Diatomaceous Earth: A miracle cure for flea control?
posted by: Barry SilversteinDiatomaceous earth, sometimes referred to as “DE,” is a natural substance that is actually created from the remains of diatoms, microscopic water plants that are like algae. It contains such minerals as silicon, calcium, sodium, and magnesium. It has a consistency similar to talcum powder and is available at most garden suppliers.
This is a remarkable substance that is a desiccant – it actually dries out the waxy outer layer of fleas so they dehydrate and eventually die. As an added benefit, diatomaceous earth can eliminate other insects.
So yes, in some respects, it is a miracle cure for fleas.
But even though diatomaceous earth is a natural substance, its dust is dangerous to breathe for both humans and animals. Using it requires gloves and a dust mask. Be certain to read any cautions that come with the product and use it only as directed.
Outside the home, spread it around the foundation and entry points. Inside the home, spread it around windows, doorways, and baseboards and rub it into the carpet. If you use this method, always use gloves, a dust mask, and goggles, and leave the house for several hours after use. It is not safe to inhale this substance when any particles are floating in the air. Fish, birds, and animals should not be left in the house. When you return, vacuum thoroughly.
Some people spread diatomaceous earth directly on their pets, essentially using it as a flea powder. If you do this, be aware of the potential risks. Since it is a drying agent, diatomaceous earth can dry out your pet’s skin. It can also be irritating to the eyes and lungs. Make sure you are using “food grade” diatomaceous earth if you want to try it on your pet.
Watch the accompanying video for an interesting if lengthy explanation of diatomaceous earth.
Diatomaceous earth is one of the natural substances discussed in Flea Control: How to Get Rid of Fleas Naturally.
Donnice Sorrell Said,
June 19, 2009 @ 9:09 am
Very informative. Have been looking for SOMETHING natural that would not hurt my animals & that the fleas are not amuiune to.
Paul Smachetti Said,
July 13, 2009 @ 9:29 am
Can you rub it into your carpet using a push broom?
Also how do you keep your pet from breathing it in if you are applying it as a flea powder?
Barry Silverstein Said,
July 13, 2009 @ 1:29 pm
Paul:
You can rub it into your carpet using a push broom. Use only food grade quality if you use it on your pet — then it is safer to breathe. It is also a good idea to apply it outside rather than inside.
Paul Smachetti Said,
July 13, 2009 @ 5:30 pm
I was thinking about applying it to the pets out on the deck.We’ve got some coming in the mail Friday.We didn’t find out about Food Grade DE until after we purchased Fleabusters powder. They sound exactly the same in their consistency.
Paul Smachetti Said,
July 15, 2009 @ 10:34 am
BTW, can I use DE on my car upholstery and carpets or would a spray be better? Everyone tells me that it’s likely we carried fleas into our cars.
Barry Silverstein Said,
July 15, 2009 @ 10:37 am
Never tried DE in a car. It probably wouldn’t do any harm, but would likely be difficult to remove, since it should be completely vacuumed up after use.
Paul Smachetti Said,
July 15, 2009 @ 11:27 am
I’m confused if you completely vacuum it up then what is left to kill the fleas?
Barry Silverstein Said,
July 15, 2009 @ 12:21 pm
Paul:
The way it works is you rub it in and leave it for awhile — at least an hour. That dries out the fleas. Then you vacuum it up.
Paul Smachetti Said,
July 16, 2009 @ 6:20 am
OK thanks.It works that quickly? Nice.Do you do the same along the baseboards as well?
Paul Smachetti Said,
July 16, 2009 @ 4:24 pm
I’m reading a lot of differing strategies for DE’s use. Your site recommends applying then vacuuming carpets after several hours yet another site recommends vacuuming your carpets 4 days after applying .Do you have to vacuum up any dust you spread around doors ,windows baseboards etc.?
Barry Silverstein Said,
July 16, 2009 @ 5:49 pm
Yes, you should vacuum thoroughly, including windows, baseboards, etc.
Paul Smachetti Said,
July 16, 2009 @ 7:57 pm
OK I know I’m being a pain w/all these questions , but if you vacuum it up after several hours how does it kill all the fleas?
Barry Silverstein Said,
July 17, 2009 @ 5:01 am
Once the fleas come in contact with it, they dry out. After a few hours you can vacuum it up.
Paul Smachetti Said,
July 20, 2009 @ 5:17 am
I powdered the dog late last night ,yet this morning she’s chewing her hind quarters. Does it take a little while before the fleas die and do any that might hop on after the powdering die as well?
Barry Silverstein Said,
July 20, 2009 @ 6:29 am
The fleas will die but your dog still may have some flea bites, so the chewing is not directly related to live fleas. It could take some time for the chewing to stop.
Fleas are a continuous problem, so you may need to apply the powder weekly for a while.
Paul Smachetti Said,
July 20, 2009 @ 11:39 am
Weekly to the animals or weekly to the carpets and baseboards? Applying it to the carpets in the 3 rooms we have is a daunting task when it comes to moving all the furniture around. Takes an entire day.
Paul Smachetti Said,
July 26, 2009 @ 9:22 am
I’ve applied it to our pets twice as directed, and have dusted the carpets,baseboards and furniture and I am still finding fleas on the animals and around the house. Am I doing something wrong?
Natasha Said,
September 5, 2009 @ 8:07 am
There’s no reason to vacuum it up after only a couple of hours – the longer you leave it down, the more fleas will come in contact with it. If you only leave it down for a couple of hours, then any fleas that hatch out AFTER you’ve vacuumed will be safe (or any that jump off your pet after you vacuum…) Of course, if you want to leave it down, you’ll need to beat it into the carpet so that you don’t have the loose dust lying on the surface…just my thoughts
Barry Silverstein Said,
September 8, 2009 @ 5:10 am
Thank you for your input, Natasha. Your suggestion is a good one!
Mary Said,
September 24, 2009 @ 5:08 am
Ive been battling fleas for a month now, and am at my wits end. I am about to try DE but have concerns about breathing it in. Is food grade safer? I have to cover every square inch of a 3 story townhouse, spread it, mush it into all surfaces, and therefore BREATH it. Even if I use a mask, Im sure I will ingest some. I have a child and two pets. Should I do the treatment, remove everyone from the home for several hours? And when I have to vacuumn, should my family be out of the home as well? Any suggestions would help, I am becoming OCD on this and we are being eaten alive by fleas! Also, both pets have been treated (Frontline) twice, Capstar as well…and still> live fleas around my pets.
Barry Silverstein Said,
September 24, 2009 @ 5:38 am
Hi Mary:
Your concerns are similar to those of others. The safest form of DE is food grade. It is so safe that it can actually be eaten. Be sure you get food grade.
As for breathing it in, it is still recommended that a mask and goggles be used when applying DE, food grade or not. This is because the particles can be irritants, but they will not be deadly.
Scrub the DE into your carpets and allow it to remain for several hours and, yes, remove pets and humans after application. Leave the DE as long as possible, since it must come in contact with the fleas to kill them. The fleas typically die within 48 hours after contacting DE.
We have heard reports that in some cases fleas are becoming resistant to Frontline and other pesticides. If you continue to use Frontline, make sure you are purchasing it from a U.S. supplier and that it is made in the U.S. The U.S. version is sometimes a different formulation from versions made in other countries. Also make sure to apply it correctly — it must get down through the fur and touch the skin. Capstar is designed to kill live fleas very quickly so it surprising that did not work. You should check with a vet.
Please consider buying a copy of the book — there are a lot more helpful tips that we discuss.
Hope this is helpful to you.
Mary Said,
September 24, 2009 @ 7:59 am
Thank You for such a quick reply ! This has been the MOST helpful information so far. I need assurance that this will actually work, I have been more than thourough in my efforts to deal with this myself, and there is almost no difference from when I noticed the problem 3 weeks ago. A couple of things I want to ask; I spoke with an exterminator yesterday, she told me that breaking the cycle (via treating the pets) will eventually stop the problem…..because they have no blood host, to which I replied..” they are going after me, and now my daughter is getting bit.” So I have no faith in that theory. Second, when I apply the DE…and vacate the house , I want to leave it on as long as possible before I vaccumn…is overnight long enough? Can I leave it in certain unused areas for days while I clean up the main areas that we live in? How long before its ok to come back to the house, but not nesessarily begin to clean up? How long should I wait to re-treat with DE so I am sure that I have stopped the cycle? Also, will a mere “dusting of couches and matresses do the trick, or should i smush it in every single crevice of furniture? Im afraid it will dicolor my dark fabric and puffs of powder will come out when people sit on it? Thanks again
Mary Said,
September 24, 2009 @ 8:21 am
PS sorry for the typos….I think the fleas are taking brain cells with them…
Barry Silverstein Said,
September 24, 2009 @ 9:25 am
Overnight should be long enough for DE to take effect. Some people find success with as little as 4 hours, but the longer the better.
When you return vacuum thoroughly. You really shouldn’t leave it around with animals or children in the house — it is best to vacuum it up. Give it 2 – 3 days and see if you notice dead fleas. Then vacuum again.
DE isn’t perfect — it will cause dust, and you should test it on a small portion of dark fabric first. However, it is safer than chemical flea bombs, so using DE is by far the lesser of two evils.
Controlling fleas is an ongoing process that requires vigilance and patience. Typically a number of different techniques in combination, i.e., treating the animals, treating the exterior, and treating the interior of a home are most effective in the battle.
Mary Said,
September 24, 2009 @ 10:47 am
Thanks SOOOO much!!
Cant wait to try this Biological Warfare against the pests !!
I am fascinated by the simplicity behind how this works, simple, elegant and natural…makes so much sense. Ill let you know how it turns out !!
Lisa Said,
September 28, 2009 @ 3:03 pm
Hi Mary!
Just as you are concerned, so am I…with my dog who has fleas. I have tried so many things (vet recommended) and they are not working. After doing some research, I have read several articles on using DE to rid fleas. It sounds promising. But, I would love some positive feedback on someone who has used it, and had good results. Anyway, can you please let us know how it is working for you?
Mary Said,
October 13, 2009 @ 12:01 pm
Hi all,
After a couple of busy weekends I was finally able to get down to “DE -ing” my house on Saturday. I was eager to see the contents of vacuumn cannister after a thourough cleaning.
Sadly, there were several live fleas. Unfortunately, both pets are scratching like crazy, and I am seeing live fleas near them, as well as watching jump off my arms and legs as I watch TV. They are everywhere, and this was only one day after the treatment. Not a good sign. I cannot do another Frontline on them, I just did one two weeks ago. Dont know where to go from here. I WOULD MOVE IF I COULD.
Any Suggestions?
Barry Silverstein Said,
October 13, 2009 @ 12:29 pm
Mary: Check out some of the other posts on this site: Home remedies for fleas, and What to do if Frontline is not working. We list some effective natural flea-killing substances in the book. Hope you will consider purchasing a copy.
Mary Said,
October 14, 2009 @ 5:06 am
Thanks Barry,
Heres a question: do fleas die in a mere dusting of a surface, or do they need more volume to actually get buried in it? The fleas seem to dance right on top of a dusted layer and arent effected. Im concerned with volume here.
How do I apply it to my pets? I was thinking of putting it in a sock and dusting them with it. But Im wondering if that will be enough for fleas to die. I am of course concerned about them breathing it. My cat has been ill ever since this began, she is frail and frightened of everything now. About all I can do is make sure she eats to keep her weight on and see that shes using her litter box.
Tell me if I had it right when i did it:
I used a plastic one pound coffee container. I poked holes in the top for a shaker. I sprinkled it down heavy and tamped it down with a oval shaped dust mop. I squished, I swept I tried to cover every square inch. I waited 10 hours, only because I had to restore the house because my daughter was retuning from her weekend away. I had massive powder over load in the vaccumn, and of course emptied it frequently….and sadly, saw live fleas each time.
My question is this: Until I can have the house to myself again (child away) can I do spot treatments on the trouble areas? You know, areas more hidden that arent in human contact? Lets say, baseboards, under my mattress, dogs bed…and just leave it there for days, until I can do total treatment again? Will DE ruin my vaccumn in any way?
Between Saturday and now it has escalated, I do not want to give up on DE…it makes sense, I feel it can work. I think I am doing something wrong. Any help?
Eileen Said,
October 18, 2009 @ 6:07 pm
I used an old push broom (ones you can scrub the floor with) and spread the de as if I was broadcasting seeds (probably way more than needed) and proceeded to use the broom to “scrub” it into the carpet – luckily low pile in my case.
No adult fleas so far (did this early in the afternoon) and now I am only seeing the smaller ones that are trying to crawl up my foot. The jury is still out for me, but I have no plans on vacuuming any of this up for another few more days
Mary Said,
October 19, 2009 @ 6:09 am
I am certain that I am not stopping the cycle with my pets. I Frontline them….they STILL scratch and I see live fleas where they are.
I did a DE treatment on only my room, a few days ago. I was relentless, covered and scrubbed it into the matresses. But get this folks: I left it there. I washed all linens and re-made the bed. So in actuallity I slept with the stuff all over my room, determined to let it sit for several days. Well, I vaccumned after four days (Saturday night) By sunday, I was lying awake counting the intervals of how soon the pests were biting at me. Nearly constant.
what is this??
Mary Said,
October 19, 2009 @ 6:39 am
Also, a side comment;
Has anyone had issues with thier vacuumn overloading, too much fine powder? I am emptying frequently, washing the filter and all but I only get a few minutes of real strong power before I have to stop and overhaul the filter system and clean out the hoses. I am using a brand new vacuumn. Just purchased last week.
I would imagine an older vacuumn wouldnt have a chance with this kind of heavy duty chore. Any thoughts from those who are doing this?