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A Good Housekeeping report says allowing moisture to linger after showers or while laundry dries can make indoor spaces more suitable for silverfish and other moisture-associated pests. Pest experts recommend ventilation, addressing leaks and using a dehumidifier where needed; these steps reduce damp conditions but do not guarantee pests will disappear.
A Good Housekeeping report says a common household habit—letting moisture linger after showers or while laundry dries indoors—can create humid conditions favored by silverfish and some other household pests. Pest-control experts quoted in the report recommend improving ventilation, reducing indoor moisture and addressing leaks, particularly as colder weather can lead to more indoor laundry and condensation.
Ricky Young, owner of Youngs Pest Control, told Good Housekeeping that allowing moisture to build up and remain is the damp-room habit most likely to encourage silverfish. He cited steamy bathrooms, wet towels or laundry dried indoors without adequate ventilation, and not using an extractor fan as examples. Silverfish tend to favor dark, humid spaces, including bathrooms, kitchens, utility rooms and basements.
Sophie Thorogood, technical training manager and field biologist at Pelsis and a director of the National Pest Technicians Association, said indoor laundry can add moisture to the air during winter. The report advises running a bathroom extractor fan during a shower and for 15 to 20 minutes afterward, and opening a window when practical. It also recommends drying clothes outside when possible, avoiding damp washing over radiators and considering a dehumidifier in persistently damp rooms.
The report distinguishes between pests that are drawn to humid conditions and those that feed on the growth dampness can encourage. Thorogood said plaster beetles and booklice may be found in damp areas because they feed on mildew and mould. Silverfish, by contrast, do not eat moisture; they favor humid, sheltered places and feed on starchy materials such as paper, cardboard and glue. The advice also includes fixing leaks, responding to mould and sealing small gaps around windows, doors and skirting boards without blocking necessary ventilation.
Reducing Damp Can Limit Pest Shelter
Moisture control matters because it addresses conditions that can make parts of a home more suitable for pests, rather than relying only on sprays or scented repellents. According to Thorogood, repellents marketed with scents such as lavender or lemon have limited effectiveness and are not used in professional pest control. The report’s practical focus is on ventilation and damp prevention, measures that may also help reduce condensation and musty smells.
The guidance is especially relevant in rooms where moisture repeatedly accumulates, such as bathrooms, basements and laundry areas. Reducing humidity may make those spaces less hospitable, but it is not presented as a guaranteed pest-removal treatment. If insects are already present, or dampness persists despite routine ventilation, the report’s advice does not establish the cause or provide a diagnosis; professional pest or building advice may be needed.
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Why Autumn and Winter Raise Indoor Damp
The report frames the issue around seasonal changes: colder weather can mean windows stay closed more often, laundry is dried indoors and condensation forms on surfaces. Those conditions can increase indoor humidity and create sheltered areas where moisture-associated insects may persist. The article also mentions other pests—including spiders, flies, mice and moths—that may become more noticeable as the weather changes, while clarifying that damp does not directly attract every pest.
Its recommendations come from comments by Young and Thorogood in Good Housekeeping. The supplied source does not provide a measured estimate of how much ventilation or dehumidification reduces pest activity, nor does it report a new study or official seasonal pest count. The development is practical expert guidance, not evidence of a newly recorded increase in infestations.
“The damp-room habit most likely to encourage silverfish is allowing moisture to build up and linger.”
— Ricky Young, owner of Youngs Pest Control
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What Moisture Control Cannot Confirm
The report does not quantify how often lingering moisture leads to silverfish or other pests, or how much each recommended measure changes infestation risk. It also does not establish that every sighting is caused by dampness: the article says moisture does not directly attract every pest, and different insects have different food sources and habits. The source provides no specific household humidity threshold, pest-count data or controlled comparison of prevention methods.
It is also unclear whether an individual damp room has condensation, a ventilation problem, a leak or another underlying cause. A dehumidifier may help in persistently damp spaces, according to the report, but it is not a substitute for investigating recurring moisture. The advice describes prevention, not a guarantee that pests already in a home will be eliminated.
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Practical Steps for Damp Rooms
For routine prevention, the report advises using extractor fans during and after showers, ventilating where practical, and avoiding the drying of wet laundry in poorly ventilated rooms. A dehumidifier may be considered for rooms that remain damp, alongside efforts to improve airflow. Residents can also check for leaks and signs of mould, and seal pest entry gaps while keeping vents clear.
If moisture returns repeatedly, the underlying source remains the next issue to investigate; the report does not specify a single remedy for every home. If pest activity persists after damp conditions are addressed, a qualified pest professional can assess the problem. The source offers no follow-up survey or scheduled update, so the current guidance remains the expert advice published in the Good Housekeeping report.
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Key Questions
What household habit can make conditions more suitable for silverfish?
The report identifies letting moisture linger, including after showers or while laundry dries indoors without adequate ventilation, as a habit that can create humid conditions favored by silverfish.
How long should a bathroom extractor fan run after a shower?
Ricky Young recommends running it during the shower and for at least 15 to 20 minutes afterward. He also suggests opening a window when practical.
Do silverfish eat moisture?
No. The report says silverfish favor humid, sheltered spaces but feed on starchy materials such as paper, cardboard and glue.
The report quotes Sophie Thorogood saying scented repellents generally have limited effectiveness. Its advice centers on reducing moisture and addressing its source rather than relying on fragrance.
What should I do if a room stays damp?
Improve ventilation and consider a dehumidifier, but investigate recurring moisture for a possible leak or other cause. The report does not give a universal humidity threshold or guarantee that these steps will remove pests already present.
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