Diatomaceous earth (DE) is an all-natural product that has a multitude of uses. In this article, I discuss a problem that many dog owners have experienced, including myself – DE not killing fleas. I have recently received quite a few emails as well as messages on Facebook, asking me about using Diatomaceous Earth for killing fleas. Perhaps the question of whether DE works for killing fleas is one that you have, too. As a pet owner, there’s nothing more frustrating than seeing your furry friend scratching excessively and being miserable. You want to know how to cure fleas—especially if you want to find a way to get rid of them naturally. Unfortunately, when it comes to parasites like fleas, none of the “snake oil” treatments work as well as diatomaceous earth (DE). We’ve been using DE for ourselves since we first heard about its benefits years ago, and now that we have pets, we use it on them too. However, like any natural remedies, there are those who say that DE doesn’t work at all. So is there really no way to get rid of fleas with DE? Or does it just not kill adult fleas on contact? When fleas jump onto your pet, they latch onto the hair and start sucking blood. They can jump from one pet to another and harbor themselves in the carpeting, bedding and furniture in your house. A female flea can lay about ten eggs each day, and those eggs can turn into a thousand new fleas within a month. The situation can easily snowball out of control unless you intervene, so read on to learn how diatomaceous earth works against this common pest.

Diatomaceous Earth Not Killing Fleas

Introduction

Diatomaceous earth is a natural product made from the fossilized remains of tiny, aquatic creatures called diatoms. Their skeletons are made of a natural substance called silica. Over a long period of time, diatoms accumulated in the sediment of rivers, streams, lakes, and oceans. Today, silica deposits are mined from these areas. Diatomaceous earth consists of about 80 to 90 percent silica and is used for pest control as well as many industrial purposes.

Step 1

• The first step to getting rid of fleas is buying the right diatomaceous earth. Food grade DE should be your only choice, as regular DE can be toxic if ingested by pets or children. Make sure you buy it in a powder form, since that’s what you’ll need for treating your pet and home with it.
• Buy the largest container possible at once—you don’t want to have to make multiple trips back out into the world just to get more DE! You’ll also want one that has a resealable top (or a lid) so that you can reuse it when necessary without having to transfer everything over each time. If buying this much seems like too much work, consider signing up for a subscription service instead; most companies will deliver monthly shipments directly to your door so long as there’s no storage space issue between deliveries.*

Purchase the right diatomaceous earth.

To ensure that your diatomaceous earth will be effective, it’s important to purchase the right kind. Food grade diatomaceous earth is the only type that can kill ticks and fleas on your pet. Some companies sell DE with a coarse grain size or fine powdery consistency, both of which are ineffective for pest control. You should avoid purchasing any DE that has a grain size that’s too small or large for pest control purposes. Only food grade DE will do the trick!

Step 2

Diatomaceous earth is made up of crushed fossilized algae. It is not harmful to humans or animals, and it’s safe to use around pets, children and food (as long as you don’t eat it). Unlike other pesticides that can be toxic for people and pets if ingested in large quantities, diatomaceous earth causes no harm at all if eaten by humans or pets in small amounts.

Sprinkle diatomaceous earth on your carpet and upholstery, taking care not to inhale the powder. Allow the product to sit on surfaces for 24 hours.

It’s important to note that diatomaceous earth is not a pesticide and does not kill fleas. It simply acts as a mechanical barrier, trapping the fleas in their larvae stage on your carpet or upholstery so they cannot bite you or your pets. However, this method will not work for everyone:

• If you have an infant in your home, talk with your doctor before using diatomaceous earth near them. Diatomaceous earth can irritate skin if inhaled or ingested by children and adults alike; it is recommended that you avoid breathing the powder when applying it to carpets, upholstery and other surfaces in your home.
• Do not use this product on any carpeting that has been treated with pesticides or insecticides within the past six months because it may be harmful if ingested by humans—only apply DE outdoors at least 24 hours after application of any pesticides or insecticides indoors (and vice versa).

Step 3

After you vacuum, inspect the contents of your bag. If it contains flea dirt, continue to vacuum until there is no more evidence of fleas in the bag. This will help reduce the number of adults and eggs that could hatch later. You may also want to consider washing all pet bedding in hot water with soap or by using an enzymatic cleaner if you see any signs of adult fleas on your pets or their bedding. Check under furniture, carpets and rugs as well as other areas where cats and dogs spend time for any signs of these pests before vacuuming them up as well.

Remember that although most people choose not to use diatomaceous earth on their pets because it can harm them if ingested (it does not get into the fur), it’s always a good idea to check with your veterinarian first before doing anything like this around them!

Vacuum thoroughly.

The vacuum cleaner should be used once a week to remove fleas from your home. This can be done by using a high-quality vacuum cleaner, using the hose attachment, and vacuuming upholstery, carpets and cracks and crevices.

Step 4

Repeat the treatment weekly or after heavy rain or moisture. If you have pets, be careful to keep diatomaceous earth off their paws and fur; otherwise it might get ingested while they groom themselves. If your pet has a sensitive stomach, it may cause intestinal upset if they eat the powder.

Repeat treatment weekly or after heavy rain or moisture.

Diatomaceous earth is an effective treatment for killing fleas, but it can take several weeks of repeated application to eradicate the pests. If you’re treating for a large area or have a lot of pets to deal with, be prepared to repeat this process weekly or after heavy rain or moisture.

Diatomaceous earth kills fleas by scratching up their exoskeleton and drying them out.

Diatomaceous earth is a fine powder that comes from fossilized diatoms, a type of hard-shelled single-celled algae. These organisms lived in the oceans and lakes of prehistoric times. When they died, they sank to the bottom and were covered by sediment that hardened around them. Over time, this produced sedimentary rock with small fossils formed inside it. The fossilized diatoms are ground up into a fine powder and sold as diatomaceous earth or DE to kill fleas on dogs and cats.

Conclusion

We’re here to tell you that it’s not an effective flea treatment. It works, but it won’t solve your flea problem on its own. You need to use diatomaceous earth in combination with other methods to get rid of fleas.