Will Pest Control Get Rid of Silverfish? Yes—If You Fix This First [2025 Guide]

Most people think silverfish infest fast like roaches. Truth: they build up slowly and can live 2–8 years — easily outlasting DIY sprays.

The real driver isn’t crumbs — it’s moisture. Silverfish can survive 300+ days without food if there’s water, which is why “just cleaning” rarely works. Lower humidity and hit their hiding spots — not just surfaces.

And forget the old boric-acid bait tip. Tests show it often fails. Pros use desiccant dusts, crack-and-crevice residuals, and humidity control — the same tactics museums use to protect rare books.

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Quick Answer

Will pest control get rid of silverfish?
Yes. Pros inspect, treat hidden voids with desiccant dusts/residuals, and break the moisture–harborage cycle so they don’t come back.

Why Silverfish Keep Coming Back (Even in “Clean” Homes)

• They’re marathoners, not sprinters. Adults can live 2–8 years; development can take months to years, so what you’re seeing now often started long ago.
• Moisture > food. They can go months without eating; water and humidity keep populations stable. Lower RH and they crash.
• They eat more than paper. Archives/paste and starch, yes, but also proteins (dead insects, dried meats)—another reason crumbs aren’t the core issue.
• They love warm, humid, hidden places. Bathrooms, basements, laundry rooms, attics; think voids, baseboards, insulation, cardboard. Optimal RH is ~75%+ at warm temps.

What Pros Actually Do (and Why It Works)

1) Inspection that chases humidity
Technicians survey bathrooms, laundry, basements/attics, utility chases, and storage. They’re hunting moisture, delamination, cardboard, glue, and paper. (Museums do the same via IPM.)

2) Targeted treatments where silverfish live

• Desiccant dusts (silica gel/DE) in cracks, voids, baseboards, attics—keep killing as long as they stay dry.
• Crack-and-crevice residuals where silverfish travel and rest.
• Limited use of baits: many commercial boric baits underperform, though indoxacarb baits can be effective for some species (e.g., ghost silverfish) in structured programs.

3) Moisture management
Dehumidifiers, ventilation, leak repair, and sealing. At higher temps, RH must be >75% for silverfish to thrive—push it below comfort levels for them, and you win.

4) Follow-up & monitoring
Because silverfish are long-lived and molt repeatedly, pros may schedule a checkpoint (3–6 weeks) to intercept stragglers deep in voids.

DIY vs. Professional: When to Call

Rule of thumb: If silverfish persist after 2–3 weeks of drying + sealing + traps, get a pro.
Instant help: +1 855 224 3071 — PestControl-Service-Finder.com connects you to licensed, background-checked exterminators (same-day service).

Prep Checklist (Boosts First-Visit Success)

• Run dehumidifiers; use bath/kitchen exhaust fans.
• Fix leaks (under sinks, laundry lines, A/C condensate).
• Declutter: swap cardboard for plastic totes; thin paper/book piles.
• Vacuum baseboards, closets, shelving edges.
• Seal gaps around pipes, baseboards, vents.

Why Some “Silverfish Tips” Don’t Work

• “Just spray the baseboards.” Surface sprays miss void harborage. Dusts + crevice work outperform foggers/aerosols.
• “Put out boric-acid baits.” Many off-the-shelf silverfish baits are poorly eaten and test ineffective in lab trials; structured baiting with newer actives is a different story.
• “Keep it clean; they’ll starve.” They can outlast your cleaning if moisture remains. Tackle humidity first.

How to Choose the Right Exterminator

Ask if they will:

• Dust voids with silica/DE and use crack-and-crevice residuals.
• Provide a moisture plan (dehumidification/ventilation guidance).
• Return for follow-up if activity persists.

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Keep Silverfish Gone (Post-Treatment)

• Hold interior RH in target spaces <50–55% when possible.
• Store pantry goods, photos, documents in sealed containers.
• Replace cardboard with plastic bins; avoid floor storage in basements/attics.
• Maintain ventilation; repair leaks fast; dust/vacuum edges periodically.
• Seal new gaps after renovations (fresh adhesives and cardboard attract activity).

FAQ

Will pest control get rid of silverfish permanently?
Yes—when void treatments + moisture control are combined. Long-lived stragglers are handled via follow-ups.

Are silverfish harmful?
They don’t bite, but they damage books, papers, wallpaper/paste, fabrics, and stored foods—a serious risk for libraries and archives.

Do DIY traps work?
Sticky traps confirm activity but don’t reach void populations; humidity and professional dusting seal the win.

Is treatment safe for kids & pets?
Licensed pros use targeted placements (voids, cracks) and will review any precautions.