How to get rid of silverfish in books | Non-toxic

How to get rid of silverfish in books

Few things sting a book lover like finding silvery insects and ragged, chewed edges in a favorite paperback. Silverfish feed on the starchy paper, glue and binding of books. A damp shelf is all the invitation they need. Here is how to protect your collection and clear them out without spraying anything on the pages you love.

Why silverfish eat books

The paper, cloth bindings and glue in books are rich in the starches and cellulose silverfish live on. Old books stored in a humid basement or attic are the most vulnerable of all. They chew irregular holes and notches along edges and leave a faint yellow stain. Because damp is what keeps them going, protecting a collection comes down to drying the space and treating the shelving rather than the books themselves. (More on the how and why: Do silverfish eat clothes? and How to get rid of silverfish.)

The non-toxic fix

Move valuable books out of damp rooms and add a dehumidifier, since dry air is the single best protection. Do not treat the books themselves. Instead, puff Dust to Dust with the Insect Buster along the shelf edges, backs and cracks where silverfish travel. Spray Six Feet Under on contact for any you find in the open.

Protect your collection

• Dry the room: move books out of damp spaces and run a dehumidifier.
• Treat the shelves, not the books: puff Dust to Dust along shelf edges, backs and cracks.
• Hit what you see: spray Six Feet Under on contact for silverfish in the open.
• Store the valuable ones: keep rare books in sealed archival boxes away from humidity.

Related: How to get rid of silverfish and How to get rid of silverfish in the bathroom.

Shop non-toxic silverfish control → browse the full Silverfish collection.