How to Get Rid of Silverfish at Home

Silverfish: the freeloaders of the bug world. They don’t bite, they don’t spread disease, and they’re not plotting to overthrow humanity… but they are gross.

And if you’ve ever seen one dart across the bathroom floor at midnight, you know it’s basically a mini heart attack.

The good news? You don’t need to live in fear of these scaly speed-demons. With the right tricks, you can kick them out of your home for good. Let’s dive in.

Disclosure: As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

1. Find Their Hangouts

Before you go all Rambo on silverfish, you need to know where they live. Spoiler: they’re not chilling on your couch binge-watching Netflix.

Damp, dark spots are their jam. Think basements, bathrooms, attics, and laundry rooms.
They also love paper, glue, and fabrics. Translation: your books, wallpaper, and old clothes in storage are a silverfish buffet.

Once you know their hotspots, you can actually target the problem instead of randomly spraying Raid like a maniac.

2. Declutter Their Buffet

Silverfish are basically little librarians gone rogue. They adore paper, cardboard, and fabric. So if your storage room looks like a paper recycling center, you’ve basically rolled out a welcome mat.

Store books, documents, and fabrics in plastic containers, not cardboard boxes.
Toss out old newspapers and junk mail. (Let’s be honest, you weren’t going to read them anyway.)
Vacuum closets, storage bins, and bookshelves regularly.

Less clutter = fewer hiding spots = fewer bugs. Simple math.

3. Control Moisture (Their Favorite Cocktail)

If silverfish could write Yelp reviews, they’d give 5 stars to your damp bathroom. These critters thrive in humidity. Kill the moisture, kill their vibe.

Run a dehumidifier in damp rooms.
Use fans or crack windows in bathrooms and basements.
Fix leaky pipes or faucets—nothing says “welcome” to silverfish like a constant drip.

Pro tip: Keep humidity below 50%. Anything higher and you’re basically hosting a bug spa.

4. Sprinkle Some Diatomaceous Earth (Bug Kryptonite)

This powder looks harmless, but to silverfish it’s like walking on broken glass. It dries them out, and boom—game over.

Sprinkle food-grade diatomaceous earth (DE) in corners, under appliances, and along baseboards.
Leave it for a few days, then vacuum it up.
Repeat until you don’t see the little monsters anymore.

FYI: DE is safe for humans and pets (as long as you don’t go inhaling clouds of it). Cheap, effective, and oddly satisfying.

5. Bust Out the Boric Acid

If you want something stronger, boric acid is your friend. It kills silverfish when they crawl through it or ingest it.

Lightly dust boric acid in cracks, crevices, and under sinks.
Keep it away from kids and pets—it’s not that friendly.

IMO, boric acid is like the “final boss” of silverfish removal. When DE and cleaning don’t cut it, this will.

6. Try Homemade Traps

Want to get crafty? Silverfish traps are stupidly simple.

Jar trap: Wrap a glass jar in masking tape (so they can climb in). Put a piece of bread inside. They crawl in for a snack but can’t get back out because glass = slippery doom.
Paper trap: Roll up a damp newspaper, secure it with a rubber band, and leave it out overnight. In the morning, throw the whole thing (and the freeloaders inside) straight in the trash.

Low-tech, but effective.

7. Natural Repellents (Smell Them Away)

If you’re not into chemicals, silverfish hate certain natural scents.

Cedar oil and cedar blocks = silverfish repellents. Stick them in closets and drawers.
Lavender and citrus oils also keep them away. Mix with water, spray in affected areas.
Dried bay leaves in cupboards? Works surprisingly well.

Does it smell like your grandma’s pantry? Maybe. But hey, better than silverfish.

8. Seal the Entry Points

Even if you murder every silverfish in sight, more can still sneak in if your home is basically an open-door policy.

Seal cracks in walls, baseboards, and flooring.
Caulk around plumbing where pipes meet walls.
Install door sweeps and fix window screens.

Think of it like bug-proofing your home. No gaps, no guests.

9. Call the Pros (If All Else Fails)

Let’s be real—sometimes the infestation is beyond DIY. If you’ve tried everything and you’re still seeing silverfish sprinting around like it’s the Olympics, it’s time to call pest control.

Pros have stronger treatments (and no, you can’t just buy their secret sauce at the store).
They’ll find hidden nests you didn’t even know existed.
It’s usually cheaper in the long run than buying endless sprays and traps.

Quick Recap

Find where they hide (damp + dark = bug party).
Declutter their food supply.
Fix leaks and humidity.
Use DE or boric acid for the heavy lifting.
Homemade traps are cheap and effective.
Repel naturally with cedar, lavender, or citrus.
Seal entry points so they can’t come back.
Call the pros if DIY isn’t cutting it.

Final Thoughts

Silverfish are annoying, but they’re not invincible. Honestly, half the battle is just making your home less of a 5-star resort for them. Cut the moisture, clean up the clutter, and add a little bug kryptonite, and you’ll win this fight.

The best part? Once you’ve taken care of them, you’ll sleep way better knowing nothing scaly and lightning-fast is scurrying under your bed at 2 a.m. 🙂

David

I’ve spent 10+ years in dog training, digging into what makes dogs (and their humans) tick. At Smart Dog Learning, I share my no-nonsense, fun approach to training so you can enjoy life with a well-behaved, happy pup—no boring lectures, just practical results 😉