How to get rid of white colored slimy pests

they are called silverfish (sometimes they are white and sometimes grey - don't know why) and they are a nightmare to get rid of. I had some success (for a short time) with a spray pesticide but you have to be completely thorough - pulling furniture out and spraying paper items documents, books, cardboard etc - I was told that they like the starch in paper - but I agree, I have never seen them in my food cupboards. They hide in the tiniest of places - cracks in floorboards, slats of furniture, soft furnishings (the baby ones are miniscule) so if you happen to miss a spot it's only a matter of days before they are back.


If anyone has any other suggestions I'd love to hear too.

If they are silverfish then mothballs or napthalene flakes also help, but then your clothes end up smelly.


Silverfish do eat food but usually there is high turnover in food so you don't see them in your cupboards. They will eat clothes and paper, and things like cereals. If you start seeing small holes in any of your clothes then it's probably these critters. When we were little kids our parents house had a problem at one point. I think we ended up getting the whole house fumigated (as we also seemed to get a few redback spiders outside). And then for years afterwards I remember all our clothes smelling of mothballs.


We also had to get rid of any old papers and clothes. And my Mum continually cleaned our bookshelves and cupboards after that.