How To Get Rid Of Silverfish
Getting rid of silverfish on your own is possible, but it requires persistence, attention to detail, and a combination of sanitation, environmental changes, and targeted treatments. Here’s a step-by-step approach for home or business owners to get rid of silverfish:
Reduce Humidity
Silverfish thrive in damp environments, so controlling moisture is critical.
Use dehumidifiers: Keep indoor humidity below 50%.
Ventilate: Ensure bathrooms, kitchens, basements, and attics have proper ventilation.
Fix leaks: Repair leaky pipes, faucets, and roofs to reduce moisture accumulation.
Seal condensation areas: Insulate cold water pipes to prevent water buildup.
Remove Food Sources
Silverfish feed on starches, sugars, and organic material.
Store dry goods properly: Keep cereals, flour, rice, and pet food in airtight containers.
Declutter paper and cardboard: Silverfish feed on books, magazines, wallpaper paste, and cardboard boxes. Store items in plastic bins instead of cardboard.
Clean regularly: Vacuum carpets, baseboards, and corners where dust, hair, and crumbs accumulate.
Seal Entry Points
Prevent silverfish from entering or moving freely.
Seal cracks and crevices: Use caulk to seal gaps around baseboards, windows, doors, and pipes.
Repair screens: Ensure window and vent screens are intact.
Set Up Traps
Traps can monitor and reduce silverfish populations.
DIY traps: Wrap a piece of bread in tape (sticky side out) or use jar traps with a starchy bait (like flour or sugar) and petroleum jelly inside to trap them.
Commercial traps: There are pheromone- or sticky-based traps designed specifically for silverfish.
Use Natural or Chemical Treatments
Depending on comfort with chemicals, there are several options:
Natural Options:
Diatomaceous earth (food grade): Sprinkle along baseboards, under sinks, and in cracks. It’s abrasive to the silverfish’s exoskeleton and dehydrates them.
Boric acid: Apply a thin layer in hidden areas. Toxic if ingested by pets or children, so use with caution.
Essential oils: Lavender, cedar, or citrus oils may repel silverfish, though they aren’t a full solution.
Chemical Options:
Insecticides: Products containing pyrethroids or cyfluthrin can be applied to baseboards, behind furniture, and in dark corners.
Residual sprays: Target areas where silverfish hide, like cracks and wall voids.
Maintain a Long-Term Strategy
Silverfish infestations often recur if conditions remain favorable.
Keep humidity low and ventilation high.
Continue regular cleaning and decluttering.
Rotate traps or reapply treatments as needed.
Inspect periodically for early signs of return.
Silverfish reproduce slowly but can live for years, so eradication may take several weeks. Heavy infestations may require professional pest control for faster and more thorough elimination, especially in commercial spaces where sensitive products or structural concerns exist.
The Best Way To Get Rid Of Silverfish
Our professional pest control is the most effective way to eliminate silverfish for several reasons. While DIY methods can reduce numbers, silverfish are notoriously persistent and can hide in tiny cracks, crevices, and behind walls, making them difficult to fully eradicate without expert intervention. Here’s why hiring our professionals is the best approach:
Expert Knowledge of Silverfish Behavior
Our professionals understand the habits, feeding patterns, and preferred hiding spots of silverfish.
We can identify areas that homeowners often miss, such as attics, crawl spaces, wall voids, and behind baseboards.
This ensures treatments target the root of the infestation, not just the visible insects.
Access to Advanced Treatments
Our professional exterminators use more effective, long-lasting insecticides and baits that are not available to the general public.
We can apply residual sprays and dusts in hidden areas where silverfish hide, ensuring lasting results.
Some treatments are formulated to penetrate cracks, behind walls, or under flooring—areas typically unreachable by DIY methods.
Comprehensive Inspection
Our professionals conduct a thorough inspection to determine the extent of infestation.
We identify contributing factors, such as moisture sources, leaks, or structural issues, which may be sustaining the population.
This allows for a more strategic, integrated approach rather than simply spraying chemicals.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Approach
Our experts don’t just kill insects—we implement a multi-pronged strategy: moisture control, habitat modification, exclusion techniques (sealing entry points), and targeted treatments.
This reduces the risk of recurrence and provides long-term prevention.
Time and Safety Efficiency
DIY attempts often involve repeated treatments, trial-and-error, and ongoing monitoring, which can be time-consuming and frustrating.
Our professionals minimize exposure to potentially hazardous chemicals and know how to apply them safely, particularly around children, pets, and sensitive areas like kitchens or offices.
Guaranteed Results
We provide ongoing services visits and guarantees to ensure the infestation is completely eradicated.
Without our professional intervention, silverfish can survive for months in hidden areas, gradually rebuilding the population despite repeated DIY efforts.
Our professional pest control is the best solution because it combines expert knowledge, safe and effective treatments, thorough inspection, and a strategic long-term plan. DIY methods may reduce silverfish temporarily, but our professionals are far more likely to achieve complete eradication and prevent reinfestation.