Is your home impeccably tidy, impressing all your visitors? Even with the spotless cleanliness surrounding you, an uninvited guest may appear in your space. Seeing a wriggling silverfish in the house is not likely to bring a smile to anyone's face. If you share your space with an insect whose shiny, silver tail end is completed with long antennae, you can be sure you are dealing with a silverfish.
Learn More About Silverfish
Due to the scales covering it, the silverfish is also called a silverbug. In English-speaking countries, this insect is referred to as a silverfish thanks to the peculiar shade of its tail. Silverfish are crawling bugs belonging to the group of wingless insects. A silverfish feeds on anything containing sugars, starch, protein, and even cellulose. The diet of this uninvited guest includes remnants of human food and everyday items, such as toilet paper, newspapers, and books. Silverfish can even consume wallpaper in your house. Despite their destructive impact on various types of items, silverfish do not pose a threat to humans. Due to their structure, they are not able to bite us. These disliked insects also do not carry any diseases.
Conditions Favored by Silverfish
Dark, warm, and damp places are ideal habitats for this unwanted guest. It's no surprise that the silverfish happily visits bathrooms in flats, which often lack windows. This room also contains items attractive to these bugs. Silverbugs are primarily active at night. During the day, they hide from our eyes in places like pipes, gaps between tiles, and various cabinets. The presence of a silverfish in the house may be caused by insufficient fresh air access to the room or a sudden, localized increase in humidity – hence the importance of not leaving wet cloths on the floor. Silverfish are also commonly found in kitchens, lured by spilled rice or flour. If you discover a silverfish living in your house, take action immediately. This inconspicuous, small occupant can cause a lot of damage in your home.
How to Get Rid of the Unwanted Guest
If you want to effectively evict the silverfish from your home, start by changing the conditions in the room where it resides. The first step towards removing silverbugs from the kitchen or bathroom is to thoroughly clean them. Use a vacuum cleaner for this purpose, and then wash the floor. Remember that too much moisture from the mop can work against your intentions. Try to increase the fresh air access to the given room. You can achieve this by frequently airing out your home. Regularly checking the ventilation condition is extremely helpful. This will also lower the temperature in the room, which the insect will not like and will make the place less attractive to it. Consider installing a special fan or even a dehumidifier for this purpose. Regularly check the state of pipes and taps – all leaks, even the smallest ones, are like an invitation for silverfish. Battling these insects often involves the need for decontamination of the apartment. Do not forget to seal all gaps that may serve as hiding places for silverfish, such as cracks in the floor.
Home Remedies for Battling Silverfish
Scented with a silvery touch, these insects do not like strong odours – keep this in mind while getting rid of them. Reach into your kitchen cupboard and create a mixture that repels silverfish. The intense scent of lemon will become your faithful companion in the fight. Mix the juice of this citrus with water and then wipe the floor in the given room with it. If you are not a fan of the lemon scent, use lavender in the fight against silverfish. Other natural remedies that will be helpful in achieving your goal, and may already be in your kitchen, include ginkgo, cinnamon, cloves, and rosemary. You can place these spices in areas particularly liked by insects. Do you have a cat? This animal is a natural enemy of silverfish and will surely prove to be an excellent assistant in driving out this insect.
The Last Resort
If home remedies have not produced results in the fight against silverfish, turn to ready-made traps that will help you capture silverfish. Do not forget about chemical means, which are extremely effective in action. Products based on water are particularly recommended. They are human-friendly and odourless, and their price is usually affordable. If all the above methods have failed, use the services of a professional company dealing with this daily. With the help of professionals, you will permanently get rid of the uninvited guest, driving them out for good.