Diatomaceous Earth has been used in our food supply for years as an anti-caking and drying agent as well as a non-toxic method of insect pest control.
Diatomaceous Earth provides insect protection through mechanical means. To an insect, each particle of Diatomaceous Earth acts like a microscopic shard of broken glass. It works by cutting the waxy outer shell of insects and causes rapid dehydration and death. It is only harmful to creatures with an exoskeleton.
Be sure to always use food grade Diatomaceous Earth, as there are no chemicals added to the powder. This makes it completely safe for both you and your pets.
Do not purchase the crystalline silica form of Diatomaceous Earth for home use. It is produced by high heating and is a known carcinogen and can cause the lung disease silicosis. Only use Food-Grade Diatomaceous Earth for home use.
Food Grade Diatomaceous earth can be used for pet care to get rid of fleas and treat internal parasites. If your dog has fleas or mites, dust her sleeping area with DE. After you have given a flea bath, lightly dust the fur after it is dry and gently massage the powder in. To eliminate internal parasites such as worms, a clinical observation conducted in the United States, indicated that after feeding dogs DE daily, there was no evidence of parasitic activity in stools after seven days. Be careful to not get Diatomaceous Earth in your pet’s eyes.
Prevent pests from entering your home by creating a barrier of diatomaceous earth at any potential entrances. Go around your house and sprinkle it into any cracks, under furniture, under baseboards, and inside outlets. Outdoors, sprinkle Diatomaceous Earth across your grass and around plants and flowers. Add it under bark trees, shrubs and around fences. Repeat approximately every two weeks to eliminate new pests that have entered your yard. Complete insect control may take several days as the insects die off. The difference between chemical poisons and Diatomaceous Earth is that while Diatomaceous Earth acts more slowly, it remains active longer and has no negative effects on mammals and the environment.
Finally, use Diatomaceous Earth all around the house to kill pests and repel insects. Dust bed frames, under furniture cushions, along baseboards, and in carpeting to kill bedbugs, fleas and ants. Dust areas where insects enter the house such as around incoming pipes, doorways, and window frames. Use diatomaceous earth around and under sinks, refrigerators, pet beds, and in the pantry.