HOW TO KILL FLEAS WITH DIATOMACEOUS EARTH

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HOW TO KILL FLEAS WITH DIATOMACEOUS EARTH

You can kill fleas naturally in your home by applying a thin layer of diatomaceous earth on affected areas and letting it sit for a minimum of 12 hours before vacuuming it.

Read this post to get the easy step – by – step instructions on how to use this fine powder to kill fleas in your home fast and safely.

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A flea problem can have a serious impact in your household. Therefore, it is very important to start treating it as soon as possible.

With many options available on the market nowadays, it can be difficult to know which one is best for your family.

There are obviously numerous products you could purchase, but those chemical pesticides generally come with warnings and health risks, and I just don’t feel safe in using them. In fact, more often than not, they are loaded with toxic chemicals.

Thankfully there are natural products available, that can be very effective at killing fleas in your home fast.

One of these natural products is diatomaceous earth (DE).

IMPORTANT

Always follow the advice of your trusted vet before using any product on your pets.

While essential oils and natural ingredients are generally safe for dogs, some animals might be sensitive to some ingredients, or might develop an allergic reaction. Immediately stop any treatment if you notice any reaction, such as a skin irritation on your dog. Seek immediate help from your local vet if you are concerned about your pet’s health at any stage.

The same advice applies to you and the rest of your family. Although the natural ingredients used in the recipes below are generally safe, always consult with your doctor before using any product. Pay particular attention if you suffer from any condition, allergy or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Seek immediate advice and help from your trusted medical care provider if you are concerned about your health or that of your family.

WHAT IS DIATOMACEOUS EARTH AND WHAT IS IT MADE FROM?

Diatomaceous earth is a cream coloured, powdered material derived from the skeleton of very small water organisms called diatoms. 

Dead diatoms decay and fossilise over time, forming soft sedimentary rock deposits in rivers, streams, and other bodies of water. The deposits are then mined, and made into a fine white powder.

The main component of diatoms skeletons is a natural substance called silica. However, DE contains also traces of other natural minerals.

Silica is very common in nature. For example, sand, quartz, clay and glass are forms of silica.

According to webmd.com: 

“Diatomaceous earth is a type of powder made from the sediment of fossilized algae found in bodies of water. Because the cells of these algae were high in a compound called silica, the dried sediment produced from these fossils are also very high in silica. These deposits are found all over the world. The ancient Greeks used diatomaceous earth to make building materials, like bricks and blocks. Later on it became popular in Europe for various industrial uses.”

are there different types of diatomaceous earth? 

There are indeed 2 different types of DE. How you plan to use it, will depend on what type you buy.

The two main forms are crystalline and non-crystalline (amorphous).

FILTER GRADE (CRYSTALLINE)

Filter grade DE (also known as pool grade) is not suitable for human consumption. This type can include up to more than 60% of crystalline silica, which is toxic for humans.

Inhaling crystalline silica can cause inflammation and scarring of your lungs, known as “silicosis”.

However, filter grade DE has many commercial purposes. For example, it is used to clean swimming pools and water filtrations in general.

FOOD GRADE (NON – CRYSTALLINE)

Food grade DE, on the other hand, is perfectly safe for human consumption.

This type contains only between 0.5% and 2% of crystalline silica.

Therefore, this type of DE has many applications. For instance, it can be used to help with constipation, to improve skin, bones, hair and nail health, and as a natural pesticide. 

For more info on its uses, you could read this article from webmd.com. 

Is diatomaceous earth safe or is it toxic?

Before you start using this product around your home and your family, it is very important that you establish what type of DE you bought.

I would always recommend you buy food grade diatomaceous earth only, just to be safe!

The FDA lists food grade DE as a safe product for human consumption.

What is food grade diatomaceous earth used for?

DE has become very popular in recent years.

Although some people may claim that it has many health benefits, more studies are needed to prove those claims right.

According to some, food grade diatomaceous earth may be helpful to:

• Improve bone health;
• Support a healthy digestive system;
• Promote hair growth;
• Support skin health;
• Improve nail strength and general appearance of nails;
• Provide the body with some trace minerals;
• Improve cholesterol;
• Support heart health.

I personally have never consumed DE, and I cannot back up any of the above claims.

The only use I have at the moment of this ingredient, is to naturally disinfect and clean my chicken coop on a regular basis.

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Safety tips to use diatomaceous earth

Although the food grade type of DE is safe to use around people and pets, you should still use this ingredient with caution. Particular attention should be paid to indoor use.

Food grade DE can potentially irritate your airways, and cause shortness of breath, so it is very important to avoid breathing it in. You should also avoid exposure to your eyes and skin.

Always avoid direct contact with it by wearing a protective dust mask, glasses and gloves.

Follow the application instructions provided on the package at all times.

DOES DIATOMACEOUS EARTH KILL FLEAS?

Food grade diatomaceous earth can be used as an effective natural pesticide, to kill various external parasites, such as: 

• fleas,
• cockroaches,
• crickets,
• ticks,
• spiders,
• bed bugs, 
• chiggers,
• gnats,
• and more.

Did you know that Diatomaceous earth can be safely and effectively used to kill bed bugs as well? Read this post to learn how to use it to get rid of a bed bug infestation fast!

How DOES Diatomaceous Earth KILL BUGS AND Fleas?

DE kills bugs and fleas not by “poisoning” them with toxic ingredients, but by depriving them of moisture till they die of dehydration.

Fleas, like some other insects, have external protective skeletons (called exoskeletons). When in contact with DE, the exoskeletons get damaged by its tiny abrasive particles and sharp edges, and slowly deteriorate, allowing the DE to absorb all moisture from the insect. In other words, diatomaceous earth works by desiccating and dehydrating pests to death.

This method of killing pests is defined as “mechanical”, as opposed to “chemical”. That is to say that pests cannot become immune to it.

How do you use diatomaceous earth to kill fleas in your home?

As mentioned in this post, DE can successfully be used to kill fleas in many areas of your home.

It can be particularly effective when used on hardwood floors, hard to reach corners, carpets, rugs, and so on.

All you need is your vacuum cleaner, and a shaker bottle (like those little ones used for spices) filled with DE.

You should know that DE will only be effective if completely dry and not exposed to any type of moisture or water. You cannot mix it with water and make a flea spray with it.

IMPORTANT

It is very important that you use this method only and exclusively if you can guarantee no one in your household (people and animals) will get in contact with the DE. Excessive amounts and exposure can be harmful to humans and animals.

Furthermore, walking on DE will leave traces everywhere in your home, reducing the effectiveness of the method, and leaving behind a terrible mess on your floors!

Lastly, make sure not to have working fans near the sprinkled areas, as they will blow the dust everywhere, exposing your family and your pets to breathing in the product.

WHAT ARE FLEAS?

The description of what fleas are, is in enough to give you nightmares!

According to www.britannica.com “flea, (order Siphonaptera), any of a group of bloodsucking insects that are important carriers of disease and can be serious pests. Fleas are parasites that live on the exterior of the host (i.e., are ectoparasitic). As the chief agent transmitting the Black Death (bubonic plague) in the Middle Ages, they were an essential link in the chain of events that resulted in the death of a quarter of the population of Europe. […] Fleas are small, wingless insects with a tough cuticle bearing many bristles and frequently combs (ctenidia) of broad, flattened spines. The adult flea varies from about 0.1 to 0.32 cm (0.039 to 0.13 inch) in length and feeds exclusively on the blood of mammals (including humans) and birds.

WHAT IS THE FLEA LIFE CYCLE?

If you are wondering what is the flea’s life cycle, I found the answer to this common question on the CDC website: “Most fleas have four life stages: egg, larva, pupa (in a cocoon), and adult. […] The lifecycle of fleas can be very quick or last many months to years depending on the environmental conditions throughout the life stages.”.

This is how the CDC (the center for disease control of the United States) website describes the life of a flea:

1. After finding an animal or human host and taking a blood meal, adult fleas will mate and begin laying eggs in the fur and surroundings of the host. Eggs will hatch in one to ten days depending on environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity.
2. After hatching from an egg, fleas enter their larval stage. Larvae are free moving and feed on blood and flea faeces (poop; also called “flea dirt”), in order to continue their development.
3. Within 5-20 days of feeding on flea dirt, the larvae will spin a cocoon, and enter the pupa stage. The cocoon protects pupa from environmental conditions and insecticides/repellents for several days or weeks until adult fleas are ready to emerge.
4. Adult fleas will not emerge from the cocoon until there is a clear presence of a host, such as movement or body heat, which will signal that there is a blood meal readily available.
5. Adult females begin to feed from a host within a few hours of emerging from the cocoon and soon after will mate and begin laying eggs.

STEP – BY – STEP METHOD TO KILL FLEAS WITH DIATOMACEOUS EARTH IN YOUR HOME

Follow these simple steps to get rid of fleas in your home fast, using diatomaceous earth.

1. Firstly, you will need to thoroughly vacuum all floors, carpets, rugs and mats. Vacuuming alone is very effective at getting rid of fleas, their eggs, larvae and pupae.
2. Start sprinkling the DE on the affected areas. For the method to be effective, you will need a light coating on the entire surface you are treating. 
3. Let the DE sit for at least 12 hours before vacuuming again. 
4. Dispose of the vacuum bag safely and immediately.

important

Always wear protective gloves when cleaning your home, car, or outdoor areas.

Do not handle any cleaning product or infested item without protecting your hands first!

How long should I let diatomaceous earth sit?

How long does diatomaceous earth take to kill fleas?

Generally speaking, adult fleas will die about 4 hours after being exposed to diatomaceous earth. However, just to be sure, I would let it sit for at least 12 hours.

Unfortunately DE is only effective against adult fleas, but will not kill flea eggs and pupae. That is why you will need to repeat this treatment after a week, once the eggs will have hatched. Repeating the treatment will ensure you get rid of all fleas.

If you want to be extremely careful, you can repeat the treatment again after an extra week.

CAN YOU USE DIATOMACEOUS EARTH TO KILL FLEAS IN YOUR GARDEN?

Provided you only use food grade diatomaceous earth, you could use it in your garden to get rid of pests.

However, there are several circumstances when it might not be the best option. In those cases, a reliable pest control company might be a better option. They might be able to direct you to more suited flea control products. 

For example, if you own a large garden, this method might be too time consuming and expensive, as you will need to purchase a large amount of diatomaceous earth.

Also, you should avoid using DE in the garden if your pets have unsupervised access to it, to avoid possible dangers to them.

Lastly, diatomaceous earth looses potency when applied on wet surfaces, so you should only use it on dry areas and grass. It goes without saying that rain will wash away any product you might have sprinkled outdoors.

How do you apply diatomaceous earth to pets?

I have read many articles that claim that you can apply diatomaceous earth on dogs and cats to get rid of fleas.

I personally have never done it, and I would not feel comfortable in doing it, for fear of possible health risks.

In fact, although diatomaceous earth is safe to use around animals (only if you use a small amount of it!), it could cause dry skin and skin irritations if applied directly on your pet’s coat.

If you want to know how to kill fleas and ticks naturally, you could follow any of the methods as described in this post.

HOW TO KILL FLEAS AND TICKS NATURALLY

Here, I share with you how you can kill fleas and ticks naturally using:

• a flea comb;
• flea traps;
• DIY flea collars;
• apple cider vinegar;
• coconut oil;
• rosemary leaves;
• lemon juice;
• essential oils.

Read this post to learn exactly how.

IMPORTANT

I suggest you do your own research, but consult with your Vet first.

Always follow the advice of your trusted Vet before using any product on your pets.

While natural ingredients are generally safe, some animals might be sensitive to some ingredients, or might develop an allergic reaction. Immediately stop any treatment if you notice any reaction, such as a skin irritation on your pet. Seek immediate help from your local Vet if you are concerned about your pet’s health at any stage.

Can I put diatomaceous earth in my cat’s litter box?

Diatomaceous earth can certainly be used effectively in your cat litter box.

This method is one I would recommend, as your cat will only spend a limited amount of time in the box, therefore reducing its exposure to diatomaceous earth.

If used this way, DE will also act as a deodorant, and it will help in absorbing liquid waste.

HOW DO YOU USE DIATOMACEOUS EARTH IN CAT’S LITTER BOX?

Follow these simple steps:

• Clean out the litter box, completely getting rid of waste and previous materials used;
• Add new litter of choice;
• For every 500g of litter you use, add 3/4 cup of diatomaceous earth.
• Make sure to sprinkle DE evenly throughout the box;
• The litter box is now ready to use!

Make sure to repeat these steps every time you clean the litter box.

WHERE CAN YOU BUY DIATOMACEOUS EARTH?

Diatomaceous earth powder can be purchased easily in many outlets, such as at your local home depot, hardware stores, or health stores.

I personally love to buy this natural product on line, so I never run out of it!

HOW TO KILL FLEAS WITH DIATOMACEOUS EARTH: CONCLUSIONS

I hope you found the info provided in this article helpful.

I know how difficult it is to get rid of a flea infestation in your home. The temptation to buy chemical products at your local store might be strong, but always remember that those products are not environmentally friendly, and come with safety warnings.

Moreover, over time, those items can cause fleas and other bugs to become resistant to them. Diatomaceous earth on the other hand, kills pests “mechanically”, and therefore bugs cannot develop any resistance to it.

This is why, in my opinion, diatomaceous earth works best in the long term, and overall as a natural alternative to commercial flea products.

Please feel free to leave a comment below to let me know what you think. I’d love to hear from you.

IMPORTANT: when using Essential Oils, make sure to use only CPTG Certified, Pure, Tested Grade ones, like Doterra Essential Oils. The content of this blog post and any information provided here has not been evaluated by any government entity or medical practitioner. It is NOT intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, illness or condition. It is NOT intended to be a substitute for medical counselling. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or suffering from any medical condition or illness or injury, you SHOULD consult a qualified healthcare professional before using any product.

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