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Original poster

PLEASE HELP - SILVERFISH INFESTATION

43 replies

21dolly · 03/12/2021 13:52

So sorry but I'm posting for traffic.

I seriously need URGENT help. We recently moved into our new flat a few months ago during the summer. All was well but we've been seeing Silverfish all over the place daily.

Instead of having a boiler we have a huge water tank in a cupboard in the bathroom. This is the hottest room in the flat and because we were also having warm temperatures because of summer, we were seeing Silverfish in the bathroom. I guess that's understandable because it's a warm room and they seem to like warm places.
We'd kill them when we saw them and we also bought a spray that we'd spray around the skirting boards which seemed to work for a few days or so.

The Landlord's agent was quite helpful as they sent round pest control who had a special spray that would last 30 days meaning we wouldn't see them for a while.
Anyway! Within a couple of days I've opened a cupboard in the kitchen to see the biggest Silverfish where the plates are. I've just opened the wardrobe to see another huge one on DDs towel (who is 6 months btw!)

It's just never ending. It's unhygienic and just so annoying to have these little insects everywhere. Can I just add that I didn't know there were different types of Silverfish and these ones look more like Centipedes, it's disgusting! We've tried so many things but if anyone has any tips to get rid of them, please comment below. I'm at my wits end😂

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Original poster
21dolly · 16/12/2023 00:34

@SuzieB7 we still see silverfish here and there. Maybe twice a week in the bathroom but other than that, it’s nothing like it was before. Pest control would come round and spray the property for a few months and that seemed to help.

They seem to like damp places so they’re only ever in the bathroom. Never a bedroom or living room etc. Good luck, they’re horrible!

OP posts:
SuzieB7 · 14/11/2023 20:00

@21dolly I know this thread is now a couple of years old but did you ever get rid of them? We are in the same position, moved into our house in the summer and we have a major silverfish problem.

dancerdog · 05/12/2021 19:01

Dog flea spray, possibly called 'Kill'em' or 'RIP' finally did the trick for us.

Melroses · 05/12/2021 18:33

🤣

DaisyNGO · 04/12/2021 18:35

@Melroses

It would definitely worth trapping it and putting a blob of nail varnish on to be sure.
Oh no!

I will just imagine he's like another member of the family 😁

Melroses · 04/12/2021 15:45

It would definitely worth trapping it and putting a blob of nail varnish on to be sure.

DaisyNGO · 04/12/2021 09:39

Maddening "Glue a wig to it's head or something so you know whether it is indeed the same one."

😂😂

Slothkin · 04/12/2021 06:27

@Suzi888

We had these in the office, the building was closed, it was sprayed (not sure with what ) and no one was allowed in for two days.
For silverfish? They’re an absolute pain in they get into a manuscript room or something but they’re not otherwise harmful as far as I know.
Suzi888 · 04/12/2021 05:45

We had these in the office, the building was closed, it was sprayed (not sure with what ) and no one was allowed in for two days.

BookFiend4Life · 04/12/2021 04:43

Can you plan a weekend away and just leave tons of insect killer out all over the place? Plus dehumidifier and all the other ideas on this thread? Just really blitz them? I can't stand bugs, we had ants last summer and I almost lost my mind.

I think I would do one big weekend of bug murder and then leave a few traps/bait somewhere your baby couldn't get to them.

Slothkin · 04/12/2021 02:53

I will admit I did once scream and punch a house centipede when I woke up to it on my thigh but we had a good conversation about consent the following day and he went back to eating mosquitoes in my bedroom.

Slothkin · 04/12/2021 02:46

OP one question - you say sometimes you get very different bigger ones - do you maybe have a couple of house centipedes hanging out and tucking into your silverfish? They look a bit like prawn/centipede crosses and they’re really great guys to have in your home!

CustardySergeant · 04/12/2021 01:13

I had them in the bathroom and got rid of them completely with this www.amazon.co.uk/Karlsten-Silverfish-Effective-Quality-staining/dp/B089MYTPPN?ref_=ast_sto_dp&tag=mumsnetforu03-21. I just sprayed it all around the edges of the bathroom floor and haven't seen one since.

mommydragonn · 04/12/2021 01:08

Baby powder.... I use it every year as soon as I see them... sends them packing. But you will need to vacuum and put some fresh down into the nooks now and again.

maddening · 04/12/2021 01:06

ShineySparkleyChrissmassy

I normally see one in the bathroom most days. He is a solitary soul.

Bet it's 100 different ones and they're all living under your lino grin

It's tiled.

Glue a wig to it's head or something so you know whether it is indeed the same one.

DaisyNGO · 04/12/2021 00:50

@ShineySparkleyChrissmassy

I normally see one in the bathroom most days. He is a solitary soul.

Bet it's 100 different ones and they're all living under your lino Grin

It's tiled.

Maybe a different one goes to see the world every day...

ShineySparkleyChrissmassy · 04/12/2021 00:48

I normally see one in the bathroom most days. He is a solitary soul.

Bet it's 100 different ones and they're all living under your lino Grin

PLEASE HELP - SILVERFISH INFESTATION
DaisyNGO · 04/12/2021 00:36

Oh sorry, you said "so often".

So how many are you getting in a day?

DaisyNGO · 04/12/2021 00:35

@21dolly

Thank you so much for the suggestions, we're literally going to try everything one by one😂 we've seen them less since the summer but I still can't deal with seeing them so often in every room! It's disgusting and why does it look like a centipede?!!! Yuck yuck. Our contract is for 2 years and we moved here in July so can't move anytime soon🙃
If you only see them "every so often" it's not an infestation.

I normally see one in the bathroom most days. He is a solitary soul.

PurpleBerryDancer · 04/12/2021 00:25

Is there a window in the bathroom? Can you leave a window open a little to vent the room?

PurpleBerryDancer · 04/12/2021 00:23

They are living in the loft in my house. They come out of tiny little cracks and into the upstairs rooms.

All good advice up thread. Dehumidifier, repeat the bug spray. Clean regularly to get the ones you can see. And fill up any cracks and crevices you see in your walls, cupboards, floors and ceiling. Don't give them a route out.

Sunbeams09 · 04/12/2021 00:03

We had them in our old house, horrible looking things! I made a lavender spray solution up with some lavender liquid and water, if I ever saw one I would spray like mad and that would keep them at bay for a while.

BeesButterflies · 03/12/2021 23:52

Pest controller here 🙋🏻‍♀️
Ventilation is key! Consider the use of a dehumidifier, don’t dry clothes on the radiator etc, minimise clutter/ dust/ organic matter. Use a crawling insect spray around the edges of the affected rooms, leave it down without hoovering/ mopping- after 7-10 days have a good hoover round and repeat.
They don’t have a ‘nest’ they are a casual wanderer, which is why they can be tricky to get rid of. They don’t cause a problem in terms of health and they are not hygiene related xx

Wildrobin · 03/12/2021 20:22

Ours disappeared overnight when I sprinkled diamaceous earth on the ground and stairs where I’d seen them. Means no chemicals but don’t breathe it in

Original poster
21dolly · 03/12/2021 20:19

@Meggie2008

Am I the only one here who has absolutely not a bloody clue what a silverfish is? 🙈😂
Google it! It's horrid, I wanted to add a pic but didn't want to make people cringe😂 nothing big or anything but just not the short of shit you want to see crawling up the walls and in the cupboards of your house!
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