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How to Get Rid of Silverfish
What attracts silverfish, the steps that actually clear them, traps that work, and how to keep them gone — Fresno edition.
To get rid of silverfish: cut the humidity they need (run fans and a dehumidifier, fix leaks), remove their food by storing paper, cereal, and pet food in sealed containers, declutter cardboard, and set sticky or jar traps in bathrooms and closets. For a stubborn infestation, a targeted crack-and-crevice treatment clears the harborage DIY can't reach.
What attracts silverfish — and what causes an infestation
Silverfish need two things: moisture and starch. The usual Fresno triggers are humid bathrooms and laundry rooms, slow leaks under sinks or behind the water heater, poor ventilation in garages and crawl spaces, and stockpiles of food for them — stored cardboard, old books and paper, and pantry grains. Fix those and you remove the reason they're there.
How to get rid of silverfish, step by step
1. Drop the humidity. Run bathroom and laundry exhaust fans, add a dehumidifier in damp rooms, fix leaks, and improve airflow in the garage and crawl space. Silverfish struggle below about 50% humidity.
2. Cut off their food. Move cereal, flour, pet food, and grains into sealed glass or plastic containers. Store important papers and photos in sealed bins instead of open cardboard.
3. Declutter the hiding spots. Recycle old cardboard boxes, newspaper, and paper piles — especially in the garage, where silverfish love to nest.
4. Set traps. Sticky traps, or a DIY jar trap (a glass wrapped in tape so they climb in but not out), placed in bathrooms, closets, and the garage will catch foragers and show you where activity is heaviest.
5. Treat the cracks. Apply a labeled crack-and-crevice product (or have a pro do it) along baseboards, under sinks, and in the harborage zones where silverfish travel.
Do silverfish traps work?
Traps help, but they're a monitoring and knockdown tool, not a cure on their own. Sticky traps and jar traps catch active silverfish and tell you where the hotspots are, but if you don't fix the moisture and food, more will keep hatching. Use traps alongside the humidity and storage fixes, not instead of them.
What about diatomaceous earth and boric acid?
Food-grade diatomaceous earth dusted into cracks, voids, and behind appliances can kill silverfish by drying out their exoskeleton — it works slowly but reliably, as long as it stays dry. Boric acid is also effective in cracks and crevices, but keep it away from kids, pets, and food-prep surfaces. Both are spot tools; neither replaces fixing the conditions that drew silverfish in.
How to prevent silverfish coming back
Keep humidity down, store paper and food in sealed containers, seal gaps around pipes and baseboards, and don't let cardboard pile up. Inspect used books and boxes before bringing them inside. In a dry, climate-controlled, low-clutter home, silverfish simply don't have what they need.
Silverfish vs. firebrat — don't confuse them
If your 'silverfish' are turning up near the furnace, water heater, or oven rather than the bathroom, you may actually have firebrats — a close relative that prefers heat instead of cool damp. The control steps are similar, but you'd target hot, humid zones instead of cool ones. Correct ID saves you treating the wrong room.
When DIY isn't enough
If silverfish keep coming back after you've controlled moisture and decluttered, they're breeding somewhere out of reach — wall voids, the attic, or deep storage. A professional treats those harborage zones directly and pairs it with a moisture plan, which clears a real infestation far faster than repeat DIY. Total Pest Control handles silverfish across Fresno and the Central Valley.
📞 Call (559) 472-8200Getting rid of silverfish — FAQ
What is the fastest way to get rid of silverfish?
Combine knockdown and prevention: set traps and treat cracks with diatomaceous earth or a labeled product, while immediately cutting humidity and sealing food in containers. A professional crack-and-crevice treatment is fastest for an established infestation.
What smell do silverfish hate?
Silverfish tend to avoid strong scents like cedar, citrus, lavender, and cloves. Those can discourage them in drawers and closets, but scent alone won't clear an infestation — you still have to fix moisture and food sources.
Does diatomaceous earth kill silverfish?
Yes. Food-grade diatomaceous earth dusted into cracks and voids dries out their exoskeleton and kills them, as long as it stays dry. It works gradually and complements moisture control well.
Why do I keep getting silverfish?
Because the conditions are still there — humidity and a food source like stored paper or grains — or they're breeding in an out-of-reach spot like a wall void or attic. Fix the moisture and clutter, or call a pro to treat the harborage.
How long does it take to get rid of silverfish?
DIY moisture and storage fixes show results over a few weeks as the population dies off and isn't replaced. A professional treatment speeds that up; a heavy, established infestation can take a couple of visits plus ongoing moisture control.
Silverfish that just keep coming back?
When DIY isn't holding, Total Pest Control treats the harborage and the moisture across Fresno and the Central Valley. Call or request a no-cost inspection.