Seeing silverfish in your home this summer? You’re not alone. These fast-moving, silvery insects are common in homes throughout the Lower Mainland, and warm summer weather can make them especially noticeable.
At Go Green Pest Control, we regularly hear from homeowners who are wondering the same thing: Why are silverfish suddenly showing up in my house, and how do I get rid of them for good?
The good news is that seeing a silverfish doesn’t necessarily mean your home is dirty. Silverfish are attracted to the conditions found in many homes — especially areas that are dark, damp, warm, and undisturbed.
The bad news? If you’re seeing them regularly, there may be more hiding nearby.
What Are Silverfish?
Silverfish are small, wingless insects with a distinctive silvery appearance and long, tail-like appendages. They move quickly and often disappear into cracks, closets, bathrooms, basements, storage areas, and other dark spaces when disturbed.
They are primarily nocturnal, which means you may not see them during the day. Finding one during daylight hours can sometimes indicate that there is a larger population hiding out of sight.
Silverfish feed on carbohydrates and starchy materials. They can eat things such as paper, cardboard, book bindings, wallpaper paste, fabrics containing starch, and other household materials.
While silverfish aren’t known for biting people, they can become a nuisance and may damage household belongings over time.
Why Do You See More Silverfish in the Summer?
Summer can create ideal conditions for silverfish activity.
Warmer temperatures can increase their activity and reproduction, while moisture in and around your home provides the environment they prefer. Changes in temperature and humidity can also cause silverfish to move around more in search of food, shelter, and suitable conditions.
Homes with crawl spaces, basements, bathrooms, laundry rooms, garages, storage areas, and other damp or humid spaces can be particularly attractive.
You may also notice silverfish more often during the summer simply because they are more active.
Common places to find silverfish include:
- Bathrooms and around plumbing
- Basements and crawl spaces
- Laundry rooms
- Under sinks
- Around water heaters
- Closets and storage rooms
- Garages
- Areas with cardboard or paper storage
- Cracks and gaps around baseboards
- Dark areas that are rarely disturbed
Why Are Silverfish in My Home?
Silverfish don’t enter your home because it’s dirty.
They’re looking for three basic things:
Food.
Silverfish can feed on starches, carbohydrates, paper products, adhesives, fabrics, and other materials commonly found in homes.
Moisture.
Damp conditions are highly attractive to silverfish. Leaks, condensation, high humidity, and moisture in basements or crawl spaces can all contribute to an environment they like.
Shelter.
Silverfish prefer dark, protected areas. Cracks, wall voids, storage areas, boxes, and spaces underneath or behind household fixtures can provide excellent hiding places.
If your home provides all three, silverfish may have little reason to leave.
Are Silverfish Dangerous?
Silverfish are not considered dangerous to people or pets, and they aren’t known for transmitting diseases in the way some other household pests can.
However, that doesn’t mean you should ignore them.
A small number of silverfish can be difficult to notice, particularly because they are nocturnal and excellent at hiding. If you’re seeing them regularly, there may be a population established somewhere in your home.
Silverfish can also damage certain household items, particularly paper products, books, wallpaper, cardboard, and materials containing starch or adhesives.
In other words, one silverfish isn’t necessarily an emergency — but repeated sightings are worth investigating.
How Can You Reduce Silverfish Numbers?
There are several things homeowners can do to make their property less attractive to silverfish.
1. Reduce Moisture
Start by looking for sources of excess moisture.
Check for:
- Leaking pipes or faucets
- Condensation
- Plumbing leaks
- Damp basements
- Moist crawl spaces
- Poor ventilation in bathrooms
- Water intrusion around windows or foundations
Using ventilation or a dehumidifier in damp areas can also help reduce humidity.
2. Remove Clutter
Silverfish love dark, undisturbed hiding places.
Reduce clutter in basements, garages, closets, and storage areas. Avoid leaving piles of cardboard, paper, clothing, or other materials sitting undisturbed for long periods.
3. Store Paper Products Properly
If you have boxes of books, documents, photographs, or other paper materials stored in a basement or garage, consider moving them into sealed plastic storage containers.
Cardboard boxes can provide both food and shelter for silverfish.
4. Seal Cracks and Gaps
Inspect areas where silverfish may enter or move around your home.
Pay particular attention to:
- Baseboards
- Around pipes
- Around doors and windows
- Foundation cracks
- Utility penetrations
- Gaps around cabinets
- Cracks in walls and flooring
Sealing these areas can help reduce potential entry points and hiding places.
5. Fix Water Problems
If there is an underlying moisture problem, simply killing the silverfish you see may not solve the issue.
A leaking pipe, damp crawl space, drainage problem, or excessive humidity can continue to create conditions that attract them.
Addressing the reason they’re there is just as important as treating the insects themselves.
Can You Stop Silverfish Completely?
Getting rid of silverfish isn’t always as simple as spraying the ones you can see.
Because silverfish are good at hiding, there can be insects in cracks, wall voids, storage areas, and other locations you can’t easily reach.
The most effective approach is usually a combination of:
Moisture control + sanitation + exclusion + targeted pest treatment.
The goal isn’t simply to kill the silverfish running across your bathroom floor.
The goal is to identify why they’re there, where they’re hiding, and how they’re getting into or moving through the home.
When Should You Call a Pest Control Professional?
If you’re seeing a silverfish once in a while, there may not be a major infestation.
But if you’re seeing them:
- Several times a week
- In multiple rooms
- During the daytime
- In bathrooms and bedrooms
- Around your basement or crawl space
- In closets or storage areas
- Despite cleaning and reducing moisture
…it may be time for a professional inspection.
A pest control professional can look beyond the silverfish you can see and help identify conditions that may be supporting the population.
Don’t Let Silverfish Take Over Your Summer
Silverfish are small, but a recurring infestation can be frustrating — especially when you keep seeing them despite trying to eliminate them yourself.
The key is to address the source of the problem, not just the insects you happen to see.
If silverfish have become a regular sight in your home, Go Green Pest Control can help identify the conditions contributing to the problem and develop a targeted plan to reduce their numbers and prevent them from coming back.
Seeing Silverfish? Let’s Deal With Them.
Don’t spend the summer chasing silverfish around your house.
Call Go Green Pest Control at 778-886-4111 to discuss your silverfish problem and arrange an inspection.
Go Green Pest Control
📞 778-886-4111
🌐 gogreenpestcontrol.ca
Your home should be a place where you can relax — not a place where you’re constantly watching the floor for silverfish.
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