Definition

• Cedar is a natural insect repellent that helps protect clothing, linens, books and papers from silverfish. Cedar wood and cedar oil are both used to repel silverfish and other common indoor pests naturally.
  
  

History

• Cedar has been used for centuries to build chests for linens and important papers. Every home at one time had a cedar chest for fabric and paper items that silverfish and moths like to eat. Closets and bookshelves were often lined with cedar veneer because of its known insecticidal properties.
  
  

Facts About Silverfish

• Silverfish react to strong smells called pheromones. They avoid pheromones they do not like, such as the smell of cedar. Silverfish live in damp, dark places and will often settle in musty attics, or in basements around furnaces and near pipes where water condenses. Silver fish eat any kind of starch, including the glue in book bindings; paper; and natural fabrics like linen, cotton and wool.
  
  

Other Ways to Use Cedar

• Silverfish are commonly found in attics that have grown damp due to loose or leaking shingles. Cedar roofing shingles can help to repel silverfish and keep out dampness at the same the time. Shredded cedar mulch spread around foundation plantings can discourage silverfish and other bugs from entering the house.
  
  

Expert Insight

• Damp, warm houses with stacks of old books and piles of poorly ventilated clothing may harbor silverfish no matter how much cedar is used to repel them. To effectively manage silverfish, keep the home dry and as cool as possible, and store perishable clothing and books in cedar-lined chests, cabinets or closets.