Firebrats prefer much warmer areas in the house, such as warm attics in the summer, furnaces, hot water heaters, stove, and oven areas, fireplaces and hot water pipes places where it is very warm and possibly damp. These insects and their eggs are often brought into the home in cardboard cartons, books, papers, starched and rayon fabrics, and other carbohydrate materials. Spray areas where silverfish or firebrats are seen-usually around closets, shelves, under and around sinks, around steam pipes, baseboards, window casings, and places where pipes go through the walls and, in the case of firebrats, near heat pipes or s tove or furnace areas. There are many pesticides under many brands. Select one labeled for use against silverfish or firebrats with directions for the situation in which they have been found.
Dusts are frequently more desirable than sprays.
Be careful not to use oil-based sprays around electric motors, gas pilot flames, or other places where they might start fires. If you are troubled with firebrats and not silverfish, you may need to apply insecticide only to warm parts of the house. A light mist o f residual insecticide spray can be applied to corners and both sides of infested draperies. Results may not be immediate but, if the insecticide is properly and thoroughly applied, it will leave a residue that should be effective within a few weeks. No bait is needed.