Last week we heard from a reader from London. He explained that every so often he finds white and gray worm-like organisms in his bathroom. He also discovered them moving from the bathroom to the bedroom, and even noticed some on the bed. In an attempt to get rid of these creatures, he sprayed the corners of the bathroom. Finally, he specified that the bathroom they appear in isn’t the bathroom with the shower in it, so it isn’t very humid, and there is no window in the bathroom. He hopes we can help  him get rid of these critters:

The specimen is gray and white, has antennae, legs, and a long tail. We believe that our reader is dealing with silverfish! Silverfish are actually teardrop-shaped insects, not worms. While they can survive in most environments, they thrive in dark and damp areas, like basements, garages, or bathrooms. They eat carbohydrates, primarily sugars and starches, including shampoo and linen.

Since silverfish reproduce so quickly and are secretive creatures (they are nocturnal), their presence in a home can go unnoticed for a long time. Silverfish especially thrive in humid areas. Although our reader mentioned the bathroom isn’t humid, installing a dehumidifier in the bathroom or bedroom might help keep these unwanted visitors at bay. Some people also use cinnamon and ground cloves to repel silverfish. However this will only repel them, not kill them or their eggs.

Silverfish are not dangerous to humans, but they can do significant damage to a home. If installing a dehumidifier and applying cinnamon and ground cloves to dark and damp areas in his home doesn’t make a difference, our reader might consider calling a professional to assess the situation.

To wrap up, one of our readers is dealing with the presence of silverfish in his bathroom and bedroom. We have suggested a few home remedies to keeping these insects at bay, but we think he might want to call a professional to handle the situation. If any of our readers have had success in dealing with a silverfish infestation, we invite them to share their experiences!

Summary

Article Name

Gray and White Worms in Bathroom are Silverfish

Description

One of our readers is dealing with the presence of silverfish in his bathroom and bedroom. We have suggested a few home remedies to keeping these insects at bay, but we think he might want to call a professional to handle the situation.

Author

Dori Franklin