Silver Bullet Pest ControlFinding fast, silvery bugs in the bathtub, the basement or between old books and papers? Those are silverfish — or their heat-loving cousins, firebrats. Silver Bullet Pest Control treats them where they hide and helps you fix the moisture that keeps them coming back, in homes across Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson counties.
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Text us a photo — silverfish, firebrats and young earwigs or centipedes are easy to mix up.
You get rid of silverfish by drying out the places they live — bringing basement and bathroom humidity down with a dehumidifier, fans and leak repairs — and treating the cracks, wall voids and storage areas where they hide, because killing the ones you see won't stop a population that keeps finding damp, food and shelter. Silverfish need high humidity and feed on starch, paper, glue and fabric, so damp basements, bathrooms and stored boxes are where they build up. They don't bite or spread disease, but they can damage books, photos, wallpaper and clothing. Silver Bullet Pest Control treats silverfish and firebrats across North Jersey. Call or text 973-510-2585.
Silverfish come out at night and run for cover when the light goes on. During the day they're tucked into these spots:
Basements in older North Jersey homes are often humid all summer. Stored books, cardboard, old clothes and holiday boxes give silverfish food and cover in the same spot.
Firebrats look like silverfish but love heat. Utility rooms, laundry rooms and spaces around boilers and water heaters are where we find them, especially in multi-family buildings.
Silverfish fall into tubs and sinks at night and can't climb the slick sides. That doesn't mean they come from the drain — they live in the gaps behind tile, trim and cabinets nearby.
Both are wingless, fast and shaped like a little carrot with three tail bristles. Here's how they differ:
| Silverfish | Firebrat | |
|---|---|---|
| Color | Shiny silver to blue-gray, smooth | Mottled gray-brown, duller |
| Size | Up to about half an inch | About half an inch |
| Likes | Cool to moderate temps, very damp air | Hot, humid spots |
| Where you'll find them | Basements, bathrooms, closets, stored boxes, books | Boiler rooms, near water heaters, dryers, ovens, warm attics |
| What they eat | Starches, paper, glue, book bindings, wallpaper paste, fabric | The same — plus crumbs and dry foods |
| Fix | Dry the area out, treat hiding spots | Cut heat and moisture leaks, treat around equipment |
Bugs that get confused with silverfish include young earwigs (pincers at the tail), house centipedes (long legs all around, very fast) and booklice (tiny, pale, no tail bristles). A quick photo texted to 973-510-2585 settles it.
They graze on book bindings, glue, paper sizing and old documents. Stored records, photos and comic or book collections in basements are at risk.
Cotton, linen, rayon and starched fabric can get small holes and yellow stains, especially items stored in boxes for a long time.
Wallpaper paste and cardboard boxes are food. Damage shows up as thin, scraped patches or irregular holes.
Flour, cereal, pasta and pet food left open in pantries can attract them, though they're not a main kitchen pest.
Silverfish don't bite, sting or spread disease. The real harm is slow damage to things you care about — and they're food for spiders, so a heavy silverfish problem often comes with spiders.
Silverfish need damp air to survive. In very dry rooms they struggle to hold onto water and they stop breeding. That's why the most effective long-term fix is not a spray — it's lowering the humidity.
Musty smell, water stains or peeling paint in the basement? That's the same moisture that feeds silverfish, spider crickets and termites. If you see mud tubes or soft wood, book a termite inspection too.
We find where they're living — bathrooms, basement, storage areas, utility rooms — and what's feeding them, including leaks and damp spots.
We apply targeted crack-and-crevice treatments and dusts into wall voids, under baseboards, behind tile and trim, and around pipes and storage.
We show you the damp spots and what to fix or dry out, because treatment lasts much longer in a dry house.
Silverfish live a long time and hide well, so we check back where needed until activity drops off.
Regular service from Silver Bullet comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Silverfish often show up alongside spiders, spider crickets and ants, which a residential pest control plan can cover together.
“They're coming up the drain.” Almost never. They fall into tubs and sinks while hunting at night and get stuck because they can't climb the smooth sides. They live in the gaps nearby.
“Seeing one means my house is dirty.” No. Silverfish are about moisture and hiding places, not dirt. Very clean homes with damp basements get them all the time.
“A bug bomb will take care of it.” Foggers settle on open surfaces. Silverfish are deep in walls, under trim and inside boxes, so foggers rarely reach them.
“They'll go away on their own in winter.” Not in a heated house. Basements and bathrooms stay warm and damp enough for them all year, and firebrats actually like the heating season.
Tell us where you're seeing them, how many and whether the area is damp — we'll get back to you quickly.
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High humidity plus food and hiding spots. Damp basements and bathrooms, stored paper and cardboard, and gaps behind trim and tile are the usual cause.
They don't bite, sting or carry disease. They can damage books, papers, wallpaper and stored fabric over time.
They fall in while looking for food at night and can't climb the slick sides. They're living in the gaps around the tub, not coming from the drain.
Silverfish are shiny silver and like damp, moderate spots. Firebrats are mottled gray-brown and like hot, humid spots near boilers, water heaters and dryers.
It's one of the most important steps. Drier air makes it hard for them to survive and breed, and treatment lasts much longer once the space is dry.
Yes. They feed on starch, glue, paper, book bindings and natural fabrics like cotton and linen, especially items stored for a long time.
You can help a lot by dehumidifying, fixing leaks and storing things in plastic. Established populations in walls usually need professional crack-and-crevice treatment.
Rarely. Foggers coat open surfaces, but silverfish hide deep in walls, under trim and inside boxes where foggers don't reach.
Often. The same damp conditions bring spider crickets, and spiders move in to feed on both.
Yes. Silver Bullet Pest Control holds NJ Pesticide License 90568B and has over 15 years of experience.
Baje la humedad con un deshumidificador y llámenos para tratar las grietas donde se esconden. Hablamos español: 973-510-2585.
Based in Garfield, we treat silverfish and firebrats in these towns and across North Jersey.
Updated October 2026 by the Silver Bullet Pest Control team, Garfield, NJ • NJ License 90568B
