Silverfish are very common insects in households. They are harmless to humans, but they like to chew on objects, especially paper or textiles that may contain traces of starch or sugar, such as books or upholstered furniture. Therefore, you need to get rid of them before they destroy important items.
How many times have you seen a silverfish running around the bathtub or shower tray? These little parasites are actually called Lepisma saccharina and are clearly not fish, but have a shape and color that closely resembles them when they move. Attention, they are not dangerous, they do not sting, they do not bite and, as far as you know, they do not transmit diseases. However, they are really eye-catching and you probably won’t want to chase them around the bathroom or library.
You should know that they crave sugary substances (polysaccharides) found in many household items such as book glue, carpet fibers, household glue, paints, textiles and even furniture. This means that they do not harm people, but they can destroy many things over time. Also, like many other pests, they like moisture. It should be taken into account that if they are well acclimatized, they can live up to 8 years and leave the eggs lying freely. How to get rid of it?
Natural remedies for silverfish
starch trap
Place the food or starchy mass in a glass container and wrap the outside with tape. In this way, the silverfish can enter the pot on the rough surface of the strip, but cannot return.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is known for its mild and pleasant aroma. But luckily these pesky little parasites can’t stand it. One method is to place cinnamon sticks in infested areas such as the table, bathroom, kitchen cabinets, drawers, etc. You can also prepare bags of ground cinnamon.
rolled newspaper
Take an old newspaper and wet it so that the fish can get into it and build its own house. After a few days, throw away the newspaper or burn it in the fireplace to remove any remaining silverfish.
cedar oil
You can use cedarwood oil in a diffuser or atomizer filled with water and cedarwood oil . Woodpeckers hate the strong-smelling cedar pheromones, which makes them a great deterrent.
Laurier
Scatter dried bay leaves around the house. Its oils repel silverfish and other insects. Be careful if you have children as bay leaf can be poisonous.
Cucumber
Cucumber peels are one of the best ways to get rid of silverfish . They have a similar effect to cedar and cinnamon. Just peel the cucumber and place the skins where they would normally go in the house. Or you can simply place these shells where you normally see them.
cell
Salt is another home remedy you can use to get rid of silverfish naturally. How does it work? These insects generally cannot withstand salt and gradually die from dehydration. It may take some time to kill them with this home remedy, but it is known to be very effective.
Dents
Cloves contain eugenol, which is often used as an insecticide to kill insects and household pests. How to use it? Place cloves in places such as cracks and crevices in the ground, dark and damp places, holes and gutters, etc. The smell of cloves repels these pests.
diatomaceous earth
Diatomaceous earth is non-toxic and consists of crushed sedimentary rocks containing silica from the fossilized remains of organisms called diatoms . It is effective against silverfish and many other household pests. Most importantly, it is harmless to humans and pets when used properly. Lightly sprinkle this powder around baseboards, behind appliances and under sinks.
Lavender
Silverfish do not like the smell of lavender . Using an essential oil for cleaning or as a home fragrance is a great way to keep them away. Add a few drops to the cleaner and spray on kitchen and bathroom cabinets, under sinks and around baseboards.
