What to do if silverfish are found in the house?
What to do if silverfish are found in the house?
If silverfish are found in the house, don't panic. Follow these systematic steps:
Assess severity
- Sporadic (1-2) : may have entered accidentally from outdoors; clean and observe.
- Occasional (3-5 per week) : the home has conditions suitable for silverfish; investigation needed.
- Frequent (daily) : a stable population has formed; systematic treatment is required.
Systematic treatment steps
- Thorough cleaning
Thoroughly clean areas where silverfish frequently appear:
- Bookcase — remove all books; clean spines and page gaps; check for hiding silverfish.
- Wardrobe — clean all corners; dispose of damp cardboard boxes and clutter.
- Baseboards — vacuum dust from baseboard gaps.
- Bathroom corners — clean damp clutter and moldy corners.
- Remove food sources
- Remove damp paper items and clutter from the room.
- Discard old newspapers, cardboard boxes, and other starchy items.
- Store flour, sugar, and other foods in airtight containers.
- Chemical treatment
Spray dinotefuran-containing household insecticide in the following areas:
- Wall corners and baseboard gaps.
- Cabinet bottoms and back panel gaps.
- Bookcase bottoms and backs.
- Door and window frames.
Silverfish are nocturnal — they hide during the day and come out at night. After spraying, the film dries; they contact the insecticide when they come out at night.
- Ongoing prevention
- Keep indoor areas dry (humidity below 50%).
- Regularly check prone areas for recurrence.
- Store items in sealed containers as much as possible.