Pests Don’t Go Away in the Winter

Silverfish are small, brown, grey or blueish teardrop shaped bugs. While these pests are not harmful to humans or pets, you do not want them to infest your home. They can eat paper and fabric, ruining clothing, wallpaper and old photographs you may have lying around. Spiders also feast on these pests, so if silverfish are around, spiders may be drawn to your home. Unfortunately, these pests can be hard to detect. If you spot one, chances are there are many more that you do not see. As such, you want to take action as soon as these pests are noticed to either prevent an infestation or control one that you are unaware of. Here are a few of the ways that you can eradicate silverfish from your home yourself.

Moth or Cedar Balls

One of the ways that you can repel silverfish is by using moth or cedar balls. Silverfish do not like the scent of either. The downside to using these is you have to know what areas the silverfish are hiding in. For example, if they are in your basement, you will want to place the balls as close to the colony as possible. Likewise, if you know they are eating a box of clothing or papers, you can place the balls in that area to repel them. However, if you have no idea where they are, it can be hard to know where to place the moth or cedar balls.

Lavender Oil

It is not known why, but silverfish do not like lavender oil. As such, spraying it throughout your home can help you to deter these pests. Mix a teaspoon of pure lavender oil with three to four ounces of water in a spray bottle. Then spray the oil throughout your home in places where the silverfish may be residing. Spraying along entryways, window casings, baseboards, and along the floor and walls in dark, damp places, such as bathrooms, attics and basements, can keep the pests away.

Diatomaceous Earth

The last way you can rid your home of silverfish yourself is to use Diatomaceous Earth. Diatomaceous Earth is a natural insecticide. Diatomaceous Earth is a powder that can be sprinkled in drawers, along the baseboards of your home or in other areas where silverfish may be residing. This product can also help control ants, fleas and cockroaches. When pests eat the powder, they are poisoned and will die.

If you have tried all of these methods and you still see a silverfish here or there in your home, you will want to call in a pest control company to perform pest eradication. They can determine how these pests are entering your space and where the silverfish are hiding in your home, helping them to target the existing population while ensuring new ones do not come in.