I am pretty sure I used it directly on my cats fur as well as all over the house. As for smaller pets (like young kittens, puppies, rabbits, hamsters, etc. We just found some fleas on our cat. Diatomaceous earth is found naturally in sedimentary rock and mined to use in industrial products, swimming pool . Thank you! Hey Joan! This really doesnt have to take more than a few minutes to accomplish, depending on the size of your garden. One place on the island I found. I found a flea and flea dirt. Enjoy your trip! It says its 100% Diatomaceous earth, but then it says that it includes amorphous silica, silicon dioxide, and other oxides. Apparently it will pass through digestive system and can destroy parasites (like worms). Also give my flea trap article a look at, I think you will love it. That wont be a problem at all, let us all know how it goes! Thank you for all the great information and hard work you have on this site. We have released bug bombs and had out yard treated. , Hi Lee! Then again in the morning Boo goes outside with other cats around, some are feral. Hi, I bought Red Lake Diatomaceous earth, it doesnt mention killing of fleas. We used a fogger in our boys room as their room was the worst. They are brother & sister, but while she is tiny (and oh, so lively and affectionate) he is about 16lbs, and very nervous. What color should it be? At least then Id understand why theyd want to be in my home. I recommend keeping her off the ground for a day while you leave it on the floor and vacuum it up at night. or anywhere else, so questions are how bad is the infestation and what do I need to do to get rid of them for good? I too came across your site when looking for a flea treatment that actually worksand after tlalkin to others that had also used DE i decided to give it a try tonightkeeping fingers crossed!! I just put down de for fleas. They feed on tick larvae so break their life cycle and kill off the parasite. My oldest looks like he hashas chicken pox cuz they love him so much. The article says that I should not use for small animals. In fact, although they do bite and can make you very itchy, fleas have to find an animal host eventually otherwise they will die. Ive heard to put a table spoon of DE in the dogs food to also help. Hi Nic! Good luck! Intercropping companion plants helps deter flea beetles from the host plant. I have lived here for 5 years and this is the second time I have seen them in this apartment. As for keeping them away, if you have succeeded in killing the current infestation, and you dont bring anymore into your home, you shouldnt have a problem again. Thank you so much. Thanks. If you spend $45 bucks, theyll ship to your house for free. They sell small and large quantities for poultry mites and parasites. Front Line) with a house based flea solution (such as DE) for maximum results. Also might be worth putting a spot on for your kitty. I plan on putting both of them down, and also getting some flea traps with the lights in them, and putting them on timers for the night. I havnt use that specific brand but I am sure it will work fine , Thanks for the blog. I have access to the hive in my wall by drilling small holes through the wallboard, would that be a good way to inject DE? Only use the food grade Diatomaceous Earth for flea control and stay away from the pool grade one. Patiently awaiting your reply. Since using the diatomaceous earth also known as d.e., they never had a bed bug problem again. So, I then treated the whole house, all 3 floors, with Borax. . I suggest using fresh lemon and warm water, around once a week. Our cat sitter recommended diatemeous earth. Hi, I have read your article closely and am going to be doing a treatment very soon. Ugh HELP!!! Its a good way to sprinkle your pets as well because it comes out of the sifter in a fine dust and not clumping. Its time to get down to business! Good luck! hank you for any help you can give me. My legs have sore all over them and I dunno for some reason this summer they are just horrible. I plan to vacuum In 3 days and do it again and then bomb my house one last time before winter. Hope this is helpful and I also want to express how grateful I am to Natasha Anderson for the great guidance on the proper use of DE for fleas. I even use it on the dogs periodically. Fleas have reproductive cycles so hang with the DE and vacuum-treat, vacuum-treat. . Do you apply it all over, or only the back of the neck, and how often? Didnt think anymore about it. This will prevent a repeat infestation after you get rid of the adult fleas. You can use DE on your wood floors but as for vacuuming it up using your hoover, I would be a little careful. Above-ground injury is characterized by shot-holing in the leaves of the host. They also love TVs. Its a pleasure and I am glad you have had such good success with DE. . Although it is not toxic, it can cause dryness and . They positively love to munch on me(found this out during the last infestation). The dog has snuck into the carpeted rooms a couple of times, but after reading I assume I should treat ALL floors since eggs drop and can be carried on shoes? We have treated the yard, put the DE down, left it for 12 hrs, vacuumed, bathed the dogs and cat in dawn, and used the squeeze stuff on them all. All my rooms carpet and wood will have to be cleaned with DE, but putting DE down in every room at the same time is not a possibility. Scouting twice a day for these pests is a good practice in an organic program. in the 20 years i have had dogs, this is the first time any have had fleas. Hi there, my 6 month old kitty got out a bout a month ago and weve noticed a few weeks ago that she broughtback fleas and now my 3 cats are infested, ive done alot of reasearch and my plan is to use dawn to bathe them should i sprinkle some de on them afterwards? Hi Elizabeth! However, if you start seeing live fleas, please let me know as soon as possible and we can measure up some options. Any help/Advice would be tremendously appreciated as Im ready to put a bullet in my head! You can definitely add stuff like that (it would probably help) but its not absolutely necessary. Extra light? Im pretty positive that his article saved my life and my wallet!! Hi there, I havnt seen that brand but that doesnt mean it isnt good, does it say food grade on it? I have been using borax periodically as a precaution, but after doing some research heard about DE and that it was more safe then borax, which is still a great product but not something I would use in the kitchen, on bedding, or near my pets food dishes. Hey Rebecca! What can I use to sprinkle it with so I dont put to much or make a mess Our fleas are getting out of control and this product was recommended by a worker at our local tractor supply I absolutely hate fleas and its driving me crazy trying to get rid of them! THIS has sent me into panic attacks which causes me not to eat, sleep, and then chronic fatigue. I have also brought them to my car and business office from clothing containing them. is also killed by it, I suggest you give that a try. I use it in our rabbits bedding. For laminate or concrete, you can just mop the floor with hot water and dish soap every now and again. Shopping around, I have discovered DE food grade can have different colors, from medium gray to white. Hi Betty, thanks for sharing your story and for the kind words, I really appreciate it . 3) DE kills any critter with an exoskeleton (insects/bugs/spiders), snails and slugs. ft., including deck, house perimeter, and crawl-space. Hi Mary! Hang in there people it does get better. Also put a flea traps down (I have a guide on how to make your own) and you will find relief. Yes you can, it may look a little unsightly but since you will be vacuuming it up a couple hours later, this wont really matter. I hope this works, as I feel so bad for my doggie itching and biting himself to get at the fleas. DE is really magical, just always got to make sure that its 100% pure otherwise it could cause major issues. For applying the DE, use a broom to brush it into the carpet, that works the best. Cost from my own pocket. Please help! 1. Hey PJ. Hope that helps! Living in Florida, fleas are a huge problem! Might be from the garden, check out that possibility. For your pets, just get a spot on (such as Frontline). Powder can get everywhere. I saw something on here about DE. Hello Natasha, i think that I understand the concepts, but I have 2 cats that wander everywhere in house, including on counters, tables, our beds, couches, every room! These are spread out in a dry powder form and used to control Snails, Slugs, Earwigs, Thrips and Aphids. The DE particles stick to the lipids on the epicuticle (protective layer), which disrupt the lipid barrier, allowing water to exit the insect., But most pet experts are not optimistic about the use of diatomaceous earth for flea control. I have a 9 month old chihuahua mix and was planning to rub a DE /essential oils powder mix on her skin to prevent pests on her. Hi! Im assuming this is the source. They roll around and get the DE on their coats. Let me know how the flea treatment goes. Are there spots they like to lay eggs more than others? Me and my dog moved to my sisters for about a week. Glad to hear that you are going to use DE in the house, combine that method with Frontline on the your pets like you mentioned and you will see fast results. Ive flea-sprayed the carpets and furniture. Natasha,can the DE be used on cloth furniture (sofa etc?). If you visited the orange hardware store, they sell St. Gabriel online for about $11 a bag. So much so, that the fumes were strong and we had to sleep elsewhere for night. Hi Jake, from my experience, no. You should also not fertilize for a few weeks after you apply the Nematodes. I have read a bit on this product due to an unfortunate run in with a flea infestation in the house I just rented! Hi Marie! We have blackout curtains in our bedroom also. See our TOS for more details. Good luck! I have borrowed a live trap for the racoons, but I am wondering if I use DE outside on the deck and adjacent ground if that will harm any nematodes I plan to release afterwards? Hey Lisa. Can you use it on sofas and ceramic tile , in other words all other surfaces? Tilling in the spring kills the majority of overwintered beetles, while tilling later in the season destroys larvae and cleans up the garden before fall, interrupting the adults overwintering patterns. I had a few questions, and I love that it seems you respond to most questions even two years after posting this article. Hi Rob. Shd I have done the floors anyway? Ive been rescuing/ rehoming cats for 15 years. Thank you so much, Love Amita. I have been looking for the fgde and found some that said food grade in the info, but was not in the first few words. Ive already had 3 jump on me. Hope that helps! Im so relieved! Thank you for all of the great information here. Our beds are wrapped in mattress cover protectors after we vacuumed them of DE. The benefit of the food grade one is that it is completely safe, hence the recommendation. First the update, the carpets and furniture have been steamed cleaned, exterminator has been out to spray inside, I vacuumed like crazy then applied my first round of DE to the carpet and left for 2.5 days (killed the vacuum during DE removal, RIP Hoover). The package also states Food Chemical Codex Grade. He said he felt nothing while in there and slept good (I still plan on putting DE in his room today). Hi Brooke! Please do, you are doing well though, keep it up! Hi Kim, thanks for this tip, appreciate it. I bought DE today at Lowes and is labeled as a pest killer obviously but Im afraid to use it. Heya! A little goes a long way and rub it in real good to the base coat. Hi, I recently purchased some DE because my cat has a flea problem. Take Care and thanks for your help. Im sold! Thanks for stopping by and for leaving a comment! I was planning on dusting the rug, carpet and concrete then vacuuming up after 24 hours. hi and thanks for all the info. Thanks for your kind words! While this guide is designed to help you understand more about this alternative method of flea control, your veterinarian will be able to best determine if diatomaceous earth is right for your lifestyle. I am now struggling to vacuum it up, my filter gets blocked in a couple of minutes and I cant see around my house as the DE flies into the air. Lastly, when cleaning it up, I highly recommend you use a shopvac, as they are very effective and you can usually hire one affordably. I dont usually recommend DE for dogs, its mainly for areas inside your house. The DE stood on our carpets for about 17 hours. Also, leave it down for a week, while putting a DIY flea trap (article on this blog) in each room at night. I came across your site with sheer desperation. But what exactly is it? You recommended to leave DE for 12 hours before vacuuming up. I think its an environmental thing,if so, How can I repel them and kill the ones in here off for good? 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