Diatomaceous Earth is soft rock that when crushed into a powder, can be used as a form of pest control; other names include diatomite, DE, kieselgur, TSS, diahydro and kieselguhr.
Diatomaceous Earth (DE), works by getting on the outer layer of the pest, such as a Bed Bug (see BadBedBugs.com) and causes the pest to become dehydrated.
WARNING! Some products may be labeled or referred to as DE but are not safe for home use! For example, DE made for swimming pools should not be used for pest control due to the high Silica quantity.
* The Diatomaceous Earth that you want to buy is Food Grade DE.
Using DE as Pest Control
The Diatom, a one celled plant creature can be found in water all around the world. A Diatom's life is less than a week and during that lifetime, they build up mineral crustaceans around themselves that fall to the bottom once they die. There are billions's of these creatures and over thousands of years, those minerals form what we call Diatomaceous Earth. These shells's are then extracted from the earth and crushed into a fine powder; think of it as fossilized shell flour.
When a bed bug or other pest (Bedbugs, mites, cockroach, ants...) walks across's the DE, the DE coats the bug and absorbs lipids from their protective waxy outer layer and becomes dehydrated and dies (30 minutes to 24 hours).
This has been a long held secret among gardner's to kill plant eating insects without harming the food or handler. You can apply it in power form or mix it with water and spray it around your room, on your plants, in cracks or even on your pet to kill fleas.
Treatment for Ringworm
This has been a long held secret among gardner's to kill plant eating insects without harming the food or handler. You can apply it in power form or mix it with water and spray it around your room, on your plants, in cracks or even on your pet to kill fleas. In fact, a tablespoon of it given to your dog is said to be an excellent treatment for ringworm!
Many people will take a spoon full of Diatomaceous Earth a day to clean out their colon and release the buildup that would not otherwise come out. It has also been said that taking it can lower cholesterol, reduce arthritis and bring down blood pressure! DE can be used as a treatment for ringworm in humans as well!
Even more uses include:
- Toothpaste due to it's mild abrasive properties
- Polishes for metal
- Facial Scrubs
- Used to clean up toxic spills due to it's absorbent properties
- Cat littler
- Used as a fire retardant - stands up well to heat
- Grain storage - kills insects
- Great for bonsai trees
Remember! Stay away from filter grade DE that is used for swimming pools!
If you can't find DE at your local pet store, you can buy DE right here, simply drop me an email and let me know what you are looking for. You'll find the prices are the best around! To order, simply email Dawn at emails2dawn@aol.com; She is very honest and will work hard to get your oder processed as fast as possible.
Note: Even with the abundant amount of testimonials surrounding the benefits of Diatomaceous Earth, DE is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for human consumption; Check out EAP Non Toxic Pesticide for more information.