Spotting a small, silvery insect darting across the bathroom floor at night is never pleasant. Silverfish are harmless to people — they do not bite or spread disease — but they chew through paper, books, wallpaper glue, and even clothes, so a few of them can quietly cause real damage. The good news is that learning how to get rid of silverfish naturally is simple, and you do not need strong chemical sprays to do it. With a few changes around the home and some easy natural methods, you can clear them out and stop them coming back.
What Causes Silverfish in House?
Before reaching for any remedy, it helps to know what causes silverfish in house in the first place. Silverfish love damp, dark, and humid places, and they feed on starches and sugars found in paper, book bindings, wallpaper paste, glue, cotton, linen, and even dried foods like flour and cereal. Leaky pipes, poor ventilation, and cluttered storage give them everything they need: moisture, darkness, and food. That is why they are most often found in bathrooms, kitchens, basements, and attics, and why they usually appear at night.
1. Dry Out Damp Areas
The single most effective step is to remove the moisture silverfish depend on. Run a dehumidifier in damp rooms and aim for indoor humidity below 50 percent. Fix leaking taps and pipes, improve ventilation in the bathroom, and wipe up standing water. Once a room is dry, silverfish struggle to survive there, and this one change alone can end a small problem. If you are wondering how to get rid of silverfish in bathroom specifically, drying the room out matters more than any spray.
2. Seal Cracks and Entry Points
Silverfish slip in through tiny gaps around pipes, skirting boards, windows, and doors. Walk through the house with a tube of caulk and seal any cracks you find, especially in the bathroom and kitchen. Fit draught excluders under doors and repair torn window screens. Blocking their routes in is a simple, chemical-free way to cut their numbers.
3. Try a Simple Jar Trap
A homemade jar trap is one of the easiest natural ways to catch silverfish. Wrap the outside of a glass jar with masking tape so the insects can climb up, and put a small piece of bread or a spoonful of flour inside as bait. The silverfish climb in but cannot climb back out of the smooth glass. Place the jar near damp corners at night and check it each morning. It costs almost nothing and uses no chemicals at all.
4. Use Diatomaceous Earth
Food-grade diatomaceous earth is a fine natural powder made from fossilised algae. Sprinkle a thin line of it along skirting boards, behind appliances, and in cracks where you have seen silverfish. It is harmless to people and pets when used as directed, but it damages the insects’ outer coating and dries them out. Wear a simple dust mask while applying it, keep it dry, and reapply after cleaning. This is one of the most reliable ways to get rid of silverfish naturally without resorting to sprays.
5. Scatter Cloves, Cedar, and Cinnamon
Silverfish dislike strong natural scents. Place whole cloves in small bowls or sachets in wardrobes, drawers, and bathroom cupboards. Cedar blocks or cedar shavings work the same way in closets and storage boxes, and a sprinkle of cinnamon near entry points can help too. These will not kill an infestation on their own, but they make your home far less inviting and work well alongside the other methods here.
6. Declutter Paper and Cardboard
Stacks of old newspapers, magazines, and cardboard boxes are both food and shelter for silverfish. Clear out paper clutter, store important documents in sealed plastic containers instead of cardboard, and keep books on shelves rather than in piles on the floor. Vacuum regularly, especially in corners and under furniture, to remove eggs and the starchy crumbs they feed on.
7. Protect the Kitchen and Pantry
Silverfish also wander into kitchens, where they can get into dry goods. Store flour, rice, cereal, and sugar in sealed glass or hard plastic containers, wipe up crumbs promptly, and clean under the sink regularly. Keeping the kitchen dry and food sealed removes two of the main reasons they show up there.
When to Call a Professional
Natural methods handle most silverfish problems within a few weeks, but if you keep seeing large numbers despite drying the house out and sealing gaps, there may be a hidden moisture problem, such as a leak inside a wall. In that case, a pest-control professional can find the source and treat it safely. Fixing the damp is still the key — without it, any treatment will only be temporary.
Conclusion
Getting rid of silverfish naturally comes down to three things: dry the damp spots, seal the gaps, and take away their food. Use a dehumidifier, set a few jar traps, sprinkle diatomaceous earth where they travel, and keep paper and food stored properly — and the silverfish will soon have no reason to stay. For more simple natural pest control at home, see our guide on how to keep ants out of the kitchen.
