Silverfish in Your Home? Here's How to Get Rid of Them for Good

Silverfish are household pests with scaly, silver bodies. They thrive in moist, humid places, so you'll likely spot them in the bathroom, kitchen, or basement. While silverfish are harmless to humans and play an essential role in the ecosystem as decomposers and seed dispersers, they can destroy books, old papers, wallpaper, carpets, furniture, and clothes. An indoor silverfish infestation can also indicate an underlying moisture problem.

Learn what silverfish are, what conditions attract them, plus how to get rid of them and keep them from returning.

What Are Silverfish?

Silverfish (Lepisma saccharina) are small, wingless, nocturnal insects. They are not fish, but their name comes from their silver color and their wiggling movements that resemble those of a swimming fish. They have tapered tails, antennae, and fish-like scales. Although they lack wings, silverfish are extremely fast in order to survive. Spiders, centipedes, and earwigs are natural predators of silverfish.

While silverfish are typically harmless to humans, they can destroy books by feeding on protein-rich gums and binding pastes. They can also damage clothing and food items. Signs of a silverfish infestation include droppings that resemble tiny black pellets and shed scales. Also watch out for yellow stains on paper and clothing.

What Attracts Silverfish?

Like most household pests, silverfish thrive in the moist, humid environments of basements, bathrooms, kitchens, laundry spaces, and attics. These dark, damp areas in your home are ideal for silverfish to lay eggs. Silverfish are also attracted to food sources rich in carbs and proteins, such as paper, cardboard, paint, fabric, and furniture.

There are several natural and chemical ways to get rid of silverfish, try these before calling an exterminator.

Control Humidity Levels

Since silverfish are attracted to moist, humid environments, reducing your home's humidity level to below 60% can help eliminate them. Consider using a dehumidifier in high-humidity areas.

Use Store-Bought Traps

Use store-bought sticky traps to remove silverfish. Once the insects crawl onto the tape and get stuck, you can safely dispose of them. Or create a DIY trap by wrapping the outside of a glass jar with textured adhesive tape, then putting starchy food inside to bait bugs. The textured surface will allow them to climb into the jar easily. The smooth inside surface prevents them from crawling back out.

Alternatively, roll up a wet newspaper and place it in a silverfish-prone space. It will provide the ideal environment for silverfish to crawl in and make a home. After a day or two, dispose of the newspaper in a closed garbage bin or burn it.

Turn to Natural Repellents

The pungent scents of essential oils like peppermint, tea tree, and cedar help naturally repel silverfish. They disrupt silverfish pheromones, preventing egg-laying adults from settling into your home. Apply the oil directly onto the surface, use a spray bottle with water and a few drops of the oil, or add the oils into floor cleaning solutions. You can even use oil diffusers in silverfish-prone areas to keep them away year-round. Bay leaves, cinnamon, citrus fruits, cucumber peels, and dried cloves also repel these insects. Create breathable sachets to strategically place around their hotspots.

Use Insecticides

There are several insecticides specifically formulated to kill silverfish. Always follow the label instructions carefully and use caution around children and pets. You can try insecticide dusts such as diatomaceous earth, boric acid, and amorphous silica gel in rarely used areas, such as attics, basements, and crawl spaces. You can also spray the dust into cracks.

If you’ll be away for a while, try a combination of insecticides. Use residual sprays like propoxur, chlorpyrifos, and bendiocarb, followed by pyrethrins. The residual sprays can protect your house for up to 45 days, while the pyrethrins, which are short-contact sprays, will irritate the bugs and send them into the residual spray. For placement, focus on cracks where you often see the bugs.

Opt for Professional Pest Control

If earlier attempts are unsuccessful, hire a pest management professional. They will use a suitable method to eliminate the silverfish already inside and prevent new ones from appearing later.

How to Keep Silverfish from Coming Back

Dehumidifiers and fans can help maintain optimal humidity levels, creating an environment that is unwelcoming to silverfish. Fix leaks and plumbing issues that may cause damp indoor conditions. Properly store all dry food, preferably in airtight containers, to keep it moisture-free. Declutter the inside and outside of your home, and regularly vacuum and dust. To stop silverfish from accessing your home, use caulk to seal all possible entry points, including cracks and crevices around windows, doors, and walls. These measures should keep silverfish from coming back.