Silverfish Control
Silverfish Control
Newcastle and Hunter Valley
Silverfish are annoying pests. Once you’ve got them, it seems impossible to get rid of them.
But if you’ve got silverfish, it’s important to get rid of them, as they can damage clothing, fabrics, documents and food.
To get on top of a silverfish problem, it’s important to identify all the areas of infestation, correct conducive conditions and carry out a professional silverfish treatment.
How we get rid of silverfish > Professional Silverfish Treatments
- Locate all sites of infestation
- Clear belongings from infested areas
- Remove all clothes from wardrobes
- Food from pantries
- Storage boxes
- Treat clothes to kill any silverfish and their eggs
- Treat wardrobes and infested areas with insecticide spray
- Treat roof void and sub-floor with insecticide powder
- Take actions to remedy conditions conducive to silverfish infestation
Inspect for silverfish hiding places
As with all our pest treatments we start with a thorough inspection to fully understand the nature of the problem. Finding all the locations where the silverfish are hiding is important to ensure we eliminate the problem.
Clear infested areas of belongings
Wardrobes & Drawers
Once we have determined all the infestation sites, it is important to empty all the wardrobes and cupboards and treat all clothes, not just the clothes with obvious damage. This is important as silverfish and their eggs can be hard to spot.
Kitchen
Similarly, if the silverfish problem is in the kitchen cupboards and drawers, they need to be emptied of food and crockery / utensils, so we can carry out a treatment.
Storage areas
If the silverfish problem is in storage areas, all the boxes need to be removed and opened and emptied for inspection and treatment. Silverfish LOVE cardboard boxes (which they eat!), so storing goods is sealed plastic boxes is the way to go.
Treat clothes for silverfish
Heat can be used to kill silverfish and their eggs in clothes. Clothes can be washed in a hot wash and tumble dried (if the fabric allows) or placed into black plastic bags, sealed and placed in the sun for a couple of hours.
Treat cupboards and drawers for silverfish
All the wardrobes will then be treated with a water-based spray to kill any eggs and silverfish present and leave a residue for long lasting protection. Once dried belongings can be returned.
Treat roof void and sub-floor for silverfish
Silverfish love the insulation in roof voids and also the damp sub-floor environment. Treating these areas with insecticide dust kills any silverfish present and provides long lasting protection.
Insecticide powders can also be used to treat cardboard storage boxes.
Take actions to eliminate conditions conducive to silverfish infestation
Silverfish like humid conditions (>75%) so making sure the sub-floor is dry (if you have one). Improving drainage and ventilation (fans may be an option) will help. Using de-humidifiers in bedrooms and storage areas and / or regular use of air-conditioning during the warmer months (which reduces humidity). See addition steps to prevent a silverfish infestation (below).
What Our Customers Say
What are the signs of a silverfish problem?
- Silverfish eat plant material and starchy foods. So, if you have irregular holes in cotton clothing or chewed areas on boxes or documents, it could be silverfish.
- Silverfish are quite long lived (up to 8 years!). Baby silverfish look like adult silverfish, only smaller. They get bigger each time they moult, so if you see a big silverfish, it could be a couple of years old, so you could have a big problem.
- Silverfish are nocturnal and generally hiding in undisturbed places, so an infestation can build up without you noticing causing significant damage.
- Although silverfish are found in sinks and baths, they don’t come up the plug hole, rather they fall in the sink / bath and cannot climb out.
Silverfish
Live evidence of their existence can often be found in bathtubs, sinks or washbasins because they fall in and are unable to climb out.
Feeding marks
Holes, notches on edges and surface etchings are all signs of a silverfish infestation.
Stains
Yellow stains, scales and pepper-like faeces may be present on infested materials.