The Strong Scent That'll Drive Silverfish Out Of The House

Right up there with cockroaches and other creepy crawlies, silverfish are not something you want to find in your home. These unwanted guests are drawn to dark and damp areas and can wreak havoc if left to their own devices. They will contaminate any food they touch and can damage books, clothes, and soft furnishings. Fortunately, with just a few moth balls, you can utilize the easiest do-it-yourself hack perfect for deterring these pests.

Appropriately named silverfish, these insects are typically silver, but can also host tints of brown and blue. Silverfish are commonly mistaken for house centipedes. However, unlike house centipedes, which have 15 long, thin legs, silverfish only have 6. They can also be easily identified by their colors and distinguishable teardrop-shaped body, which ranges from 12 to 30mm. Silverfish are mainly found in parts of the home that remain pretty dark like closets and garages. And, if left alone, they will lay eggs for another generation of pesky insects to continue destruction in your home.

Before initiating this hack, it's important to establish which areas of your home are playing host to silverfish. Once you know how many rooms you are dealing with, you will have a much better idea of just how many moth balls you will need. If you don't already use them in your laundry room, head to your local home improvement store and pick up a pack for less than $20. 

Simply place the mothballs in all of the areas that silverfish frequent and let them do the rest. Moth balls do not exterminate silverfish, but instead give off a scent that the insects despise, forcing them away from the area. Unlike other do-it-yourself silverfish deterrents, you do not have to replace your mothballs frequently. A single mothball set out in the open air takes up to 6 months to completely lose its scent, meaning this hack should give you lasting results with very little maintenance.