how to get rid of silverfish

June 27, 2026

Here’s a practical, home-safe guide on how to get rid of silverfish and keep them from coming back, plus a bit of what people are saying in recent online discussions.

Quick Scoop

Silverfish love dark, humid, cluttered places with paper, cardboard, and starchy crumbs.

You beat them with a combo of cleaning, drying the air, blocking entry, and targeted traps or powders.

If you see lots of them regularly, it may be time for professional pest control.

Step 1: Find Their Hangouts

Look for them at night or when you suddenly flick on a light.

Common spots:

Bathrooms (under sinks, behind toilets, around baseboards).

Kitchens and pantries (cupboards, behind appliances, food storage areas).

Basements, attics, closets, and bookshelves.

Cardboard boxes, piles of paper, old clothes, wallpaper edges.

Signs (even if you don’t see them):

Tiny holes or nibbled edges in paper, cardboard, wallpaper, books, and clothes.

Little pepper-like droppings, shed skins, and scales.

Step 2: Clean, Dry, and Declutter

Silverfish thrive where it’s damp and cluttered, so you make the environment hostile first.

Reduce moisture

Run a dehumidifier in damp rooms and keep humidity around 60% or lower if possible.

Fix leaks under sinks, around pipes, and near bathtubs or toilets.

Improve ventilation in bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms (fans, open windows when safe).

Clean and declutter

Vacuum frequently, especially along baseboards, under furniture, and in closets and storage areas.

Get rid of stacks of cardboard, old newspapers, paper bags, and unneeded boxes.

Store documents, books, and keepsakes in sealed plastic bins instead of damp cardboard.

Wash and fully dry clothes and linens before storing; use airtight containers or garment bags for seasonal items.

Protect food and fabrics

Keep dry foods in sealed containers (glass or hard plastic) instead of opened bags.

Keep pet food sealed and clean up spills quickly.

Step 3: Use Safe Traps and Natural Methods

These are good first-line options if you want to avoid heavy chemicals, especially where kids or pets are around. Always keep anything potentially harmful out of reach of children and animals.

Simple traps

Homemade jar trap: Put flour, cereal, or dry pet food in a glass jar, wrap the outside with tape so they can climb up, and leave the inside smooth so they can’t escape.

Rolled, damp newspaper: Roll up a slightly wet newspaper and leave it overnight; silverfish crawl in to hide, then you discard or destroy the newspaper after a couple of days.

Sticky traps: Place glue traps along walls, behind toilets, near baseboards, and in cupboards where you’ve seen activity.

Powders and desiccants

Diatomaceous earth (DE): Lightly dust cracks, baseboards, and hidden crevices; it damages their exoskeleton and dehydrates them.

Borax or boric acid: A thin layer in hidden areas (behind appliances, under cabinets, in wall voids) can kill silverfish over time.

* Avoid using these where children or pets might touch or ingest them.

Strong smells they dislike

Cedar or cedar oil: Use cedar blocks in closets or dilute cedar essential oil with water in a spray bottle for shelves and corners.

Dried bay leaves, cloves, cucumber peels, or similar smell-based repellents: Place near problem areas like bookshelves or in cupboards (they repel, but may not kill).

Step 4: Seal and Prevent Reinfestation

Once you’ve knocked down the current population, prevention keeps them from coming back.

Seal cracks and gaps with caulk around baseboards, window frames, and door frames where bugs could slip in or hide.

Repair torn window screens and door sweeps to cut off entry points.

Keep storage off basement floors; use shelves and sealed bins.

Maintain regular cleaning and dehumidifying instead of one-time efforts.

When and How to Use Insecticides

Many recent guides still recommend insecticides, but they’re usually a later step after cleaning and moisture control.

If you choose to use them:

Look for products labeled for silverfish, such as sprays with bifenthrin or baits with boric acid.

Apply in cracks and crevices, along baseboards, behind appliances, and other out-of-reach harborages, not across large exposed surfaces.

Always follow the product label exactly, and avoid using in areas accessible to kids, pets, or food.

Call a professional if:

You keep seeing many silverfish even after weeks of traps, cleaning, and moisture control.

You’re noticing significant damage to books, clothes, wallpaper, or stored items.

Forum and “Latest” Discussion Flavor

Recent forum threads and comment sections have a mix of serious advice and joking responses about silverfish.

Some recurring themes:

Younger people in shared housing or dorms feeling freaked out and asking for low-cost, low-chemical fixes like baking soda, basic traps, and cleaning strategies.

Joking “gamer” style replies about “breaking the spawner” or “raiding” the silverfish, mixed with more practical replies recommending dehumidifiers and borax/DE.

A growing trend toward integrated pest management: combining moisture control, sealing gaps, targeted baits or powders, and only using sprays where really needed.

HTML Table: Key Methods at a Glance

Below is an HTML table summarizing practical options:

html

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Method</th>
      <th>What It Does</th>
      <th>Where to Use</th>
      <th>Safe For Homes With Kids/Pets?</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>Dehumidifier & fixing leaks</td>
      <td>Reduces moisture silverfish need to survive.[web:7][web:9][web:10]</td>
      <td>Bathrooms, basements, kitchens, laundry rooms.[web:1][web:7][web:9]</td>
      <td>Yes, very safe when used normally.[web:7][web:9]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Decluttering & sealed storage</td>
      <td>Removes hiding places and starchy food sources.[web:1][web:3][web:7][web:9]</td>
      <td>Closets, attics, basements, bookshelves, storage rooms.[web:3][web:9]</td>
      <td>Yes.[web:1][web:3]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Homemade jar or newspaper traps</td>
      <td>Lure and trap silverfish for disposal.[web:3][web:7]</td>
      <td>Anywhere you see activity, especially at night.[web:3][web:7]</td>
      <td>Generally safe, but still keep out of reach of young children.[web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Sticky traps</td>
      <td>Catches roaming silverfish on contact.[web:1][web:3][web:7]</td>
      <td>Along walls, behind toilets, near baseboards and cupboards.[web:3][web:7]</td>
      <td>Usually safe if placed where kids/pets cannot touch.[web:3][web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Diatomaceous earth</td>
      <td>Scratches exoskeleton, causing dehydration and death.[web:1][web:3]</td>
      <td>Cracks, crevices, behind appliances, along baseboards.[web:1][web:3]</td>
      <td>Use carefully; avoid inhalation and keep away from kids/pets.[web:3]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Borax or boric acid baits/powders</td>
      <td>Ingested poison that kills silverfish over time.[web:3][web:5]</td>
      <td>Hidden areas and voids, not open floors or food surfaces.[web:3][web:5]</td>
      <td>Must be kept away from children and animals.[web:3][web:5][web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Cedar oil, bay leaves, cloves</td>
      <td>Repel silverfish with strong scents.[web:3][web:7][web:9]</td>
      <td>Closets, drawers, cupboards, bookshelves.[web:3][web:9]</td>
      <td>Generally safe; watch for allergies to strong scents.[web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Caulking and sealing gaps</td>
      <td>Blocks entry points and hiding spots.[web:1][web:7][web:9]</td>
      <td>Baseboards, window and door frames, wall cracks.[web:1][web:9]</td>
      <td>Yes.[web:1][web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Professional pest control</td>
      <td>Full inspection plus targeted treatments for severe infestations.[web:3][web:6][web:10]</td>
      <td>Whole home, especially if DIY methods fail.[web:3][web:6]</td>
      <td>Professionals tailor treatment to your household’s safety needs.[web:6][web:10]</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

Meta description (SEO-style):
Learn how to get rid of silverfish with today’s most recommended methods: moisture control, decluttering, traps, natural repellents, and targeted treatments, plus what recent forum discussions and guides are saying.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.