How to Get Rid of Silverfish Naturally? 12 Proven Methods That Work

You flip on the bathroom light late at night and see a shiny, wiggling bug dart under the bathtub. Or you pull an old book off the shelf and find yellow stains and tiny holes in the pages. Chances are, you’ve met silverfish. These fast, silvery insects hide in dark, damp corners of your home and feed on paper, glue, fabrics, and starchy foods. They don’t bite or spread disease, but they can damage books, clothes, wallpaper, and stored items, and they’re just plain unpleasant to find.

The good news is that you don’t need harsh chemicals to deal with them. In this guide, we explain how to get rid of silverfish naturally in plain, simple words. You’ll learn what silverfish are, the signs of an infestation, and why they move into your home. We’ll walk you through 12 natural methods, from drying out your home and making easy DIY traps to using diatomaceous earth, cedar, and essential oils. You’ll also find a simple room-by-room plan, prevention tips, and when it’s time to call a pro. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to clear silverfish out of your home and keep them from coming back.

Quick answer: To get rid of silverfish naturally, (1) dry out your home by keeping humidity below 50% with a dehumidifier, exhaust fans, and leak repairs, (2) sprinkle food-grade diatomaceous earth along baseboards, cracks, and cabinets, (3) set simple jar or wet-newspaper traps overnight, (4) use cedar, lavender, peppermint, cloves, or bay leaves to repel them, (5) store paper, clothes, and dry food in airtight plastic containers, and (6) vacuum and declutter often. Moisture control is the most important step. Expect to see results in 2 to 4 weeks, but plan on several months to fully clear eggs.

What Are Silverfish?

Before learning how to get rid of silverfish naturally, it helps to know your enemy. Silverfish are small, wingless insects. The common household species is known by the scientific name Lepisma saccharina, which roughly means “sugar-eating.” They get their name from their silvery, scaly bodies and the way they wiggle like fish when they move.

Trait	Details
Size	About 1/2 to 1 inch long (about 12 to 25 mm)
Look	Teardrop-shaped, silvery-gray, scaly body; two long antennae; three bristle-like “tails”
Activity	Nocturnal; hide during the day, very fast runners
Favorite conditions	Dark, damp spots with humidity of about 75% to 95%
Diet	Starches and sugars: paper, book glue, wallpaper paste, cardboard, cotton, linen, silk, cereal, flour, and even dead insects
Lifespan	Often 2 to 8 years, much longer than most insects
Survival without food	Can go months, even up to a year, if they have moisture
Eggs	Tiny (about 1 mm), hidden in cracks; usually hatch in about 2 to 8 weeks

Because silverfish live a long time, breed all year indoors, and can survive long periods without food, a few can slowly turn into a big problem. That’s why it’s important to act early and be patient.

Silverfish vs. Firebrats

Firebrats are close cousins of silverfish. They look similar but are mottled brown and gray and prefer hot, damp spots, like near water heaters, furnaces, and ovens. The same natural methods work for both, but for firebrats, focus on the warm areas of your home.

Signs You Have Silverfish

Seeing them at night, especially when you turn on lights in bathrooms, kitchens, or basements
Yellow stains on paper, fabric, or wallpaper
Irregular holes or notches in book pages, documents, cardboard, and clothing
Tiny droppings that look like black pepper
Shed skins and silvery scales, since they molt many times throughout life
Damage to wallpaper, especially where the glue is exposed
Bugs in sinks and bathtubs, where they fall in while searching for water and can’t climb out

Why Do You Have Silverfish? Common Causes

Knowing the cause is the first step in how to get rid of silverfish naturally, because removing it stops them from coming back.

High humidity: Bathrooms, basements, laundry rooms, and attics with poor ventilation
Leaks: Dripping pipes, leaky roofs, and damp walls
Clutter: Piles of paper, magazines, cardboard boxes, and old clothes
Food sources: Open cereal, flour, pet food, and starchy materials
Cracks and gaps: Openings around pipes, baseboards, and walls give them hiding spots and entry points
Outdoor moisture: Damp mulch, leaf piles, and firewood against the house
Hitchhiking: They often arrive in cardboard boxes, old books, and secondhand furniture

How to Get Rid of Silverfish Naturally: 12 Proven Methods

Learning how to get rid of silverfish naturally works best when you combine several methods: dry out your home, remove food and hiding spots, then trap and kill the silverfish that are left.

1. Lower the Humidity (Most Important)

If you only do one thing to get rid of silverfish naturally, do this. Silverfish need high humidity to survive, usually 75% or more. Bringing your indoor humidity below about 50% makes your home a poor place for them to live and breed.

Run a dehumidifier in basements, laundry rooms, and damp closets.
Use bathroom exhaust fans during showers and for 20 to 30 minutes after.
Open windows or run fans to improve airflow in stuffy rooms.
Hang wet towels and laundry to dry instead of leaving them in piles.
Use a cheap humidity monitor (hygrometer) to track progress.

2. Fix Leaks and Moisture Problems

Repair dripping faucets, leaky pipes under sinks, roof leaks, and condensation on pipes. Clean gutters and make sure downspouts carry water away from your foundation. Every damp spot you dry up is one less place for silverfish to live.

3. Use Food-Grade Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth is the top natural killer for anyone learning how to get rid of silverfish naturally. Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a natural powder made from the fossilized shells of tiny water organisms called diatoms. To us, it feels like soft flour. To insects, its microscopic sharp edges scratch their waxy outer coating and absorb oils, so they dry out and die.

How to use it:

Buy food-grade DE (not the pool-filter type, which is different and more hazardous to breathe).
Use a small duster, squeeze bottle, or paintbrush to apply a very thin, light layer along baseboards, behind appliances, under sinks, in cabinet corners, and in cracks.
Leave it in place for several days. It keeps working as long as it stays dry.
Vacuum it up and reapply after it gets wet or every week or two.

Safety tip: Even food-grade DE can irritate your lungs and eyes, so wear a dust mask when applying it and keep it out of the air. A thin layer works better than heavy piles, which insects simply avoid.

4. Make a Glass Jar Trap

Traps are an easy, hands-on part of how to get rid of silverfish naturally. This is a cheap, chemical-free way to catch silverfish and see how many you have.

Find a clean glass jar at least 3 to 4 inches deep.
Wrap the outside with masking tape so silverfish can climb up.
Put a little bait inside, like a piece of bread, a pinch of flour, or oats.
Set it overnight where you’ve seen silverfish.
In the morning, silverfish will be trapped inside because they can’t climb the smooth glass. Dispose of them outdoors or in soapy water.

5. Use a Wet Newspaper Trap

Roll up a newspaper and wrap rubber bands around it.
Dampen it with water (not soaking).
Leave it overnight in areas with silverfish.
Silverfish crawl inside to feed and hide. In the morning, carefully put the newspaper in a sealed bag and throw it in an outdoor trash can, or burn it where allowed.
Repeat every night or every 2 to 3 days.

6. Set Sticky Traps

Simple sticky traps catch silverfish as they travel along walls and baseboards. Place them in corners, under sinks, behind toilets, and near bookshelves. They’re also great for monitoring: if you catch fewer over time, your plan is working.

7. Use Cedar to Repel and Kill

Cedar has long been used to protect clothing and linens from insects. Some lab studies have found that cedar oil can kill silverfish at the right strength, and the scent repels them.

Put cedar blocks, rings, or balls in closets and drawers.
Use cedar shavings in storage areas (not on carpet or where kids and pets might eat them).
Mix about 10 to 20 drops of cedarwood oil with a cup of water in a spray bottle and mist baseboards and closet corners.
Sand or refresh cedar blocks every few months to bring back the scent.

8. Spray Essential Oils

Strong scents can repel silverfish and make your home less inviting. Popular choices include:

Lavender
Peppermint
Cinnamon
Clove
Lemon and other citrus oils
Tea tree and eucalyptus

DIY spray: Mix about 15 to 20 drops of essential oil with 1 cup of water in a spray bottle (add a few drops of dish soap to help it mix). Spray along baseboards, cracks, under sinks, and inside cabinets. Reapply every few days.

Note: Oils mainly repel; they won’t wipe out a big infestation on their own. Some oils, including tea tree, peppermint, and cinnamon, can be harmful to cats and dogs, so use them carefully around pets.

9. Place Cloves, Bay Leaves, and Cinnamon

Dried spices are an easy, kitchen-friendly repellent. Place whole cloves, bay leaves, or cinnamon sticks in pantry shelves, drawers, closets, and bookshelves. Replace them every few weeks when the scent fades.

10. Sprinkle Boric Acid Carefully

Boric acid is a naturally occurring mineral compound, though it’s not harmless. When silverfish eat it, it damages their stomachs and kills them. Lightly dust it into cracks, wall voids, and behind appliances where people and pets can’t reach.

Important: Boric acid is toxic if swallowed, so keep it away from children, pets, food, and food prep areas. Never use it in open areas of your home. If you want the gentlest option, stick with diatomaceous earth.

11. Vacuum, Declutter, and Clean Deeply

Vacuum floors, baseboards, closets, shelves, and under furniture at least weekly. This removes silverfish, eggs, scales, and food crumbs.
Empty the vacuum bag or canister into an outdoor trash can right away.
Get rid of old newspapers, magazines, junk mail, and cardboard boxes.
Wipe up crumbs and spills in the kitchen and pantry.

12. Seal Cracks and Hiding Spots

Use caulk to seal cracks along baseboards, around pipes, behind sinks, and in window and door frames. Fill gaps in walls and repair loose wallpaper. This cuts off hiding places and egg-laying spots.

Natural Silverfish Methods Compared

Here’s how each option stacks up when you’re deciding how to get rid of silverfish naturally in your home.

Method	Kills or repels?	How well it works	Cost	Pet and kid safety
Lowering humidity	Prevents and drives out	Excellent (most important)	Dehumidifier about $150 to $300	Safe
Diatomaceous earth	Kills	Very good	About $10 to $20	Low risk; avoid breathing dust
Jar and newspaper traps	Traps	Good for small numbers and monitoring	Free	Safe
Sticky traps	Traps	Good for monitoring	About $5 to $15	Keep away from pets
Cedar	Repels; oil can kill	Good	About $10 to $25	Generally safe
Essential oils	Repels	Fair	About $10 to $20	Some oils harmful to pets
Cloves, bay leaves, cinnamon	Repels	Fair	About $5 to $10	Safe
Boric acid	Kills	Very good	About $10 to $15	Toxic if swallowed; hidden areas only
Vacuuming and decluttering	Removes	Very good	Free	Safe
Sealing cracks	Prevents	Good long-term	About $5 to $15	Safe

Natural Silverfish Remedies That Don’t Work Well

Not every tip you’ll read about how to get rid of silverfish naturally holds up:

Salt: Some websites suggest sprinkling salt, but there’s little evidence it does much against silverfish.
Mothballs: Often listed as a silverfish repellent, but they’re not natural. They’re pesticides that release toxic fumes and are meant only for sealed containers. Don’t scatter them around your home.
Oils alone: Essential oils can help repel silverfish, but they won’t fix the moisture and food problems that brought them in.

Room-by-Room Plan

Here’s how to get rid of silverfish naturally in each part of your home.

Room	What to do
Bathroom	Run the exhaust fan; fix drips; caulk around tubs, sinks, and toilets; dry towels; use DE behind the toilet and under the sink
Kitchen and pantry	Store flour, cereal, pasta, and pet food in airtight containers; wipe crumbs; fix leaks under the sink; place bay leaves or cloves on shelves
Basement	Run a dehumidifier; move papers and boxes into plastic bins; seal cracks; use DE along walls
Bedroom and closets	Store clothes in sealed bins; use cedar blocks; vacuum often; wash and dry linens
Library and office	Keep books in dry, ventilated rooms; avoid storing books in basements; dust and vacuum shelves; use sticky traps to monitor
Attic and garage	Replace cardboard boxes with plastic bins; improve ventilation; check for roof leaks

How to Keep Silverfish From Coming Back

Keep indoor humidity below 50% all year.
Store papers, photos, clothes, and dry foods in airtight plastic containers instead of cardboard.
Vacuum weekly and declutter regularly.
Check new boxes, used books, and secondhand furniture before bringing them inside.
Keep mulch, leaf piles, and firewood a foot or more away from your home’s foundation.
Seal cracks and gaps around pipes, baseboards, and windows.
Do a monthly check with sticky traps in problem areas.

How Long Does It Take to Get Rid of Silverfish?

When you get rid of silverfish naturally, patience matters. Most people see fewer silverfish within about 2 to 4 weeks of drying out their home and using traps and diatomaceous earth. But because silverfish live for years and their eggs hide in cracks and hatch over several weeks, it can take 2 to 3 months or more to fully clear an infestation. Keep up your routine and keep monitoring with traps until you stop catching them.

Are Silverfish Harmful?

Silverfish don’t bite, sting, or spread disease. They aren’t dangerous to people or pets. However, their shed skins, scales, and droppings can trigger allergies or asthma in sensitive people. They can also damage books, important documents, photos, clothing, wallpaper, and stored food.

When to Call a Professional

Knowing how to get rid of silverfish naturally solves the problem in most homes. Consider a pest control professional if:

You still see lots of silverfish after 6 to 8 weeks of consistent effort
They’re spreading to many rooms
Valuable books, documents, or collections are being damaged
You suspect a hidden moisture problem inside walls

Many pest control companies offer low-toxicity or “green” treatments. Professionals often apply a fine dust into wall voids, roof spaces, and behind cabinets where silverfish hide. Ask about the products they use if you prefer natural options.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you get rid of silverfish naturally and fast?

Combine methods. Lower humidity with a dehumidifier and fans, apply food-grade diatomaceous earth in cracks and baseboards, and set jar or wet newspaper traps overnight. You should see fewer silverfish within a few weeks.

What is the best natural silverfish killer?

Food-grade diatomaceous earth is one of the best natural killers because it dries out silverfish on contact. Lowering humidity is the most effective long-term fix, since silverfish can’t survive in dry homes.

What smells do silverfish hate?

Silverfish dislike strong scents like cedar, lavender, peppermint, cinnamon, clove, citrus, and bay leaves.

Does vinegar kill silverfish?

Vinegar may kill a silverfish on direct contact and helps clean surfaces, but it doesn’t work well as a repellent or long-term solution. Focus on drying out your home and using diatomaceous earth and traps.

Why do I suddenly have silverfish?

A sudden increase usually means more moisture, like a new leak, humid weather, or poor ventilation. They can also arrive in cardboard boxes, old books, or secondhand items.

Do silverfish mean my house is dirty?

Not necessarily. Silverfish are mainly attracted to moisture and starchy materials. Even clean homes can have them if there’s humidity, leaks, or stored paper and cardboard.

Can silverfish live in beds?

It’s uncommon. They prefer damp, dark spots. If you find one in bed, it likely wandered in. Wash bedding, vacuum, and lower humidity in the room.

Are silverfish dangerous to pets?

No. Silverfish aren’t dangerous to pets. But some silverfish treatments, like boric acid and certain essential oils, can harm pets, so use them carefully.

Where do silverfish come from?

They often come in from outside through cracks and gaps, or arrive in boxes, books, and furniture. Once inside, they move to damp places like bathrooms, basements, and kitchens.

Final Thoughts

Now you know how to get rid of silverfish naturally. The key is to make your home a place they can’t survive: dry it out, remove their food and hiding spots, and trap or kill the ones that remain. Lower humidity below 50%, fix leaks, store paper and food in sealed containers, and use food-grade diatomaceous earth, simple traps, and natural repellents like cedar and essential oils.

Be patient. Because silverfish live for years and lay eggs in hidden cracks, it can take a few months to clear them out completely. Stick with your routine, keep monitoring with traps, and your home will stay silverfish-free without harsh chemicals.