I tried to figure out why and then read somewhere else( I dont recall where) but that the calcium bentonite in that particular brand makes this DE worthless to use against fleas. I dont want to say to the world its 100% safe but realistically, it is very unlikely that it will cause issues. many thanks for reading this G, Hi G! Dont use any essential oils on your cat, it is dangerous for them. Shot-holing is a collection of small pits and holes that the insect chews out of the hosts leaves. ( its early November here in Wisconsin) and will continue with the DE if I feel the need. Hey Laura! It says it is 85% silicon dioxide, 10% other oxides, 5% moisture. Excited to update you with the results. I notice when it gets thin, the d.e. Hadnt read your website, though, until this morning (great, detailed information, and such a quick turn around for questions). We cover some of the more common beneficialones here. Now we have fleas fleas and more fleas. But all I have to do is lay down on my bed to sleep or just take a nap and I an finding little beige-ish bugs that run but I catch them in kleenex and flush them down the toilet. For inside the home I used old fashioned 20 mule team Borax..It seems to be working better then all the high priced stuff we tried.. Hi Gina! Powder can get everywhere. Special Flea Notes: Here at Nature's Control, we dust our pets with Diatomaceous Earth , a natural, completely non-toxic repellent. Did I not put down enough? Is it okay to live and walk around on the carpets that have been dusted? They will ingest it, crawl over it, and it cuts through like microscopic glass particles. I dusted my dogs and within 10 minutes they ask settled down, quit itching and started resting. Hi Natasha! Yes, you dont need to keep washing them to kill fleas if you have DE in place, just make sure its food grade. I do think advice should be given to use an old second hand vacuum if possible, or the regular one if youre thinking of replacing it anyway. I ended up sprinkling the floor with borax and leaving it over night then doing what you said and have been flea free since! I was thrilled and yes, it did work. Use some common sense. I have one chair I still feel bitten up at night, tomorrow I bomb with the no Mess fogger that doesnt require you to shut off the gas but it doesnt have an IGR BECAUSE OF THAT. What color should it be? I dont like using the chemicals on her plus the flea treatments are so expensive! I bought DE today at Lowes and is labeled as a pest killer obviously but Im afraid to use it. Hi Renee! Hi Allison! But should I try DE instead or move onto something stronger? Food grade is placed in seed storage facilities to dehydrate bugs from eating and reproducing in warehouses. After digging around even further, it seems that it can even also be consumed in small quantities to deal with various ailments! They feed on tick larvae so break their life cycle and kill off the parasite. My question is after all of the cleaning, washing, vacuuming, treating my dog, why am I still seeing flea dirt on my floors when I sweep? Thank you!! This was about 3-4 wks. Hi Claudia! Hope that helps. A flea that ingests diatomaceous earth will be torn apart, explains Dr. Costantino. Every surface of our house is covered in a fine layer of dust. Ive seen that the DE is supposed to work pretty fast, but its just not helping, Does anyone have any other suggestions? I recommend placing it for about a day and vacuuming it up afterwards. I went on eBay looking for a bag, and I got a 10 lb bag food grade for under $20, shipped to the house. Do you find this method works well in basements where it is more humid? Hi Judy, completely agree and thanks for sharing! Natasha,can the DE be used on cloth furniture (sofa etc?). From all the comments, I believe this is going to work. but i am desperate to try anything lol. Some of these links may be affiliate in nature, meaning we earn small commissions if items are purchased. Young and recently transplanted plants are particularly susceptible. Leave it down for a couple days before removing it , Ok Im confused. You should also not fertilize for a few weeks after you apply the Nematodes. I got safer brand DE 77 percent 22 percent is that ok I cant find anything else what is the brand name of the 100 percent I put it on my dogs is it going to be ok??? Another thing to keep in mind is that DE only kills adult fleas. Hi Karen! Please help suggest some way to apply my De in a less hellaceous manner. My daughter used de, a bit too heavy and vacuum doesnt work and wet rag does help. So, my hats off to you! Put on your scout cap, and get to work identifying and tackling these pests, utilizing the cultural, biological, and (only if absolutely necessary!) Thanks! Alternatively, try your local garden shops or farm stalls if you have any nearby. Hope that helps , I get rid of the fleas but one of my dogs keeps playing with a neighbor cat that is infested and gets them again. Thanks for such a good article! Hi Jon! Erg! I sprayed their curtains. Hey Davy! Its a pleasure, glad that you have found it beneficial! I live in a 2.5 bed apt. Hi Carol, do you have pets? While the cats are doing much better (only 1 a day), and I think the house is doing better, I continue to catch fleas in my boys room. My backyard nearly looks like it has snowed (I live in Florida and its September!). It will rain here (Florida!) If you visited the orange hardware store, they sell St. Gabriel online for about $11 a bag. Another issue is the rate at which diatomaceous earth kills fleas, which Hanna says is inadequate for her allergic patients. Keep up the treatment and see if they start to disappear over the next 2-3 days. Thanks for the feedback, I really appreciate it! No it wont negatively affect its ability to kill those fleas. I feel like I am out of resources now and debating whether if this problem existed before we moved in, it is our first summer with this home. First of all, make sure that you use a shopvac or something sturdy to vacuum it up. How can I use this product on concrete or laminate? I just purchased food grade DE and am wondering how many times and how often should I repeat application of the DE on my carpet and furniture and also my yard to get rid of fleas and larvae for good? I would have to sprinkle over a large area I suppose. Lastly, dont use it on your pets. I really like your webpages, Natasha. I now find myself unable to sleep, up at 3am, nervous and searching online for answers!! I havnt tried it but after a little research, I dont recommend it. Whats the best way to clean it up? I am trying to get every inch and move furniture as well. If you want to kill the fleas on them, a bath in soapy water (be careful of claws hehe) will kill them all. I have three Chihuahuas and a green cheek conure. While DE that contains lower amounts of crystalline silica (less than one percent) are likely fairly safe, some DE contains higher amounts of crystalline silica and are potentially hazardous.. Or did I just waste my time with that and actually need pure 100% DE? Hi Katie, any brand will work. Thanks for your kind words and I am glad that you found it the most informative, that was my exact goal while writing it DE and borax (both used for flea control) are both very effective against these pests. These fleas seem hardier than in other years when weve had a problem. I discovered hundred of eggs in these place. Because flea beetles identify their target by smell and visual cues, employing ways to inhibit their capacity to distinguish the host will help protect your main crop. Ok, I have fleas, I have sprayed, bombed, put down IGR, etcand now Im leaving for a month, and I still have a few fleas. Should every square inch of the floor be covered lightly? Did some googling, checked the dog and sure enough.fleas! Let me know if you have any other questions! Although they will probably be fine, rather keep the small ones out the room to be safe. I notice that I have not been bitten and jump upon this buggers so therefore it works! Hey Karen! I have now bought DE to spread around the house. Can I combine salt with DE for a stronger effect? Hey Laura! This past Summer I had a TERRIBLE flea infestation in my home. Please give me any advice you have I appreciate it greatly!! Dr. Cathy Barnette is a small animal veterinarian with 13 years of clinical experience. At this point Im not sure if only one was brought into the house, or multiple. Hi Natasha! Hi Pam, sure thing, I have sent it to your email address . Well, it is. What about a 9 lb. Not sure if Jon will reply, so I will help. Katrina. The DE is a pain to vacuum up because it will clog your vacuum cleaner filters quickly. He had a small flea problem that we think he picked up there, so we treated him and the house with DE during an extended period of not having to take him there. Ive heard to put a table spoon of DE in the dogs food to also help. It already had salt rubbed into it and was sprayed earlier so we just put a clean mattress pad on it and he got a clean blanket and slept in his room. Is there any thing youve come across that will prevent this? My only concern is with my parrots, many products that are safe for animals arent so safe for birds due to their fragile respiratory system. How long does it usually take for it to start working? Pleasure, have a good one and thanks for stopping by to read my blog , This article has definitely been one of the best Ive read in all my research. Real Cheap, $9.00 for 4lbs plastic tub, or they had large plastic pages for $12.00 many pet stores carry it too but be prepared to pay 25.00 for small cantainer. Hey Natasha, We have had a really bad flea infestation! Maybe they know that its for I bought a glass shaker and have dusted my house all over my carpets Ive done it in the evening and then vacuumed it up the next evening. Hello Natasha. The flea beetle (family Chrysomelidae) is a pesky visitor to most gardens. DE is great for getting rid of fleas in carpets and beds so I highly recommend that you give it a try. After doing a little research (havnt seen that in my country), it seems that you may have purchased feed grade variant of DE. Hi Rebecca, that is a fantastic idea, thank you for sharing! I was pounced on by many fleas while on the deck for just a couple minutes. Bug guy has been out twice in Two weeks and shes still being eaten up. Just make sure that she doesnt react to it. Tyvm. Diatomaceous earth is also messy. My animals, my husband & I were miserable! Uncredited photos: Shutterstock. My recommendation is that you really rub it into your carpets (I use a broom) and after leaving it for the day, vacuum it up and repeat if necessary. I would like to try applying DE to her (short) hair and tummy and legs since it will not be toxic to her when she licks herself. Hey Xara! Yes, it takes a while for the flea dirts to go. The present tapeworm should have been dealt with using a medication of some sort, or if self-treating, the DE. For a day or so he scratched a little and we saw a few crawling but now he seems fine and is no longer scratching. Hi! Is it dangerous? Also I wondered if you could feed it to your pet and yourself to deal with bugs and or worms? The Revolution did not work on Boo. Nothing was helping. This website is a means to that end and I hope it helps get people off the idea that poisons are the only way to go. Good luck! Is there a measurement that I should give to my dogs. I am also a little unsure honestly but since it says food grade (which means its completely safe), it should be fine. Diatomaceous earth powder is the most common form and it usually comes in bags, but is also available in jars and bottles. The whitewash is cracking off & falling to the ground of the basement in a few areas. Back in the 1830s, an old farmer discovered a hard substance that he initially thought was limestone. It depends on if there is an ongoing flea problem in that area. I refuse to put another chemical on my animals. I am pretty sure I used it directly on my cats fur as well as all over the house. Thanks! While I havnt had a problem with my bird, DE is rather dusty and it if you dont apply it carefully, it could puff up and that wont be good for your feathered friend. Thanks for the recommendation and for taking the time to comment . I recommend that you apply DE once a day in the morning (rub the stuff into the carpets, etc.) After spending a fortune in flea foggers and adding way too much toxicity to the environment the fleas are as bad as ever! I set out homemade traps to see the extent of the infestation but did not catch any fleas. She doesnt like contact unless she initiates it, so giving her a dawn bath to give her immediate relief is out of the question unfortunately.). They came off an Amish farm. Transplanting seedlings that are mature and large is another excellent way to combat flea beetles. Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a whitish sand-like powder composed of a type of fossilized single-celled algae called diatoms. Yes, nematodes and diatomaceous earth can be used together as a pest control strategy against common pests. My recommendation is that you get a monthly spot on treatment for him, this will keep the fleas away and protect him from any further complications. I have article on it, check it under the fleas category and let me know how that works out for you. Thanks for the great tips and website this whole experience is nerve wracking and it helps to have others offering suggestions and sharing. , Hi Lee! While it wont hurt your cat (if its the food grade one as I mentioned in this guide), I recommend alternative natural methods like dawn soap and warm water for treating fleas on cats. Ive already had 3 jump on me. I made the traps Wednesday night and put them in the boys rooms and my room. Let me know if you come right, if not, I will help you further. This part of NC is terrible for pests. They will get Bravecta this week, I also used, Siphotroll Plus 2 a spray from the vet for my furniture (and carpets) You can also get the Siphotroll Plus 2 from Kmart for 10.99 for a 3 pack (online only) as a bomb and it is the same strength as the vet. He wants to be fussed, but will only tolerate it when he is half asleep. I wouldnt dump it on them, but 1/4 tsp or so per cat one time, plus whatever they do to themselves (which isnt too muchits not like its sitting in piles anywhere) seems to have helped a lot. This little subterranean creature loves to feed on fleas, their eggs, and larvae. Thank you! This is the height of tick season and when you leave the field with the dogs there are so many it looks like a flea infestation but its ticks. It actually has helped a lot along with the Frontline. Do you apply it all over, or only the back of the neck, and how often? Well, it gives you the confidence that you can use it for flea control without stressing about potential complications with health. My pets Are being treated, but I knew I would have eggs/larvae in my carpets. We recently rescued a choc lab that was going to be dumped at the shelter or the pound ! I dont have any pets and dont have a garden. Weve tried everything..from dawn dish soap to nexgard. It will be alot of work. Ive seen a dramatic reduction in fleas. My daughter used borax all over in their house, and washed all of their bedding in the house, as well as getting Honey a flea shot and doing the vinegar washes, I believe. I bought DE and have used it like suggested here. Just tonight I found one just chilling on my chest. I have read a bit on this product due to an unfortunate run in with a flea infestation in the house I just rented! I suggest you use DE in your home, not for direct application to your dog. We have released bug bombs and had out yard treated. They are doxies. My goal for this blog is to create evidence-based guides that are easy to understand, provide sufficient depth and can be trusted to be very accurate. on the patio are mostly gone too. I tried everything, bathe the dogs every other week, I asked about frontline plus, which I was provided with good reviews but I had 9 dogs and that was too expensive for me. How long does it stay on pets? Hi, Why do you advise not rubbing DE on pets directly? Hi Deb, excellent! Hi Eva! I happened to see a remedy on youtube and it truely works. They had smaller bags of it but I will be puting it in the dogs beds, where the lay in the yard, etc. And for more information about protecting your garden from insect pests, check out these guides next: Ask the Experts, LLC. Hi. Bought mine at a feed store and paid 18 dollars for 16 oz. Repeat and make sure that his bedding is 100% flea free . I still have to do my room beyond what was done in the doorway but that may be tomorrow. He said he felt nothing while in there and slept good (I still plan on putting DE in his room today). I am actually rubbing DE into all of my clothing which works for about half a day, then I can feel them crawling in my clothes. Hope that helps, share this with your friends! Do I need a special comb? Of course I will be treating the stray cat Boo for fleas with more Revolution (it is due again) and more Capstar pills, before I let him in the cleaned up basement again. We have been fighting an uphill battle with fleas .but I used the DM around the yard and outside the house..I put small amounts in his food (which I was assured was perfectly safe) along with using a topical treatment on him. The healthier it is, the greater chance it has of successfully surviving the big move. I suggest you use DE (or borax, using both is not necessary) only in the house. Thanks bunches. Ill wait and then try the D/E. Used with permission. 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