Silverfish in bed: What it is and how to get rid of it ASAP

The worst has happened: you’ve found a silverfish in bed with you. And now you’re desperately perusing the Internet for reassurance that silverfish don’t live in beds, that it was a fluke, that there’s no chance of it happening again.

We’re going to give it to your straight.

If you’ve found a silverfish in bed, it’s likely that there’s been a sudden increase in the legs to opposable thumbs ratio in your home. It’s likely that silverfish have started to infest your home by the time they appear in your bed.

You’re most likely now walking on eggshells, with your eyes resolutely on the horizon, in case you spot yet another silverfish crawling through your bedroom like a casual commuter.

Do not worry. You’re one of us. Many of us are paralyzed with squeamishness and irritation at many-legged home invaders, with no idea what we’re up against.

However, this isn’t the right way to live. You are the master of your home and it’s time to take your bed back. Let’s dive in.

What is the species of this silverfish?

A silverfish was found in your bed. You think so. Silverfish are very fast moving bugs and they’re tiny to boot.

You should not look at a live specimen unless it’s a real silverfish-looking bug.

How do you imagine silverfish looking?

First, you need to know what a Silverfish looks like. These bugs are small –  about 12 to 19 mm long. These bugs are silvery-gray. They have a slim and flat body that tapers at the ends like a carrot.

But you’ll most likely be able to recognize them from the two, long and creepy antennae protruding from their heads as well as the disturbing yet unique way they slither.

It looks like a silverfish-like bug.

It could just be another bug if you can only see the one on your bed. They are usually found close to human beds and like:

Bed bugs The oval-shaped brown bugs are not like the silverfish. But if it’s one of the nymphs you spotted, they can be translucent and cause confusion. Bed bugs love human bedding so it’s important to be aware of the signs to identify them.

Larvae of carpet beetle. The tiny bristles that make up these worm-like crawlies look nothing like the silvery scales on a silverfish. Still, they can be found in beds and are easy to mistake for silverfish when you’ve only caught a glance.

Cockroach nymphs. Roach babies can be a pale white when they’re first hatched. Roach babies also possess two long, creepy antennae, and can move quickly, much like a silverfish.

These are the top suspects for bugs that look similar to silverfish and can be found under beds.

Once you’ve established that it’s not a case of mistaken identity and it is indeed silverfish, you may have another pressing question…

Where do silverfish live?

If you’re wondering whether silverfish are just more common in certain countries and areas – yes, they kind of are although they don’t have to be.

The silverfish is a resilient little creature that can survive in all kinds of climates and environments.

They prefer humid climates and environments because they provide the best conditions for reproduction, longevity and maturation.

Rule number 1: The colder or warmer it gets in your area, the greater chance you will attract silverfish to establish a business.

It’s a strange thing to have silverfish living in my bedroom.

Infesting homes is what silverfish prefers. That’s why, as with most creepy crawlies, silverfish are often found in basements, bathrooms, bathtubs, kitchens and so on.

They prefer places with moisture pockets and leaky pipes.

If the conditions are favorable, silverfish may move in to your bedroom. How do you make your bedroom attract silverfish?

It’s humid

Maybe your bedroom is located in a basement, or semi-basement. Lower-level rooms are more susceptible to moisture.

The opposite side of this spectrum is bedrooms on the second floors that can be more humid than others. Warm and moist indoor air will rise since it’s less dense than dry air and will rise to the top of the house.

You might just be lucky enough to live in humid conditions that your bedroom is also covered. You might even find that your skin sweats a lot at night which causes you to have damp sheets throughout the day.

High humidity, whatever the cause may be, is an attractive factor for silverfish.

It’s dark

Are you a frequent user of shutters that allow light through? How about opening the windows to let in some fresh air? Silverfish live in darkness and are considered nocturnal.

Silverfish will love a bedroom that is dark and has many hiding places.

It’s warm

Many people believe that silverfish enjoy it cooler than others. Others think that silverfish prefer it hot. But silverfish actually prefer warm temperatures, typically between 71° to 90°F.

Your bedroom may be just as cold. The average room temperature in most homes is between 68° and 76°. If it’s hot outside or you have the heating on, it’s probably a little bit warmer, making it the perfect climate for a silverfish.

It’s full of food

You may also have other factors that attract silverfish to your home, such as: Of particular importance to silverfish are things which can be eaten by them, such as:

  • Wallpaper. The glue used to stick wallpaper to walls can be a tasty snack for silverfish due to its high starch content.
  • Papers and books. Silverfish enjoy eating cellulose. If you have books and magazines lining the walls of your bedroom, by your bedside, or scattered around your room, that’s like a carb-y buffet for silverfish.
  • Cartboard boxes You can make a great place for silverfish to nest in cardboard boxes you store your clothes and other personal items. For silverfish, cardboard is an ideal place to live, eat and breed.

There are many things that make a bedroom attractive to silverfish, as you can see. Your boardgame collection can also be an important food source for silverfish.

Is it possible to find silverfish in your bed?

Okay, that’s fair, you say. Your bedroom meets all the conditions: it’s humid, it’s dark, it’s warm, and it’s got things for silverfish to eat. So that’s why silverfish have moved in.

But they are still in your bed!!

It’s simple: there’s food to eat there, too. Silverfish love carbohydrates, but they’ll also eat protein and sugar. In short, they’ll eat almost anything. You may also find them eating a variety of items on your bed.

  • From a late-night snack: Crumbs
  • You can also call it human debris. This is dead skin cells and hair.
  • The house dust mites, which are tiny insects that can live off of human waste, are usually found under beds. You can also enjoy them as a delicious snack for your silverfish.
  • Fabrics like bedsheets can be a food source for silverfish, especially if they’re made of cotton, linen, or silk. The amount of food and body oils used to stain fabrics is doubled.

The typical silverfish bed is a banquet-style place that offers endless food choices.

But it’s not just food. There are many places where silverfish will be able to rest in hidden corners of a human mattress.

In their selection of habitat and physical makeup, silverfish look a lot like cockroaches. Both creatures are fairly small, tactile and squeeze their frames into ridiculously tight spaces for shelter or because they’ve detected some food source.

These small spaces can occur between the mattress and the bed frame in the case of a bed. You could find it even within your mattress.

Silverfish prefer to be left alone so think about when you last flipped your bed. If you can’t remember, that’s a long enough chunk of time for a silverfish infestation to have taken hold.

What can you do to determine if there is a silverfish problem?

If you’ve found one silverfish, it’s a good sign of a silverfish infestation.

Even if you don’t see another one, remember that silverfish are nocturnal creatures who prefer to live their lives away from the prying eyes of giant lumbering behemoths of human beings.

Sometimes, a silverfish issue can go unnoticed for some time. Then more severe problems may occur. The signs are usually found in books, paper, cardboard, glue, and boxes. Another sign of silverfish activity include yellowish marks on the body, holes in papers or books, and, sorry for that, fecal droppings.

It might be worth spending a little time doing some searching for yourself and perhaps airing out old stored materials or clothing just to be sure you don’t have any insect issues festering unbeknownst to you.

What to do to eliminate silverfish from your bed

If you’ve found a creepy little silverfish getting cozy in your bed, you’re probably wondering how to make them go away.

It’s not just the shock and horror of finding a silverfish in bed. An infestation can have serious consequences for clothing, food supplies, or books and paper. This is not to mention your mental health.

What can you do to get rid of silverfish in your bedroom? Here’s how to get rid of silverfish in bed and keep them away from your bedroom for good.

#1. Reduce the humidity

You are correct, getting rid silverfish from your bed starts with making your bedroom as hostile as possible.

It is best to lower humidity. A dehumidifier can be used to reduce the humidity in your bedroom.

You can also opt for moisture absorbers such as the Vacplus Moisture Absorber Box if your budget is limited. These moisture absorbers are affordable and can quickly be used to remove excess moisture from small enclosed spaces.

This one small step – reducing the humidity – will pay off massively in the long run, if not actually stop the problem in its tracks.

#2. #2. Let the light in

Silverfish are sensitive to noise and light, and they will migrate away from areas that are darker, quieter, and cooler.

This doesn’t necessarily solve the overall silverfish infestation in the entire house. This will however make the bedroom more attractive to silverfish.

#3. Clean up

Silverfish aren’t caused by dirtiness – they can infest the cleanest of homes. Silverfish can thrive in homes with clutter or dust.

So here’s your action plan:

  • Clean up your clutter. Silverfish will find plenty of hiding places if there is too much clutter. These nooks, crannies can be eliminated.
  • Vacuum. Next, don’t let things stagnate or get too dusty or to go too long without a thorough vacuum session. You can vacuum up the silverfish eggs and silverfish crumbs as well as dust, dust, dirt, and other debris. When vacuuming, make sure you get into the corners of your furniture and under your sofa. There’s no point doing half a job.
  • Make sure to clean the bed. You can start by putting all of your bedding in hot water to kill any silverfish. Yuck. If there’s even the slightest chance that your mattress has been infested, we recommend sealing it up with a tight-zipping mattress encasement.
  • Store properly. You can keep your space bright and clean by organizing things properly. This means getting rid of cardboard boxes, and instead opting to store things in plastic containers.

#4. #4.

There are several ways to make sure that your bed is secure so no silverfish can get onto it.

You can move it from behind the walls. Silverfish can climb walls and other textured surfaces. Silverfish are able to climb walls and reach beds that are up against them.

All bedding should be kept off the ground Silverfish may also be able to climb up comforters or blankets that have been dropped to the ground. Don’t allow this to happen. Do not place bedding on the floor.

Make sure to secure the legs of your bed. This precautionary measure is taken. If you’re worried about silverfish climbing up to your bed via the bed legs, you can place each of the bed legs inside of a glass Mason jar.

Silverfish are like spiders in that they’re unable to climb up smooth surfaces like glass or the porcelain of a bathtub.

#5. #5.

Diatomaceous earth can be used to build a silverfish barrier to keep silverfish out of your bedroom.

To create an invisible line that will keep silverfish away from your bedroom, sprinkle the dust all over the baseboards.

Sprinkle a little diatomaceous Earth in strategic places around the bedroom. Be sure to pay attention in corners and under furniture, especially the bed.

#6. #6.

Another good idea to get rid of silverfish in bed and in the bedroom is to lay out silverfish poison bait around places they’ll be tempted toward.

Consider dark corners under the bed and around books or magazines.

#7. Use silverfish repellents

Once you’ve established this rigorous regime of cleaning and airing everything out on a regular basis, you can start to use some silverfish repellents to truly make sure that no courageous stragglers are going to inhabit your bed.

Use essential oils to treat silverfish. Some scents are unpleasant to silverfish, but they can be enjoyed by most people. These include peppermint oil and lavender essential oil.

It is possible to mix the essential oil with water to make your own silverfish repellent spray. A ready-to-use bottle, such as the Wondercide Indoor pest control spray can be purchased.

Spray the spray on the bedding, both under and around your bed. You can also spray the entire room with the spray, particularly in dark corners and other nooks.

Cedarwood is a great choice. Silverfish can be kept away by using cedarwood oil and the wood. The scent of cedarwood isn’t just horrible for silverfish, it also works on a number of creepy crawlies while being non-harmful to mammals.

Cedarwood blocks, bookshelves and your bed can be used as storage.

That’s it. Now you will know how to remove silverfish from bed. Stop it from happening again. Go now and take control of your bedroom.

Pest Hacks’ first article, Silverfish in Bed: What It Is and How To Get Rid Of It As Soon as Possible appeared on Pest Hacks.

Scroll to Top