Silverfish are pesky little insects that are generally about 1/2 inch long with a silver-colored body that is wider near the head and gradually narrows toward its rear end. These are pests that can damage a home if left unchecked.
Starch or Mold
Silverfish prefer to live in areas that are rich with starchy materials or molds. While these aren't their only food sources, they are their most prevalent.
Dark Areas
Silverfish are nighttime travelers and prefer to live in dark areas. Basements, attics or underneath cupboards or cabinets that also have mold growths are often targets for silverfish.
Humidity
Silverfish prefer humid, damp areas. Bathrooms can be breeding grounds for silverfish because of the humidity and because the climate can be ripe for mold growth.
Books or Wallpaper
Silverfish can feed on bookbinding materials as well as wallpaper paste. Combining wallpaper with a moist, humid area creates a perfect home for silverfish.
Bird's Nest or Tree Mulch
Outside of a home, silverfish will usually live underneath a bird's nest or tree bark or mulch. Underneath the mulch or bird's nest, mold or fungi can grow, attracting the 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.
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.
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. Also make sure your closets and storage areas are free of food and water.
Why Does Cedar Repel Silverfish
Cedar wood and cedar oil emit a smell that is noxious to silverfish and other common household pests but pleasant to humans. Silverfish experience cedar the way humans experience ammonia. Many closets and bookcases are lined with cedar to discourage silverfish from settling in them.
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.
Back in the early 80’s Glen Orr was taking a leisurely lunch break in a lumber yard when he saw a deer rolling in a pile of cedar chips. Curious, he asked his boss if he knew why the deer was doing this. He learned that deer instinctively know that cedar keeps off tics and fleas off, and are known to roll on fallen cedar trees for this reason.
Glen set about extracting cedar oil from the Northwestern Red Cedar tree by putting shavings into a steam distiller made from an old hot water heater. He worked closely with a chemist from a lab in Seattle to blend the extracted oil with water to make it safe to use on humans and pets, while keeping it strong enough to be an effective natural bug repellent. The chemist also blended the cedar oil in a natural baby shampoo formula and it became as popular as the cedar oil. In 1985 CEDAR-AL, Scandinavian for cedar oil, was born. The same lumber yard and laboratory still work together to provide CEDAR-AL customers with the same cedar oil they have come to love.
Eddie Bauer stocked CEDAR-AL cedar oil and pet shampoo on every shelf of every one of their stores for over a decade, until they discontinued most of their outdoor items to become a clothier instead. Glen Orr walked off into the woods never to be heard from again. His partner, Roberto Martinez was left holding the remnants of Glen’s dream.
CEDAR-AL remained dormant until 2005 when Roberto met, fell in love, and married Elise Crawford. With her children nearly grown, she gladly hung up her nurse’s cap and worked alongside Roberto to nurture CEDAR-AL back to life. Since then, a new label was created for CEDAR-AL, two new products have come on board, cedar oil carpet shampoo and an enzyme cleaner, Triple Action Plus, and an online store was created. When a photo of the original label was posted on the website, former Eddie Bauer customers flocked to the website, so relieved that CEDAR-AL wasn’t lost to them forever.
"We use the cedar shampoo for our dog and our son's dog. We use the cedar spray for the bedding, small amount under his bedding. Plus I spray in our musty cellar. I also spray around the door ways and windows to help keep bugs away. I spray in my cedar closets to freshen them up also. I put on cotton balls under furniture and in cupboards to freshen those places. It is sprayed on cotton balls and I make little scarves for my pets, with that oil and lavender that I grow to repel fleas when he is playing outside. I use it actually everywhere. Also in my blanket chest to store seasonal clothes and blankets. Soooo much better then moth balls. Spray my screens with it. I love the stuff, as you can see. It is simply a wonderful fresh smell. Some goes in my wash water every once in a while to wash floors also, just a tiny amount. There are many uses for it. I dilute it in a spray bottle with water to spray around my house and closets. So as not to be too strong or irritating to the nose or skin if comes in contact, plus it helps to go further for me as I do use it a lot!!! Thank you for your wonderful products. I always tell people about you, keep up great smelling products!"
Roberto and Elise Martinez
Ma and Pa CEDAR-AL
Mother Nature’s Pest Control Since 1985
Welcome to cedaroil.com the home of CEDAR-AL products. We are a family-based business since 1985. You may remember our products sold at Eddie Bauer before they switched to an outfitter store. The same product you love and remember is sold here. Our mission has always been to provide natural and environmentally safe products. We pride ourselves in that we give customers another choice, a safer alternative, rather than one with long term risks in comparison to systemic risky topical flea treatments and DEET products.
Do you or your pet scratch? Allergic to bees or mosquitoes? Has your cedar chest lost its scent? Check out our CEDAR-AL products for almost every need in your home, for your pets, and for any outdoor activities.
CEDAR-AL cedar oil is colorless and safe to use on most fabrics.