11 Natural Ways to Get Rid of Silverfish Bugs [Step by Step Process]
Silverfishes are small insects that are usually found inside the home in moist areas like kitchens, bathrooms, and attics. While silverfishes don’t bite people, they may create holes in household items like upholstery, carpets, clothes, and books.
They can also leave behind fecal matter and dead skin causing excess dust and debris in your home. Such debris can cause allergies in some people as well.
Therefore, it is very important to get rid of them if there is an infestation. In this article, we have described effective natural methods that you can use for getting rid of silverfish bugs naturally.
How To Get Rid of Silverfish Bugs Naturally?
Below are 11 effective natural ways to get rid of silverfish bugs. These methods include homemade silverfish bug spray, Homemade silverfish bug trap, and several other natural remedies to kill and deter silverfish bugs naturally.
1. Boric acid
Boric acid is a great way to permanently remove silverfishes from your home.
Boric powder is toxic to several insects including silverfish, so when they come in contact with the powder, they die.
Moreover, when a silverfish comes in contact with boric acid, it carries the powder to its nest, which helps kill off the eggs too.
Required Items
- Boric acid powder
- Applicator
Step by Step Process
- Start by identifying the areas with a silverfish infestation.
- Use an applicator to sprinkle a generous amount of boric acid powder in those areas.
- You can also sprinkle the boric acid in cracks, crevices, and holes since silverfishes often hide there.
- Come back after 2 to 3 days and sprinkle the area with more boric acid. Repeat the process every 2 to three days until the silverfishes are gone.
Precautions
This method is not effective immediately. You must use this method a few times continuously to get rid of the silverfishes permanently.
2. Diatomaceous earth to kill silverfish bugs
Diatomaceous earth is commonly used to get rid of various soft-bodied insects from the garden and home including silverfishes.
When insects come in contact with the powder, they start to get dehydrated and eventually die because of it.
It is a very effective method for getting rid of silverfishes from home.
Required Items
Step by Step Process
- Start the process by identifying the areas with the most silverfishes. They are typically found in moist and cluttered areas.
- Use an applicator to sprinkle a generous amount of diatomaceous earth on the area.
- You can also sprinkle diatomaceous earth in any cracks, crevices, or holes.
- Any silverfish that walks over the powder will die within a few days.
- You can re-apply the powder again after a week or so to get rid of any remaining silverfishes.
Precautions
Diatomaceous earth does not work if it becomes wet, so always make sure to place it in areas that will not get wet.
3. Sticky silverfish bug trap
Silverfishes are crawling insects, which means they are easy to trap using sticky traps.
If you leave a few sticky traps around your house, the insects will get caught in them eventually.
This method is best used for smaller infestations in the home.
Required Items
- Sticky traps
- Breadcrumbs
Step by Step Process
- Open a few sticky traps and put a few breadcrumbs in the middle of each of them.
- Place the sticky traps around the areas with the most silverfishes.
- Come back to check on the traps after 2 to 3 days. If the traps are full of silverfishes, you can fold the traps and discard them.
- You can place more traps again to catch more silverfishes.
Precautions
This method will only get rid of a few silverfishes at a time, so it’s not suitable for a larger infestation.
4. Homemade Silverfish Bug Traps (DIY)
It is quite easy to catch silverfish since they don’t jump or fly. The most common trap for silverfishes is made using a glass jar.
Once the silverfish goes inside the glass jar, the slippery surface will prevent them from being able to climb out of it.
You can use this method repeatedly since you don’t need a lot of supplies, but it is only effective for smaller infestations.
Required Items
- Masking tape
- Glass mason jar
- Breadcrumbs
Step by Step Process
- Cover the outside of a glass mason jar with masking tape. Cover the brim of the jar as well.
- Fill the bottom of the jar with some breadcrumbs and leave it in an area with lots of silverfish.
- The silverfishes will start to go inside the jar to find the breadcrumbs, but they cannot come out because the inside of the jar’s surface is too slippery for them.
- Once you have trapped enough silverfishes, you can drown them or throw them out in an area far away from your home.
Precautions
This method can only trap a few insects at a time, so it’s only suitable for smaller infestations.
5. Newspaper trap
Silverfishes feed on paper, so it is easy to trap them using newspaper.
The newspaper trap uses a roll of wet newspaper to attract the insects. Once they are inside the newspaper you can either burn them or throw them away.
This method is great for bigger and smaller infestations.
Required Items
- Newspaper
- Water
- Lighter fluid (optional)
Step by Step Process
- Roll up a whole newspaper and spray it with lots of water to soak it completely.
- Leave it in an area where you typically see a lot of silverfishes.
- Come back after about 24 to 48 hours to check if the newspaper roll has silverfishes in and around it.
- You can discard the roll of paper directly away from your home. Or you can drench it with some lighter fluid and burn it.
- Repeat the process again a few times to get rid of the remaining silverfish from your home.
Precautions
You must remove any other paper or junk from the area before using this method to ensure that all the insects gather in the roll of newspaper.
6. Cedar oil spray
Cedar wood naturally repels various insects due to its strong smell. So, using seder oil in your home can also have the same effect.
Cedarwood oil can easily get rid of silverfishes from your home and help keep them out in the long run.
You can make a cedarwood oil spray at home quite easily.
Required Items
- Cedarwood oil
- Isopropyl alcohol
- Water
- Spray bottle
Step by Step Process
- Make a mixture of water and isopropyl alcohol in a 1:1 ratio. Pour it into a spray bottle.
- Add 20 drops of cedarwood oil per cup of liquid into the mixture.
- Close the bottle and shake thoroughly to mix everything together.
- Spray the mixture in the areas where you see a lot of silverfish.
- You can also spray it directly on a silverfish infestation to get rid of them.
- Repeat the process every 3 to 4 days to keep the silverfishes out.
Precautions
You must spray the mixture every week or so to keep the insects out of your home permanently.
7. Homemade Clove oil spray to prevent Silverfish bugs
Clove oil is commonly used as a natural insect repellent due to its strong smell.
You can easily use clove oil to get rid of silverfishes from your home by making a DIY spray.
This method is good for both smaller and bigger infestations. The strong smell can also prevent the insects from coming back.
Required Items
- Clove oil
- Isopropyl alcohol
- Spray bottle
- Water
Step by Step Process
- Combine ½ cup of water with ½ cup of isopropyl alcohol in a spray bottle.
- Put 20 drops of clove oil into the mixture. Close the bottle and shake it well to mix everything.
- Spray the mixture in the areas with the most silverfish in your home.
- You can also spray the mixture directly in cracks, crevices, and cluttered areas.
- Any silverfish in those areas will go away. However, you can continue spraying the mixture every 3 to 4 days to prevent them from coming back.
Precautions
This method will get rid of silverfishes temporarily, so you must apply the spray every week or so to keep them out permanently.
8. Cinnamon powder
Cinnamon is a versatile spice because you can easily use it for controlling various insects in your home including silverfishes.
When silverfishes come in contact with the cinnamon, they will start running away instantly, because cinnamon can create a burning sensation in the insects.
The strong smell also repels them from the area.
Required Items
Step by Step Process
- Start by identifying the areas that have been infested with silverfishes in your home.
- Sprinkle the cinnamon powder in those areas. You can also sprinkle the cinnamon directly on any silverfish you find.
- The silverfishes will go away after a day or two. You can clean up the cinnamon and apply another round of the powder if you want.
Precautions
You must use this method every week or so to keep the silverfishes out permanently.
9. Naphthalene balls to kill silverfish bugs naturally
Naphthalene balls or mothballs are commonly used for getting rid of insects from the home.
When you put mothballs around your home, they start to release a toxic fume, which kills off any silverfish near it.
The strong smell can also repel the insects.
Required Items
Step by Step Process
- Start by identifying the areas in your home with a silverfish infestation.
- Put a few naphthalene balls in those areas. You can also put a few more naphthalene balls in cluttered and damp areas.
- Any silverfishes in those areas will leave within a week or so.
- After the naphthalene balls evaporate, you can replace them with new ones.
Precautions
Naphthalene balls can be toxic if ingested, so do not use this method if there is a pet or child in your home.
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10. Epsom Salt as Natural Repellent to Kill Silverfish Bugs
Epsom salt is a natural insecticide, but it is completely safe for humans and animals.
Therefore, it is a great material for getting rid of silverfishes from the home.
When the silverfishes walk over the Epsom salt, they will get coated in the substance, which will eventually kill them. This method is usually good for smaller infestations.
Required Items
- Epsom salt
Step by Step Process
- Start by identifying the areas that are infested with silverfishes. Usually, you will find them around the kitchen and bathroom.
- Sprinkle some epom salt in those areas. Try to cover a wide surface.
- You can also sprinkle Epsom salt in corners, cracks and holes in the house since silverfishes often live there.
- Most silverfishes will be gone after a few weeks. However, you can re-apply the powder after a week or so if required.
Precautions
This method cannot get rid of all silverfishes, so you must use other methods along with this method for the best results.
11. Homemade Pyrethrin spray to kill silverfish bugs naturally
Pyrethrin is an insecticide made from chrysanthemum plants.
You can use this insecticide to get rid of silverfishes from your home.
When a silverfish comes in contact with this insecticide, it will carry it to the nest.
So the silverfishes will die along with their eggs.
Required Items
- Pyrethrin concentrate
- Water
- Dish soap
- Spray bottle
Step by Step Process
- Mix 1 cup of water with 1 tablespoon of pyrethrin concentrate in a spray bottle. Add ½ teaspoon of dish soap into the mixture.
- Close the bottle and shake it well to mix everything together.
- Spray the mixture in all the silverfish-infested areas including cluttered and damp areas.
- You can also spray the mixture directly on any silverfishes to kill them.
- Reapply the spray again after a week or so.
Precautions
Pyrethrin is toxic in nature, so keep it away from children and pets.
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How To Prevent Silverfish Bugs Naturally?
1. Clean your home thoroughly
Silverfish mainly feed on cellulose, which is found in paper, dead skin cells, and certain food. So, they usually start growing in areas with the most dust and debris like the kitchen and bathroom.
It is crucial to clean those areas regularly to prevent the accumulation of dust and other particles, which can easily become a breeding ground for silverfish.
2. Remove moisture from your home
Silverfish like to grow in moist areas like the kitchen and bathroom because they like humidity. Removing humidity from your home is an effective way to prevent silverfishes from breeding in your home.
Therefore, using a dehumidifier can help you prevent moisture, which can prevent silverfishes in the long run.
3. Seal any cracks and holes
Silverfishes usually live in the cracks and crevices of the home. You may typically find them in small holes and cracks in your home.
So, an effective way to prevent them is by sealing the cracks. You can use caulk or cement to fill in the gaps.
4. Get rid of excess paper and junk items
Silverfishes are often found in junk and piles of paper because they feed on paper and other organic matter.
They also like to live in areas with high humidity and low light. So, if there are any piles of paper or junk in your home, you should remove them immediately to prevent silverfishes.
Top 5 Best Natural Silverfish Bugs Repellents
Final Words:
Silverfishes are generally not harmful, but they can be a huge nuisance if there is an infestation. Moreover, they contribute to creating more dust in your home, which can aggravate allergies in some people.
So it’s always best to get rid of them using natural methods. We hope that you can use the natural methods mentioned in this article to prevent and get rid of silverfishes from your home successfully.
