Silverfish, although harmless, are one of those creepy-crawly bugs that no one wants in their house. Hiding in dark, damp places silverfish feed on paper products such as books as well as dead skin cells and other starchy products. Here are five ways to get rid of these pesky bugs and to prevent them from infesting your home.
1. Glass Container Trap
Wrap masking tape around a glass jar or container and place it in an area of your home where you suspect silverfish are residing. Place something starchy inside the container and leave it out during the night. When the silverfish come out they will climb into the container for the starchy substance but they won’t be able to climb out.
2. Newspaper Trap
If you don’t want to use some of your glassware to catch bugs, you can use newspaper instead. Roll up a newspaper and tie rubber bands on the ends to keep it rolled up. Dampen the newspaper and place it in the area where the silverfish are. At night the bugs will come out and will burrow into the dark and damp newspaper. Throw the newspaper away or burn it the next day to rid yourself of these troublesome insects.
3. Store Bought Traps
If you don’t want to go through the trouble of setting up your own traps there are plenty you can buy at the store. Any sticky trap will work and “roach motels” are a great way to trap silverfish. Just place a piece of a starchy substance, like bread, in the trap to lure the silverfish in. Continue to use these traps until the silverfish are gone from your house.
4. Use Citrus Spray
Silverfish do not like the smell of citrus and this is a great way to repel the bugs. Since citrus is not toxic to humans you can spray this throughout your house. It’s best to focus on dark and damp places such as crevices, bathrooms, basements, attics, etc…
5. Cedar Shavings
Sprinkle cedar shavings wherever they live, and this will effectively deter silverfish from entering your house. Because these shavings are quite messy it’s best to use them around the outsides of your house and your basement/attic – pretty much wherever you don’t mind having the shavings. Vacuum them up after about a week or so and repeat until the silverfish are gone.
Eliminating silverfish from your house is a great first step, and the next step is preventing them from getting into your house. By dehumidifying your house, caulking all cracks and crevices, and vacuuming your house often are all solid ways of preventing these bugs from entering your home. For more information, contact your local pest control management.
