Some Simple Tricks To Keep Silverfish Out Of Your Raleigh, NC Home

If you reduce moisture, and any hiding places that are high in humidity, you can deter these insects. While simple to understand, you're going to have to roll your sleeve up and do some work to make your yard less desirable to silverfish.

• Do some raking; then, do more raking.
• Pluck up weeds.
• Inspect your gutters and clean out any debris or soil.
• Repair damaged splash blocks or downspouts.
• Remove objects that sit on the ground next to your home.
• Give your plants only the water they need.
• Put sprinklers on a timer.
• Water your plants in the early morning.
• Repair damaged pipes.
• Trim vegetation away from your exterior.
• If you're able, create a dry 1-foot perimeter near your foundation walls.

When silverfish come into your yard, they'll be drawn to your landscaping. Once there, they will make attempts to explore your foundation walls. It is vital that they don't find any entry points. Here are a few common entry points they use:

• Cracks in foundation walls
• Gaps around pipes
• Gaps around wire conduits or wires behind utility boxes
• Chipped mortar around bricks
• Damaged door sweeps on exterior doors
• Damage on weatherstripping near the bottom of exterior doors
• Gaps along the edge of exterior door and window frames
• Broken window panes and damaged frames on basement windows

How To Make Silverfish Feel Unwelcome

When silverfish find a way into your home, they'll search for areas that are high in humidity. They need moisture to survive. This will lure them into your bathroom, especially if you have leaky faucets or showerheads. They'll get into your kitchen, especially under your kitchen sink where you could have a leaky garbage disposal or a weeping pipe. They'll get into your boiler room where condensation may be on the floor. You'll find them in storage rooms, attic spaces, and basement areas. In all of these places, they're going to be searching for high humidity and dampness.

• Fix or replace leaky faucets and showerheads.
• Fix plumbing issues.
• Address condensation problems.
• Install dehumidifiers, ventilation, or fans in areas that stay humid.
• Use ventilation and fans that are installed. If you take a bath or shower, turn the fan on. It can make a big difference.
• If you have a jetted tub, refrain from leaving water in your tub between uses.

It is also important to address food sources if you're able. While you can't hide all the food from silverfish, you can reduce it enough to resist silverfish activity and stunt their population.

• Put storage items in plastic totes, rather than cardboard boxes. Some items that can be at risk are books, clothing, newspapers, magazines, collectible cards, and comic books.
• Put pantry foods in sealed containers. Silverfish can become pantry pests when they discover a desirable food source on your shelves or in your cabinets.