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They’re a nuisance, but silverfish aren’t nearly as dangerous as other pests like cockroaches, mice, termites or bed bugs. They don’t carry diseases that humans or pets can catch, and they don’t cause widespread destruction like termites or rats. Silverfish are small and find it very easy to get inside any exposed foodstuffs. Like weevils, you may find them in unprotected flour, cereal, grains, bread boxes, chip packages and more. They will happily nibble fabric and paper as well, so they can cause damage to furniture, clothing, books, bedding, curtains and other materials.

Whether you should get rid of paper wasps depends on a few factors. If you are dealing with a large population and have household members or pets that are being stung frequently, it’s best to get rid of these wasps. But they aren’t all bad. Paper wasps feed on common garden pests, like caterpillars and beetle larva, that can harm your plants.

You can use bleach to kill fruit flies, but it's not the best option because bleach can be toxic to people when used on surfaces. It also isn't as effective as killing flies in drains, as it passes through the drain too quickly to do a thorough job.

No, pest-repellent plants can only reduce the number of pests in your garden—they won’t repel all of them. So, for example, a plant like catnip that repels mosquitoes won’t completely eradicate them from your yard.