How to get rid of silverfish naturally

Key steps

• Always seal up dry foods such as cereal and flour.

• Have a clear out of old newspapers and magazines.

• Use a dehumidifier.

• Take care of leaky pipes.

• Fix wall cracks.

• Invest in silverfish traps, taking care if you have children or pets.

• Use diatomaceous earth to remove silverfish.

Silverfish are not dangerous or dirty pests but they do nibble away at your interior and furnishings. Plus, they are not pleasant or attractive houseguests to have in your bathroom or under your sink! This guide will offer tips on how to get rid of silverfish naturally and how to prevent them coming back.

Silverfish need a damp, humid environment with food sources to survive. Before using traps or poison, make your home inhospitable to the critters as a natural way to get rid of silverfish.

What causes silverfish to move in with you?

Found silverfish in house corners? Don’t panic. There are some simple explanations as to how these pests get into your house. Once you understand the causes, you can take steps to get rid of them:

• Silverfish need food and water to survive. If they know they can get this in your house, they’ll set up home.

• Dark, damp areas like under the sink are the perfect habitat for these bugs.

• Silverfish can be brought in on paper, books and more.

How to get rid of silverfish

If you’ve found silverfish in bathroom areas or your kitchen, use these top tips to rid yourself of these bugs as part of your own in-house pest control:

1.  Always ensure you seal up food. This is especially important for dry ingredients such as pasta, cereal, flour and more as these are tempting food sources for silverfish.  

2. Reduce humidity within your home. Silverfish survive best in damp, humid environments. There are a few steps you can take to make your home a less appealing environment:

• Using a dehumidifier

• Always take care of leaky pipes

• Fixing cracks in walls, especially exterior walls which allow the weather in!

• Always keep gutters clear

3. Remove their favourite food and hiding spots. Old papers, magazines and even bookshelves are the ideal habitat and food source for silverfish. If you have things you don’t use and no longer need, have a clear out! This is particularly important for items stored in your loft or basement.

4. Use diatomaceous earth (DE) to get rid of silverfish. If you already have an infestation in your home, you will need to be able to get rid of them. Sprinkle DE around baseboards, cupboards ad other spots you’ve seen the silverfish. When silverfish come into contact with the DE it destroys their outer waxy coating, thus leading to their death – so it’s not a gentle way of getting rid of silverfish in houses.

5. Invest in some traps. If you’re looking for a quick and easy fix to your silverfish problem, traps could do the trick. You can buy specialised traps which are designed to trap and poison the silverfish. Simply hide them in places you have seen the silverfish – in bathroom areas and the kitchen, most likely. Always take care when using these traps, however, as they are toxic when swallowed so must be kept out of reach of pets and children and away from your food storage.

With these five top tips and tricks, you can be sure to remove silverfish in your house quickly and easily. However, silverfish aren't the only bugs you may need to remove from your home. Find out how to rid yourself of bedbugs too.