silverfish

[kirstickle]

Sorry not a period property question, but I am hoping one of you may be able to help me. As the title suggests, it seems we have a problem with sliverfish We removed the dishwasher that was in the property when we bought it yesterday, and replaced it with mine from storage, and lo and behold last night my other half kindly woke me up at one in the morning to tell me we have these 'weird little bugs' scurrying around th ekitchen. When I got up this morning I gingerly opened the kitchen door and saw loads of the little buggers. I can't stand them! And we have a 16 month old who loves being on the floor and puting interesting things in his mouth! Anyone got any experience of getting rid of them??? Its making me itch just thinking about them! I know they are harmless but still!

 

[biffvernon]

Oh no, not another one. See earlier thread started by Joce. Silverfish are utterly harmless, even to small people. Value them, respect them, pay homage to them, consider yourselves privileged that they are willing to share their home with you.

There are lots of thing wrong and worrisome on this planet but silverfish are not on that list.

 

[JoceAndChris]

It's the time of year for big hatchings.

You know what Biff, a year on from that thread and I agree with you. Nature is endlessly fascinating and I've come to feel incredibly privileged to share my life with so much of it.

I haven't once been sick from any kind of tummy upset from sharing my kitchen with all sorts of things (I do use anti bacterial spray a lot though) and it's been so interesting - recently we had the most adorable little shrew living under the oven.

kirstickle - silverfish love dark, damp places so just make sure there aren't any leaks or anything. Regular vaccuming reduces population size. I haven't got rid of them completely (they live on scattered bits of cat food) but the kitchen is warmer, dryer and cleaner than it used to be and that makes a real difference.

 

[Penners]

Interestingly, goldfish also love damp places.

Silverfish are completely harmless.

 

[Bayliss]

Our little friend who came to live with us was an newt, he took up residence in our hall. Soon disappeared tho, I expect he relocated into our neighbours pond!

 

[biffvernon]

It's the time of year for big hatchings.

You know what Biff, a year on from that thread and I agree with you. Nature is endlessly fascinating and I've come to feel incredibly privileged to share my life with so much of it.

This is so very encouraging.

But you still have a little way to go on the great journey towards harmony with the Cosmos. This anti-bacterial spray? That's the sort that 'kills 99% of household germs'? The 99% that are completely harmless if not outright beneficial, leaving the 1% of harmful ones to grow and proper without competition? Why, oh why? You know that there are more bacteria within and on our bodies than there are human cells that make up our bodies? We cannot do without them.

 

[Flyfisher]

And we have a 16 month old who loves being on the floor and puting interesting things in his mouth!

Problem solved!

And, Joce, I'm with Biff on the anti-bacterial stuff. I think you'll find soap just as effective (disrupts their cell walls). Now you've sterilised your well-water, your immune system needs some bugs to keep it on its toes, so to speak.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Really ditch the anti-bacterial spray? I hear what you're saying, but...

Cat hangs out where rats hang out. Cat jumps on worktops (please don't ask me to train him not to - it's too late) I prepare food on worktops (usually on chopping boards that go through the dishwasher on a high temperature ) - would you really not use anti-bacterial spray in these circumstances?

kirstickle - please don't think we aren't being sympathetic. It sounds like you've moved into a house that hasn't had much love and care what with the wee and the silverfish, once you've been there a while things will be a lot better and cleaner.

 

[yamin]

Really ditch the anti-bacterial spray? I hear what you're saying, but...

Cat hangs out where rats hang out. Cat jumps on worktops (please don't ask me to train him not to - it's too late) I prepare food on worktops (usually on chopping boards that go through the dishwasher on a high temperature ) - would you really not use anti-bacterial spray in these circumstances?

Hot soapy water, or withthe water, vinegar and a bit of essential oil. With a clean dishcloth mind! Just as good. And as others have possibly said, the obsession many have (excepting all present company) with anti bacterial is indeed allowing the bad ones to flourish. Also, in the same way that constant central heating is as bad for the immune system (as well as our old houses LOL), so is any lack of germs to generate the strength to fight them. Of course there are limits (think Typhoid Mary!), and thank heavens for anti biotics, but in most circumstances, hot soapy water is all thats required. Interestingly,
Norovirus - awful in hosps - only killed by soapy water, not by anti bacterial cleansers or alco rub.
Also, am I being stupid, but other than wanting the loo and the floor to look nice and smell fresh, do I really need to 'kill 99%' of the germs in the toilet pan where someone will (ahem) re populate it within an hour? I mean, I don't want to eat off it! Likewsie the kitchen floor!

Sorry, off soapbox now!

Kirstickle - look at me - filthy and happy and sitting on several families of silverfish (sorry Biff, but I was very light LOL!)

 

[JoceAndChris]

I so love that pic of you!

(I'll ditch the anti wipes and spray then, TBH my mum forces them on me, she was a midwife all her working life and is OBSESSED with germs. She's absolutely horrified at the state of things here. You'd think she'd understand the benefit to the immune system, but no.)

 

[yamin]

(I'll ditch the anti wipes and spray then, TBH my mum forces them on me, she was a midwife all her working life and is OBSESSED with germs. She's absolutely horrified at the state of things here. You'd think she'd understand the benefit to the immune system, but no.)

http://apha.confex.com/apha/135am/techprogram/paper_149738.htm

Don't roll in the chicken poo though, I wouldn't go that far. (Dog would though!!)

 

[jocelyn plummer]

Joce, I agree with the others, anti bactarial spray not necessarily the be all and end all. I think the main area of concern is cross contamination of raw meats and other foodstuffs on the chopping boards ... nothing that hot soapy water won't put right though-- normal food hygiene precautions.

 

[biffvernon]

There was an idea that plastic chopping boards were more 'hygienic' than wooden ones. Science demonstrated that bacteria thrive in the scratches of a plastic surface whereas wood is a more hostile environment.

 

[vicky whitworth]

I'm with Jose about the cats on the worktops. Mr Kipps has decided that it's the best place to live and a chopping board left lying around is even better than cold old granite. So the spray comes out just for that job. No dishwasher as I decided it was more eco-friendly to wash up something I'm less sure about now. I'm certainly not an obsessive cleaner having just washed my kitchen floor for the first time since the pamments were laid in December 2008!

Is it possible to make a soapy potion and put it in a spray bottle?

 

[yamin]

Is it possible to make a soapy potion and put it in a spray bottle?

Absolutely, or as I do, put white vinegar, diluted with water and with a few drops eucalyptus or other strong essential oil, in your spray bottle.

 

[yamin]

p.s. All this fuss about cats, i mean, they are such clean animals! I sat for a full 5 minutes and watched mine wash his bottom on the granite worktop! :roll: :roll:

 

[Moo]

Does anyone else remember the story about the Eskimos?
Apparently they began to die like flies when they first encountered the common cold.

 

[yamin]

oh yes, and according to a book we picked up the other day about the Amazon, there is still a tribe out there that is dying from some of our common, but to them, unencountered, diseases.

 

[Flyfisher]

and vice versa, perhaps.

 

[biffvernon]

Much more vice than verse.

A large proportion of the indigenous pre-European population of all the Americas were wiped out by European diseases. The last native Tasmanian died from small pox. Almost as many were killed deliberately.