5 Tips to Get Rid of Silverfish at Home

by Lisa Header Writer

Silverfish infestation is a pretty common problem in the humid weather of London. They usually thrive in dark and humid conditions such as the bathtub, under the sinks, bathroom corners and other similar places.

In general, silverfish are harmless when in small numbers. They are usually food for spiders and other predatory insects and can be considered as part of a balanced insect ecosystem every house has. And in most cases you don’t even see them. However, if your place provides the favourable conditions they need to live, the small numbers of silverfish can become a harmful infestation. If this is the case with you then keep on reading the 5 top tips to get rid of silverfish.

1. Get humidity in control

Silverfish love high humidity so it’s a good idea to lower the levels a bit. Wipe dry the bathroom after every shower and leave the window or door open for quicker disperse of the steam. Keep the dark corners of your home dry. And don’t forget to fix any leaks from pipes and drains.

2. Seal up any food

You don’t want to wake up to an open pack of cereal full of silverfish. The best thing you can do is to cut their food source by sealing your dry food in airtight containers. Don’t forget to do this with your pet’s food as well.

3. Get rid of clutter

Clean up all the clutter at home, especially papers, magazines and books. Silverfish love to hide between the paper sheets especially if they are put in a humid place such as the restroom (yes, some of us read the newspapers in the restrooms). If you tend to pile up lots of papers or paper bags at your place, make sure to clear them up at least once a week.

4. Use cedar or cedar oils

Silverfish hate the distinct strong smell of cedar. You can make up your own spray using water and cedar oils then spray it throughout the house or use a diffuser to spread it around.

5. Get professional help

If you have tried numerous ways to remove the unwanted guest infestation unsuccessfully then it might be time to get some professional help. There are quite a number of pest companies providing silverfish control in London with teams of experienced professional insect exterminators who know how to deal with any type of infestation.

In general, getting rid of silverfish is not so hard if you follow a few rules of keeping your home dry and tidy, and your food properly stored. Although this small silver insect is pretty harmless when it doesn't have a large family, it may quickly become an infestation if it finds the proper conditions to thrive. And if their numbers grow then they may start damaging your home.