Domakihub How to Get Rid of Firebrats for Good
Identify, treat, and prevent these heat-loving pests in homes, rentals, and hotels.
Reviewed by Domakihub home & decor pros · 2026-06-23 · 5 min read
Firebrats are small, wingless insects that thrive in the hot, humid conditions common across Greek summers, making boiler rooms, bakeries, and poorly ventilated holiday rentals prime targets. The video above walks through a proven four-step treatment method, while this guide gives you the full picture — from identifying an infestation to keeping your property permanently clear. Follow these steps whether you manage a single apartment or a portfolio of holiday homes.
What Are Firebrats and Why Do They Love Greek Properties?
Firebrats (Thermobia domestica) look almost identical to silverfish but prefer temperatures above 37 °C rather than cool, damp spaces. In Greece that means they cluster near hot water pipes, behind ovens, inside boiler cupboards, and around rooftop water heaters — spots that stay warm year-round. They are nocturnal and fast-moving, so most people only notice them when switching on a kitchen light late at night.
They feed on starchy and protein-rich materials: flour, wallpaper paste, book bindings, cotton fabrics, and even the sizing on coated paper. A small infestation can go undetected for months, quietly destroying stored linen or important documents.
How to Confirm You Have Firebrats (Not Silverfish)
Check the colour and the location. Firebrats are mottled grey-brown with darker spots, whereas silverfish are uniform metallic grey. More reliably, firebrats are almost always found near heat sources; silverfish prefer cool basements and bathrooms. Both leave behind tiny pepper-like droppings, yellowish stains on paper, and irregular holes chewed through thin materials.
If you find damage near a boiler, oven, or hot-water tank — especially in summer — firebrats are the most likely culprit. Sticky insect glue traps placed near heat sources for 48 hours will confirm the species before you invest in any product.
5 Steps to Get Rid of Firebrats
- 1
Inspect and map every heat source
Walk the property and note every warm spot: boiler cupboards, behind fridges and ovens, roof-terrace water heaters, and any pipe runs through walls. Firebrats live within a metre or two of their preferred heat zone. Place glue traps in these locations overnight to confirm activity and rank the worst hotspots before treating.
- 2
Remove food and harborage
Seal all flour, cereals, and dry goods in airtight containers. Discard damp cardboard boxes stored near heat sources — firebrats eat the glue in corrugated board. Repair any leaking pipes that create condensation near warm areas, as moisture combined with heat accelerates breeding. Vacuum cracks and crevices around the boiler and oven to remove eggs and debris.
- 3
Apply a residual insecticide to cracks and voids
Use a micro-encapsulated or wettable-powder insecticide labelled for crawling insects and apply it with a crack-and-crevice tip along skirting boards, inside cupboard hinge lines, and around pipe penetrations near heat sources. Pyrethroid-based products (cypermethrin or deltamethrin) are widely available in Greece and remain active for four to eight weeks. Keep people and pets out of treated areas until the surfaces are dry.
- 4
Dust wall voids and roof spaces
Where the infestation is behind walls or inside roof spaces, apply an insecticidal dust (diatomaceous earth or deltamethrin dust) into the void through electrical socket backs or small access holes. Dust is especially effective in dry, hot cavities because it clings to the insects' waxy coating and causes dehydration over several days without needing direct contact spray.
- 5
Monitor and re-treat after two weeks
Replace glue traps after the first treatment and check them at 7 and 14 days. A sharp drop in catches indicates the treatment is working. If catches remain high after 14 days, re-treat cracks and voids and check for any heat sources or food sources you may have missed. Most infestations are fully cleared within two treatment cycles — roughly one month.
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FAQ
- Are firebrats dangerous to people or pets?
- Firebrats are not venomous and do not bite humans or pets. Their only harm is material damage — they eat starchy substances and can ruin books, fabrics, and wallpaper. However, a large infestation may indicate excess heat build-up or moisture issues that are worth fixing for structural reasons.
- Why do I keep seeing firebrats in summer but not in winter?
- Firebrats breed fastest when temperatures exceed 32 °C and populations peak in high summer. In winter they slow down significantly near the same heat sources but are harder to spot. If you notice them mainly in July and August, prioritise treatment in late spring before numbers build up.
- Can I use diatomaceous earth on its own, without a chemical spray?
- Yes — food-grade or pest-control diatomaceous earth is a low-toxicity option that works well in dry, hot voids such as boiler cupboards. It is slower than a chemical residual (allow 1-2 weeks to see results) but has no expiry in dry conditions. For heavier infestations, combine it with a crack-and-crevice spray for faster knockdown and use the dust as a long-term barrier.