Catch Silverfish With Little More Than Plain Glass Jars

Building a home library and painstakingly filling it with rows upon rows of books can be exhausting — both mentally and financially (book math, anyone?). Sadly, finding one (or a few) of your precious paperbacks or hardcovers damaged can be downright heartbreaking, especially if it's a first edition or signed copy. Now, you can't do much for such novels, but to ensure the others don't face a similar fate, solve your silverfish problem with a common household essential: a plain glass jar. Use it in conjunction with some masking tape and drop in a bit of their favorite foods to trap these nuisances and reduce their numbers in your home.

This simple solution works since these pests prioritize food over everything and they won't be able to resist carb-rich food just sitting around in an unguarded jar. So, the bait may encourage silverfish to wiggle out of their hiding spots and climb inside the trap to satiate their hunger. And this is when they'll get ensnared, as they can't climb over slippery surfaces, so they won't be able to climb out of a glass jar. Besides being easy, it's a relatively low-effort way to trap these nocturnal creatures without immediately killing them.

However, placement is key. Though they'll come looking for food no matter where they're camped around your house, placing the jar in known hotspots will increase your chances of getting rid of as many silverfish as possible. To pinpoint areas of activity, look for damage as well as dark, damp places where silverfish tend to hide. Are black or brown spots on your books and documents in the home office your main concern? Or, do you dread dirty yellow stains or holes on your expensive silk dresses and cotton shirts? Pick the right spot based on your findings.

Any old glass jar (think salsa, pasta sauce, and olives) you have lying around your house will work for this DIY trap. Just ensure it's not too shallow (like the one your favorite face cream comes in), or adult silverfish might just crawl out. You'll also need a roll of masking tape and a bit of carb-rich food, such as bread, raw flour, or oats. Stick with a starchy bait rather than soapy-water, since the food is what helps attract silverfish to the trap. When you have everything, carefully wrap the exterior of your glass jar in masking tape. Don't leave any spot uncovered, not even the grooved neck.

Afterward, put in the food item such that it covers about ½-inch of the bottom of the jar. Now, place it in areas where you've noticed silverfish activity, such as near a bookcase or in shadowy corners to entice them to come out of hiding. If they encounter the trap, they'll easily climb the taped exterior of the jar but will get stuck trying to get out. And this is where you come in. When you see a silverfish trapped inside, take the jar outside and release it away from your home. Also, replenish the food if required. Then, place the jar back in its original spot to serve as a trap again for another hungry silverfish. Continue this process till you're sure you've eliminated all of them from your home. With that said, traps alone may not be enough if you're dealing with a significant infestation. Reducing humidity, repairing leaks, eliminating food sources and clutter, sealing cracks and crevices, and vacuuming regularly can all help control silverfish; persistent infestations may require additional pest-control measures, like using diatomaceous earth to help eliminate them entirely.