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Please be sure to read the product label of any insecticide you choose to use to get information on the personal protective safety gear you will need. In most situations, it is recommended that you wear long pants, a long sleeved shirt, closed toe shoes with socks, chemical resistant gloves, and goggles. In areas where ventilation is poor, a manufacturer may recommend you wear a mask or a respirator. We have put together two different safety kits that will make selecting the correct safety gear easier for you.

Silverfish Inspection Guide

How to Find Silverfish in Your Home

By DoMyOwn staff
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Overview
Image of a silverfish

Silverfish can cause damage to your possessions if they are not found and treated quickly. If you have seen silverfish in your home or suspect you may have them, use this guide to figure out where silverfish are hiding in your home.

Inspect Silverfish Food Sources

Image of stacked flattened cardboard

Silverfish will eat sugars, starches, and natural fibers in any variation they can find. This leads to silverfish eating glues, hair, and linens. Silverfish live near their food sources, so where sugars and starches are, silverfish may be nearby.

Check for silverfish in the following areas:

  • Bookcases - Silverfish are attracted to the glue of book bindings. Check the pages of books, the shelves of the bookcase, and the corners and crevices of the case.
  • Closets - Silverfish like the dark and will hide in rooms that are mostly dark, like closets. Check corners, near baseboards, and on clothing that is not frequently worn for silverfish. Also, inspect your silk, linen, and leather garments.
  • Kitchen Pantries - Kitchen pantries are both dark and full of sugars and starches, making them the perfect place for silverfish to hide. Check corners, crevices, and behind pantry items that are not frequently used.
  • Behind Wallpaper - Have peeling wallpaper? Silverfish are attracted to the glue on the back of wallpaper and could be hiding on a torn or peeling piece. Also, if you have wallpaper that has yet to be hung and is being stored in a garage or basement, you should check inside the roll.
  • On Anything Mounted - Silverfish are attracted to the glue used in photo mats and other framed items. Inspect your photos and paintings for silverfish.
  • Piles of Cardboard - Silverfish love cardboard as it provides a constant food source. If you have cardboard boxes stored in the basement or garage, or a pile of old cardboard in an unused bedroom, silverfish may be nearby.

Follow The Humidity

Image of a home's attic

Silverfish like damp, humid areas. When looking for silverfish, check the following areas around the home:

  • Attics
  • Basements
  • Bathrooms
  • Kitchens
  • Inside sinks and showers
  • Water heater closets
  • Crawlspaces
  • Garages
  • Anywhere with stored goods

Found silverfish? Learn how to treat them with our how to get rid of silverfish guide. Found a bug but aren't sure if it is a silverfish? Read our guide on what silverfish look like to be sure.

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