Have you ever seen a tiny, shiny, silver bug wiggle across your floor like a little fish? That’s a silverfish! They are small insects that can show up in our homes. You might wonder, where do silverfish come from and what are they doing inside? While they don’t bite or make us sick, they can chew on our books, clothes, and wallpaper. Let’s find out how they get in and how to keep them out.
Where Do Silverfish Find Their Way In?
Silverfish don’t just appear out of thin air. They come from outside and look for cozy places to live. They are very good at finding ways into our houses.
They Love Wet and Damp Places
Silverfish love moisture. Their favorite places are wet and dark. Outside, they live under rocks, in piles of wet leaves, or in damp soil. These damp environments are perfect for them. When they look for a new home, they search for similar spots inside your house. This is why you often find them in bathrooms, basements, and laundry rooms. We published a latest post on Best Silverfish Traps and Prevention Tips. 2025 Guide
Finding Tiny Doors into Your Home
Silverfish are small and flat, so they can squeeze through very tiny holes. These entry points can be little cracks in the wall, gaps around your windows, or spaces where pipes come into the house. They can crawl right under a door if there is a small gap. Professional pest control companies often point out that sealing these gaps is a key step in keeping pests out.
Hitching a Ride Inside
Sometimes, we bring silverfish inside without even knowing it! They can hide in cardboard boxes, stacks of old newspapers, or even bags of old clothes. If these items were stored in a damp place like a garage or shed, a silverfish might have crawled inside for a ride into your warm house.
Looking for Their Favorite Snacks
Once inside, silverfish look for food. They love to eat things with starch in them. Their favorite foods are starchy materials like paper, the glue in book bindings, wallpaper paste, and even some types of clothing. They also eat dust, hair, and other tiny bits of things they find on the floor. Yesterday, we published a post on What is a Baby Silverfish? How to Get Rid of Them Fastly in 2025
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How to Stop Silverfish in Your Home
Keeping silverfish away is all about making your home a place they don’t want to be. Here are some simple steps you can take.
1. Make Your Home Dry
The most important step is to reduce moisture. Silverfish need water, so a dry home is not a fun place for them. You can use a dehumidifier to take water out of the air. Make sure your bathroom fans are working well to clear out steam after a shower. If you have any leaky pipes under the sink or in the basement, fixing them will help a lot.
2. Close the Doors on Them
Next, you need to seal cracks and holes where they can get in. Look around your home for any small gaps in the foundation, walls, or around doors and windows. You can use caulk to fill these holes. This makes it much harder for silverfish and other bugs to sneak inside. Read the post on How to Get Rid of Silverfish in Bathroom Naturally? 2025 Guide
3. Take Away Their Food
A clean house has less food for silverfish. Put dry foods like cereal, flour, and pasta into airtight containers. Don’t leave stacks of old papers, magazines, or cardboard boxes lying around. Vacuuming your floors regularly picks up the dust, hair, and crumbs that silverfish love to eat.
4. Try Natural Ways to Keep Them Away
You don’t always need strong chemicals to stop silverfish. Some natural repellents work well. Silverfish do not like the smell of lavender or cedar. You can place small bags of dried lavender or cedar blocks in your closets and drawers. The smell of citrus, like lemon or orange peels, can also help keep them away. These are safe and easy ways to tell silverfish to stay out.
If you see a lot of silverfish and can’t get rid of them, it might be time to call a professional pest control service. They can help find where the silverfish are hiding and use special treatments to remove them for good. Read out the latest post on Bugs That Look Like Silverfish in House? 2025 Guide
Protect Your Home from Silverfish
Now you know where do silverfish come from and how to stop them. They come from the outdoors seeking dampness, food, and shelter. By keeping your home dry, sealed, and clean, you can make it a place they will want to avoid. Take these simple steps to protect your books, clothes, and peace of mind from these wiggly little pests. Follow Us on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter for the latest updates.
FAQs
Why shouldn’t you kill silverfish?
While one or two aren’t a big deal, seeing silverfish can be a sign that you have a dampness problem in your home which could lead to bigger issues like mold. It’s better to fix the cause than just squish the bug.
Why do I have silverfish in my house?
You likely have silverfish because your home has damp areas and small cracks they can enter through. They are also attracted to food sources like paper, glue, and dust.
How do I get rid of silverfish?
Reduce moisture with fans or a dehumidifier, seal cracks in walls, store food in sealed containers, and clean up clutter like old papers and boxes.
How do you find a silverfish nest?
Silverfish don’t build nests like ants do. They lay eggs in dark, hidden places near their food sources, like in cracks, behind wallpaper, or inside old books.
How to permanently get rid of silverfish?
To get rid of them for good, you must remove what attracts them: moisture, food, and entry points. Keep your home dry, clean, and well-sealed.
What smells prevent silverfish?
Silverfish dislike the smell of cedar, lavender, cinnamon, and citrus fruits like lemons and oranges.
Should I be worried if I have silverfish?
You shouldn’t be too worried, as they don’t harm people. However, they can damage your belongings and are a sign of excess moisture, so it’s a good idea to deal with them.
Do silverfish lay eggs in clothes?
Yes, they can lay eggs in clothes, especially if the clothes are stored in a dark, damp closet and have starch on them.
