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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Silverfish!

64 replies

LouiseEH · 10/05/2018 22:16

Posting here for traffic!

I have found a couple silverfish in my dirty washing (didn’t know what they were at the time and they ran under the machine before I could kill them) I put the clothes to wash on a 40 degree cycle and hung all the clothes up once dry.

My question is will they or their eggs survive the wash if there was any in there before I put it to wash? I found another one in the clean washing once I had finished putting it all away -.- (I left my washing basket on the floor in the kitchen so it could have crawled in afterwards)

I have looked through the clean washing and can’t see any signs but I just want to make sure I’m not going to end up with lots of them in all of mine and my DC clothing

TIA x

OP posts:
liz70 · 10/05/2018 22:20

Sorry, no help, I thought you meant the band. I had a Silverfish poster on my wall once. I've never heard anything by them; I just liked the picture. #random

Singlenotsingle · 10/05/2018 22:21

Well they don't carry disease and they don't bite, so it could be worse! I've only ever seen one or two, not infestations. Just be glad it's not cockroaches!

EyeDrops · 10/05/2018 22:23

I used to get them in my bathroom! I'm afraid I moved out fairly soon after (for unrelated reasons), but hope someone can give you some good advice soon!

Original poster
LouiseEH · 10/05/2018 22:25

I know I could have worse in my house but I HATE bugs and it’s making my skin crawl just thinking about it. Not going to be able to sleep tonight because of it :(

OP posts:
DianaPrincessOfThemyscira · 10/05/2018 22:27

We have silverfish, our house is old with many nooks and crannies.

I’ll be honest, I’m not arsed about them. They don’t do anything. If I’m quick enough I’ll kill it but otherwise they’re about the only creepy crawly I forget about the second they’re out of sight.

OhHelpNooo · 10/05/2018 22:28

I've got them in my bathroom. No they wont have survived the wash. They're pretty harmless but horrible to look at and can do some damage because they eat stuff like books and wallpaper paste apparently. Ant powder will finish them off. They like dark places and tend to come out at night.

WickedLazy · 10/05/2018 22:29

Does anything repel them?

SirVixofVixHall · 10/05/2018 22:31

I love silverfish. So beautiful! They are completely harmless shimmering little things.
#teamsilverfish

2ducks2ducklings · 10/05/2018 22:34

You can get a flea fogger from pets at home which kills silverfish along with a lot of other creepie crawlies. I think it's called Bob Johnson. You have to buy a couple depending on the size of your house, close all the windows, set them off and leave them to do their thing for a couple of hours.

Plasebeafleabite · 10/05/2018 22:35

Dethlac is the answer

NoNoCharlieRascal · 10/05/2018 22:37

Unless it's an infestation, live and let live?

We get one or two every now and again and I generally let them get on with it.

#teamsilverfish

Original poster
LouiseEH · 10/05/2018 22:38

Thank you for your suggestions, I know they’re harmless but I have a serious phobia of bugs and hate the idea of having them in my clothes.

Tomorrow is the start of trying to get rid of them!

OP posts:
2ducks2ducklings · 10/05/2018 22:40

I'm with you, my skin crawls at the sight of the creepy little buggers.

Original poster
LouiseEH · 10/05/2018 22:41

Is dethlac toxic or dangerous? I have a 3 year old and a newborn so don’t want to use anything that could harm them

OP posts:
mummysharkdodododododo · 10/05/2018 22:43

note to self "don't google silverfish just before bed"

shouldwestayorshouldwego · 10/05/2018 22:47

Does anything repel them?
Cats - even our daft non-hunting cat can kill them. Not seen one since a month or two after they moved in. Very few spiders or flies last long here either.

Bogmoppit · 10/05/2018 22:47

I like bugs. But for some reason I HATE silverfish.
I'm with you OP. Kill the fuckers. They are horrible.

Bravouniformmike · 10/05/2018 22:52

They hide in dark places and scarper when the light is turned on or thy are uncovered. They live in damp areas and skiiing boards and crevices etc.
Move all damp things away from the area, seal off all cracks etc and dry the area out possibly a dehumidifier? And spray insecticide.

Bravouniformmike · 10/05/2018 22:52

Oh and they can make little holes In your clothes...

BlankTimes · 10/05/2018 22:53

Is dethlac toxic or dangerous? Yes. www.pestcontroldirect.co.uk/dethlac-aerosol-lacquer-spray-250ml.html
Don't use any chemicals where your child or baby could touch them.

In an observation of one, I noticed that when I started to steam clean my carpets weekly the amount of visible silverfish in my old rambly house decreased dramatically.

Never had any in washing though. I'd doubt if they'd live in clothing.

BrieAndChilli · 10/05/2018 22:54

Spray some raid cockroaches spray around the books and crannies you think they are coming from, when they crawl on it they will die

yorkshireyummymummy · 10/05/2018 22:54

Another vote for dethlac. I was reccomended it on here and I always have a tin now. Also , if you are scared of bugs, it’s worthwhile spraying your door frames in September - stops spiders coming in when the temperature drops. ( and thus stops dd screaming her head off when she sees one!)

ToadOfSadness · 10/05/2018 22:55

Diatomaceous earth will get rid of them and is not toxic to humans. It is a white powder and it is natural so will be safe for your child.

Buy online and get food grade. Puff some on the floor where you saw them.

You don't need a lot of it so don't buy a kilo or something as it goes a long way.

GlomOfNit · 10/05/2018 22:56

Oh I love them! I get them in our bathroom, which admittedly has dusty corners and doesn't get cleaned much. They're like tiny trilobites. Happy to share the house with them and I've not noticed chomped books.

Ruffian · 10/05/2018 22:57

Leave them alone you big bullies! They're harmless and actually I find them quite cute (remind me a bit of Plankton from Spongebob).

Joining CharlieRascal's #teamsilverfish