Small silvery insects darting across the bathroom floor when you switch the light on, or grey bugs under the sofa and along the skirting? Our silverfish treatment clears common and grey silverfish from homes, flats and businesses across Bexley and South London. I’ll identify which type you have, find where they’re living and deal with the conditions that keep bringing them back. Call me for a price over the phone.
Silverfish are small, wingless insects, up to around 1 to 1.5cm long, with a flat, tapered body covered in silvery or grey scales and three bristles at the tail end. They move quickly with a wriggling, fish-like motion, which is how they got their name. They are active at night and hide during the day in cracks, gaps and under flooring, so most people only see them when they switch on a light.
Two types cause most problems in UK homes, and knowing which one you have makes a big difference to treatment.
Common silverfish are shiny and silver, and they need damp, humid conditions to survive. They are usually found in bathrooms, kitchens, around sinks and baths, under damp flooring and in poorly ventilated rooms. Seeing them regularly is often a sign of a moisture problem.
Grey silverfish, also known as long-tailed silverfish, are larger, duller grey and have longer bristles at the tail. They have become much more common in the UK in recent years, and unlike common silverfish, they don’t need damp. They are often found in newer homes and flats, spreading through the building along skirting boards, behind kitchen units, under flooring and through service ducts. They can be harder to control, and DIY products often have little effect.
Apart from seeing silverfish at night, look for small irregular holes or surface grazing on paper, books, wallpaper, photographs, cardboard boxes and fabrics. They feed on starch and cellulose, so they also get into dried foods such as flour and cereal. You may find tiny black droppings, yellowish marks on paper and shed scales or skins where they hide.
Silverfish don’t bite, sting or spread disease, and they are not a health risk. The problem is the damage they do over time to books, documents, wallpaper, stored clothes and food, and the fact that large numbers are unpleasant to live with. Silverfish can live for several years and keep breeding, so the numbers can build up steadily if the problem is left.
For common silverfish, reducing humidity is the most important step. Ventilate bathrooms and kitchens, use extractor fans, fix leaks and dripping taps, and deal with any damp in walls or under floors. A dehumidifier can help in problem rooms. Seal gaps along skirting boards, around pipes and behind bath panels, and store paper, books and dried food in sealed containers.
Shop-bought sprays, powders and traps can reduce the numbers you see, but they rarely reach the silverfish hiding in wall voids, under flooring and behind units. Grey silverfish in particular often keep returning after DIY treatment, because they are spread through the building rather than concentrated in one damp spot.
We start with an inspection to confirm which silverfish you have, find where they are living and look for the conditions that are supporting them, such as damp or gaps into wall voids. I’ll explain what I find and what the treatment involves before we begin.
We then treat the cracks, gaps, skirting boards, bath panels, kitchen units and other hiding places where silverfish live, using professional treatments suited to the species. Treatment is carried out over our three-visit programme, which lets us deal with young silverfish as they hatch and confirm that activity is falling. Where damp is part of the problem, we’ll tell you what needs fixing, as treatment works best once the moisture has been dealt with.
Grey silverfish are increasingly found in newer flats and houses, so they are worth ruling out in new developments around Croydon and Wimbledon, while common silverfish are more typical of older homes with damp bathrooms and kitchens, such as the Victorian terraces around Catford. In blocks of flats, treating neighbouring flats at the same time gives the best results.
For libraries, archives, offices, shops and storage facilities, where silverfish can damage paper records and stock, our commercial pest control service includes regular inspections. If you are finding beetles or moths in food cupboards rather than silverfish, see our stored product insect control page, and for other insects, our insect control page.
It depends on the type of silverfish, the size of the property and how many areas are affected. Call us with a few details and we will give you an estimate over the phone.
No. Silverfish don’t bite people or pets and are not dangerous. They are a nuisance and can damage paper, fabrics and stored food.
Common silverfish are usually a sign of damp or high humidity. Grey silverfish can live in dry homes and often spread between properties through gaps, ducts and flooring, or arrive in cardboard boxes and stored items.
Seeing the odd silverfish in the bathroom now and again is common. Seeing several every night, in more than one room, or finding damage to books and paper, usually means there is an established population worth treating.
Our treatment runs over three visits. Numbers should drop after the first visit, although grey silverfish can take longer to clear than common silverfish, particularly in flats where they are spread through the building.
Rentokil-trained and Level 2 certified, so you know you’re in safe hands.
We don’t just show up, treat, and leave. We walk you through exactly what we found, why it happened, and what we’re doing to fix it.
Pests don’t work 9 to 5, and neither do we. We’re available when you need us most.
We are Level 2 certified technicians, fully insured, and members of BPCA, BASIS Prompt and RSPH. You’re in safe, qualified hands.
Hundreds of satisfied clients across South London have trusted us to get the job done right, and we back every job with a satisfaction guarantee.
We’re not a faceless national company. We’re local, we care about our community, and we treat every property as if it were our own.
Call us or fill out the contact form. We’ll assess your situation and give you a straight, honest estimate over the phone.
Our technician visits your property, carries out a thorough on-site inspection, and begins treatment right away.
We carry out a 3-visit treatment programme to make sure the problem is fully resolved, not just temporarily patched.
Job done. Your property is protected, and you’ll know exactly what was done and why every step of the way.
Same-day response available
Out-of-hours and weekends
Rodent proofing specialists
