier and try to reduce the percentage of humidity by at least a quarter. If you don't want to buy a dehumidifier, turn on the air conditioning or, at least, a fan.
Step 2. Seal any crevices and crevices where they may have spawned
If you have a house full of dark and damp crevices, you absolutely must close them if you want to avoid another infestation. Buy some sealant and apply it along baseboards, in cracks, holes in the wall and floor. Pay special attention to the kitchen, bathroom and basement.
Step 3. Remove food sources
A clean floor with no food available helps you control the silverfish population. Don't leave books stacked on the floor and clean up often before dirt builds up. In addition to these precautions, consider the following food sources that may be in your home:
- Cardboard boxes: Don't leave them on the floor, but lift them up on shelves or racks. Moisture is less likely to build up.
- Food containers: Use airtight and plastic ones rather than cardboard ones.
- Wallpaper: If the one you have is old, consider replacing it with whitewashed walls or new paper.
- Old Clothes: If you store your old out of fashion clothes in a dark basement closet, consider putting them in plastic bags.
Step 4. Use the vacuum cleaner often
This will eliminate the food available to the silverfish, as well as remove their eggs from carpets and baseboards. Go through it at least once a week. If necessary, you can dehumidify the carpets by sprinkling them with baking soda. Vacuum it after a couple of hours. This dries the eggs so that you can remove them.
wikiHow Video: How to Get Rid of Silverfish
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Advice
- Keep your plumbing in good repair to avoid creating a favorable environment for these insects.
- Check the basement and attic first. The insulation materials used in these two areas are a great food source for these insects.
