Silverfish are those little, silvery, fish-like bugs that wiggle through your home, especially in damp spots like bathrooms, basements, or under sinks. They don’t bite you but they will munch on your books, wallpaper, clothes, and even food boxes. If you’re seeing signs like holes in books, tiny scales, or droppings, it’s time to act fast.
Here’s how to get rid of silverfish and, more importantly, make sure they don’t come crawling back without spending your weekend on endless DIY trials.
1. Shutting Down Their Wet Hideouts
Silverfish love humidity and feed off damp environments. To starve them out and make your home less inviting:
- Use dehumidifiers in the bathroom, basement, and anywhere it feels clammy.
- Fix leaks immediately under sinks, around bathtubs, or from leaky pipes.
- Improve airflow by running bathroom and kitchen fans, keeping vents open, and cracking a window when possible.
2. Cut Off Their Food Supply
Silverfish are opportunists and will nibble on anything starchy or paper-based, such as books, magazines, wallpaper glue, cardboard boxes, or some fabrics.
- Declutter and remove old papers, magazines, or cardboard lying around.
- Store papers, books, and fabrics in sealed plastic bins instead of cardboard.
- Keep pantry foods like flour, grains, or pet food in airtight containers.
3. Seal the Cracks and Gaps
Silverfish sneak in through the tiniest cracks around plumbing, baseboards, vents, and wall seams.
- Caulk gaps and cracks around floors, windows, and pipes.
- Add weather-stripping to doors and windows to keep them out for good.
4. Clean and Trap
Silverfish hide in dark, undisturbed areas. Cleaning is your first line of offense:
- Vacuum regularly, especially in corners, crevices, and under furniture, to remove food, eggs, and any hidden silverfish.
- DIY trapping trick! Place small glass jars wrapped in tape outside in infested areas. Silverfish climb the tape but cannot escape the smooth glass.
5. Natural and Safe DIY Sprinkles (When You Must)
While not a long-term fix, some gentle, non-professional methods can help reduce visible numbers, but they’re temporary and not enough on their own.
- Diatomaceous earth is a natural dust that dehydrates silverfish when sprinkled along baseboards. It is pet- and human-safe, but avoid breathing it in.
- Boric acid is effective in dry, undisturbed spaces and has low toxicity if used carefully.
- Home remedies like citrus sprays, lavender oil, or cucumber peels can deter them short-term, but won’t eliminate an infestation.
6. Why Pest Control Help Makes the Difference
Silverfish are tough. They live long, reproduce fast, and hide in places you can’t easily reach, such as wall voids, attics, or behind baseboards.
DIY methods can reduce numbers, but won’t likely get rid of them completely or prevent them from returning. A pest professional will:
- Inspect your home thoroughly, including hidden areas.
- Target treatments precisely using proven, safe methods.
- Offer follow-up to make sure reinfestation doesn’t happen.
- Work with you to close moisture and access points for good.
Get Rid of Silverfish For Good with Phantom Pest Control
Silverfish thrive in humid, cluttered places where they can munch on starchy materials. By reducing moisture, sealing entry points, decluttering, cleaning thoroughly, and using traps or safe powders, you can help control them, but often not fully eliminate them.
That’s where Phantom Pest Control comes in. We understand the unique challenges of Vancouver homes and bring lasting solutions, not temporary fixes.
Phantom Pest Control offers expert silverfish control in Vancouver, Burnaby, North Vancouver, and Maple Ridge. Let us handle the hard work so you can stop worrying about creepy-crawlies and enjoy your home pest-free.
