Home › Blog › Five Simple Tips To Keep Silverfish Out Of Your Westchester Home
3/30/2021
If you’ve ever seen a silverfish scurry across the floor or up the wall, you’ve probably wondered what these strange little bugs are doing in your house. They might not be dangerous, but that doesn’t mean you want them in your house. Here are some simple tips to keep silverfish out of your home in Westchester.
What Are Silverfish?
Silverfish are small, flat-bodied insects that typically measure between ½ and ¾ inches in length. As their name suggests, most silverfish have a silvery coloration, though some may appear brownish-gray. They have a tapered shape similar to a raindrop or a fish.
Silverfish are harmless to humans and pets. They don’t bite and aren’t known to spread disease, although they can move at frighteningly quick speeds. However, silverfish are troublesome because they can destroy your personal belongings and infest your pantry, eating up staples like flour and sugar.
Once a silverfish infestation develops, it can be tough to get rid of. That’s why the best way to get rid of silverfish is to prevent them in the first place.
What Attracts Silverfish?
Silverfish are attracted to moist, humid environments but can be found throughout the home. They have an appetite for cellulose and will eat silk, linen, and bookbinding glue. With a reliable food source, a humid habitat like your basement or attic could be an ideal breeding ground for silverfish. Here are some things you can do to reduce the factors that attract them:
- Use proper ventilation – Try to ventilate rooms that become humid by opening windows and running fans.
- Store keepsakes and belongings securely – Keep clothing, books, or any cloth and paper-based items in sturdy containers.
- Store food in airtight containers – Make sure that your pantry items are kept in containers with tight-fitting lids to keep silverfish and other pests from getting in.
Five Tips To Keep Silverfish Out
The good news is, by following a few simple tips, you can keep silverfish from infesting your home and ruining your belongings:
- Seal off entrances – Inspect your property for openings that could be letting pests inside. Check your foundation for cracks or holes as well as for gaps around pipes and fixtures. Seal any openings you find with caulk.
- Clean your yard – Make sure to reduce the amount of organic debris in your yard. Wet leaves, lawn clippings, and rotting wood are attractive to silverfish and can lead them indoors.
- Try diatomaceous earth – Also known as DE, sprinkling this powdery substance along your baseboards will cause silverfish to dry out and die when they come in contact with it.
- Install a dehumidifier – Consider installing a dehumidifier in your basement. Humidity attracts many pests to your home, and a dry environment can discourage them from coming indoors.
- Clean up – Simply reducing the amount of food debris, and dust particles in your home can dramatically impact the presence of silverfish. Wipe down floors and surfaces and dust regularly.
There are quite a few ways to reduce the factors that attract silverfish and prevent them from coming into your home. But nothing beats the professional solution. The experts at Parkway Pest Services are standing by to help solve your silverfish problem in Westchester. With two comprehensive residential treatment plans available, we will get rid of the troublesome nuisance pests in your home. Contact us today for your free quote.
Customer Testimonial
Representative, Ruth, was so courteous and helpful on the phone. Your inspector, Habib, was super. He was polite, thorough, professional and very informative. I chose your company based on reviews online and I would not hesitate to recommend you to others.
Jeanne A.
Request Your FREE QUOTE Today!
Complete the form below to request your no obligation quote from Parkway Pest Services