Walnut Creek Silverfish Control

Silverfish Prevention

Silverfish are creepy crawlies that nobody enjoys finding in their home. They may not be as regularly seen as ants, but they are extremely common. If you are not sure whether you have ever seen one in your home, consider yourself lucky. The way that they slink across the floor is not a sight that anyone enjoys having seen in the confines of their space. Here is a great resource to learn more about silverfish at homepestcontrol.org.

Silverfish can be found in any part of the United States, but are especially common in humid climates. They have long, flat bodies that taper off at the end. With six legs, they move fast. If the majority of your home does not have a water problem or leakage, you may only see them in areas of your home where water is supposed to be found. Your bathroom and kitchen are the two most common areas on the main floor of your house. They like these areas because they either have water or food. The kitchen usually has both. If your home has water leaking in any location, you may find them in those areas as well. 

Water Leakage?

If you have been seeing silverfish around your home outside of the bathroom or kitchen, There may be an area of your home that needs repair. Having a professional inspect the area to see if that is the case can help you begin tackling the issue. 

If you have no areas that have water leakage or need repair, your issue may be because of food, clutter, or a collection of water in the kitchen or bathroom. Once food and water are taken care of the problem usually resolves itself. Insecticide can be used to help rid the area as well.

Clutter?

Making sure there is no regular clutter in the bathroom that is maintaining an environment of moisture can help prevent silverfish from appearing in the area. Make sure water is cleaned up after baths and showers and that stacks of wet or dirty clothes are not left piled up on a wet bathroom floor.

Humidity?

Silverfish love humidity and water, but they also love carbohydrates and other pantry essentials. Make sure that your food is properly sealed in the pantry and that food is put and properly stored away after use. 

If your bathroom is kept dry and your kitchen is kept organized, but you still catch the occasional silverfish or two, you may need to dehumidify certain areas of your space. Purchase a dehumidifier and place it in certain areas of your home where you see the critters or areas of your home that you know are more humid than others. You can install a fan or purchase a portable fan in your bathroom that can help circulate any wet air around the area. Running cold air throughout your air conditioner can help dry out any moist areas. 

Outside of cleanliness and dehumidifying your home, there are a few random tasks that you are probably already doing that help contribute to the prevention of silverfish. Regularly vacuuming your space not only cleans up the area and removes bits of items that silverfish may find attractive, but it may also vacuum up the silverfish and their eggs as well. You can also use a hand vacuum to help clean cracks and crevices that your normal vacuum cleaner cannot reach.

If you already have a silverfish problem and these methods of prevention did not resolve the issue, an insecticide can help remove the insects that are already present in the home. Mighty Men Pest Control can help you with deciding what form of insecticide is best for your situation and how much you should use in space. We have the knowledge and experience to help guide you through whatever process you are currently in. If you are just trying to implement methods of prevention, we can guide you through that, but we can also help in any current insect removal as well.