Have you ever turned on the bathroom light at night and seen a tiny, silver, fish-like bug dart across the floor? If so, you’ve probably encountered a silverfish — a pest that thrives in dark, damp environments and can quietly damage your home over time.
Silverfish infestations are common in areas with high humidity, and while they don’t bite or spread disease, they can chew through paper, glue, clothing, and even pantry goods. They’re nocturnal and fast, which makes them hard to catch — and harder to remove if the problem goes untreated.
In this blog post, we’ll cover how silverfish infestations start, where they tend to hide, and — most importantly — how to exterminate them for good.
Why Silverfish Infestations Happen
Silverfish love moisture, darkness, and starch-based food sources. Your home might be more appealing to them than you think, especially in the warmer summer months when humidity rises. Bathrooms, kitchens, basements, and laundry rooms are ideal breeding grounds.
Cracks in your foundation, cardboard storage boxes, or old wallpaper can offer the perfect conditions for them to thrive unnoticed.
Common Places to Find Silverfish in Homes
You’re most likely to find silverfish in:
- Bathroom cabinets or behind toilets
- Under kitchen sinks
- In basement storage boxes
- Behind baseboards and wallpaper
- Inside books, old photo albums, or cardboard containers
If you spot one, it’s a sign there may be more hiding nearby — and that it’s time to act quickly.
Step 1: Identifying Silverfish and Their Nesting Spots
Silverfish are:
- Silvery-grey with a tapered, fish-like shape
- About 1–2 cm in length
- Fast-moving and nocturnal
- Found in dark, damp, undisturbed spaces
Look for small holes in wallpaper, chewed edges of books or cardboard, and yellowish stains — all signs of silverfish activity.
Use a flashlight to inspect behind furniture, baseboards, or in poorly ventilated corners.
Step 2: Using Traps and Insecticides
Start with sticky traps placed along walls, near bathrooms, and in dark corners. These will help monitor the infestation and catch active pests.
For a more aggressive approach:
- Use boric acid or diatomaceous earth — both damage the silverfish’s exoskeleton.
- Apply silverfish-specific insecticide dusts or sprays into cracks, crevices, and wall voids.
⚠️ Always follow safety directions when using insecticides and keep products out of reach of children and pets.
Step 3: Reducing Moisture and Improving Ventilation
Since silverfish thrive in humidity, lowering moisture levels is one of the most effective long-term strategies.
Try the following:
- Use dehumidifiers in basements and bathrooms
- Fix any leaky pipes or faucets
- Improve airflow with fans or open windows when weather allows
- Run exhaust fans during showers or while cooking
Reducing indoor humidity makes your home much less inviting for silverfish.
Step 4: Sealing Entry Points to Prevent Future Infestations
Prevention is key to keeping silverfish away for good.
- Seal cracks in walls and baseboards
- Replace damaged weather stripping
- Store paper goods, books, and clothing in plastic containers, not cardboard
- Remove old wallpaper or glue-based materials that silverfish feed on
Consider routine inspections of storage areas — especially those rarely disturbed.
Conclusion: How to Maintain a Silverfish-Free Home
Silverfish might be sneaky, but they’re no match for a proactive homeowner. With a combination of identification, targeted treatments, moisture control, and prevention strategies, you can reclaim your home and keep it pest-free.
Still seeing silverfish or want professional support? At Avayda Pest Control, we offer safe, effective silverfish extermination services tailored to homes across:
- British Columbia: Vancouver, Surrey, Langley, Coquitlam, Richmond, Abbotsford, North Vancouver, Kelowna, West Kelowna, Vernon, Penticton
- Alberta: Calgary and Edmonton
- Ontario: East Toronto
Our expert technicians inspect, treat, and prevent infestations so you don’t have to worry about what’s crawling behind the scenes.
Get your customized silverfish control plan today. Contact Avayda to get started.
Avayda Pest Control – Everyone deserves a pest-free home.
