How To Repel Silverfish With A Fresh-Smelling Essential Oil They Can't Stand

Knowing how to repel bugs naturally requires some research, especially if the particular pest in question isn't one you've heard of before. Silverfish (Lepisma saccharina) are nocturnal insects that will hunt out damp and dark areas of your home. Their movement could be described as "fish-like," hence the name. Once they make their way into your home they like to feed on materials such as paper, cardboard, and even fabric, so there's no doubt that you'll want to repel them. Rather than turning to chemical repellants straight away, there's an all-natural essential oil which is very effective, and that's peppermint oil. 

There are lots of ways you can use peppermint essential oil in your home, and naturally getting rid of silverfish is one of them. In fact, a 2021 study published in the Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research placed just 0.9 milliliters of peppermint essential oil on a filter paper, then placed that small paper in a petri dish with silverfish. 100% of the exposed silverfish were killed within two hours. Other evidence suggests that peppermint oil is good at repelling silverfish because it has an extremely potent smell that they don't like and naturally stay clear from. It may also disrupt the pests' pheromones and therefore puts a stop to egg-laying adult silverfish reproducing in your house.

You've pinpointed a certain area in your home that appears to have a silverfish problem, now it's time to create your all-purpose natural insect repellent. All you need to do is mix about 15-20 drops of peppermint essential oil with enough water to fit into a regular spray bottle. A good tip is to add a squirt of dish soap to the bottle, which will enable the mixture to firmly stick to your desired surface. 

Focus on dark corners, cabinets, shelves and rooms that are prone to being dark and damp, such as basements and bathrooms. Not only will this repel the silverfish, but it'll have your home smelling fresh and clean, too. If you've seen the critters crawling on the floor, another effective way of using peppermint oil is to mix it into you floor cleaning solution and mop your floors with it. However, you should use caution on some surfaces, since the powerful oils might damage or discolor wood finishes and fabric.

If you don't need a direct solution but have had a silverfish problem in the past and want to ensure it doesn't happen again. A lovely way of keeping these little pests at bay is to use an electronic essential oil diffuser. Pop a few drops of peppermint oil into the diffuser, place near a window, and allow the scent to naturally deter silverfish from coming into your home.