Diatomaceous Earth
By AnjaP
@Rollo1 (16679)
Boston, Massachusetts
September 15, 2015 5:57am CST
Where has this stuff been all my life?
Ever since I moved into this apartment, I have felt like I am suffering the ten plagues of Egypt.
First came the ants. The big ones - carpenter ants. They came in droves. Two Springs I was overrun with nothing but a bottle of Windex to defend my home from invasion. A lot of time and money before I found the right bait to get rid of them.
Then the mice. Then the flies. Then the spiders, the silverfish, the drain flies… arrrggghhhh!
But then, I found diatomaceous earth.
Diatomaceous earth is made from the crushed skeletons of some tiny marine phytoplankton or some such.
It’s so soft and silky, like the finest talcum powder. But in reality, at a microscopic level, it has edges as sharp as jagged glass. Insects walk through it and it cuts them to ribbons. And because it is mainly silica, it is highly absorbent and it sucks their essential juices out of their bodies leaving nothing but a desiccated shell.
I now have my big bag of diatomaceous earth. So bring it on insects. Yeah. Bring it.
14 people like this
13 responses
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
15 Sep 15
so how does that work exactly?
1 person likes this
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
15 Sep 15
@Jessicalynnt Basically. You put it in crevices where bugs enter, around windows, on the ground around the foundation, etc.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
15 Sep 15
@Rollo1 may have to do this, we get ants now and then, but more so, I want to seed some areas that is popular with ants. I am rather allergic to fire ants, who are nasty buggers for anyone, and would love to drive them on elsewhere, without putting out poison.
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
15 Sep 15
@Rollo1 I went straight to zombie bugs and shuddered, although I know that is not what you meant, so you sprinkle it around?
1 person likes this
@suziecat7 (3350)
• Asheville, North Carolina
15 Sep 15
I keep some around at all times. It's also great for pet fleas.
1 person likes this
@suziecat7 (3350)
• Asheville, North Carolina
16 Sep 15
@Rollo1 Good question. The powder is so fine
@much2say (53944)
• Los Angeles, California
15 Sep 15
I have a bag of it that I've been meaning to use, but it seems we got rid of the critters (for now). I haven't quite figured out exactly how I would place this stuff around the house - but at least it's non-toxic, I believe, I like the idea of that the most!
1 person likes this
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
16 Sep 15
You never know when you'll get an invasion. right now I have it sprinkled along the baseboard in a room that gets a lot of crawlies, but once that's cleared up, I will just keep it on hand to deal with any new problems. It's completely safe for humans.
1 person likes this
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
15 Sep 15
It wouldn't kill a lizard. It's completely safe for humans. It only works on creatures with an exoskeleton. It does something to the waxy covering that allows it to cut into the exoskeleton and expose the insides to its absorption. But if there are no insects, the lizards wouldn't come around to eat them.
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
15 Sep 15
I am very glad I discovered this. It is something you can use inside and outside, around the foundation, etc. And it's safe for people, you can rub it all over your body with no harm. But like any powder, it can irritate eyes or respiratory passages so you don't rub it in your eyes or breathe it in, but it's safe for kitchens, etc. They even have food grade diatomaceous earth.
1 person likes this
@glenniah (1197)
• Mandurah, Australia
15 Sep 15
Your are the boss with your diatomaceous earth. Run insects, run, but I fear you will not escape
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
16 Sep 15
sounds like formidable stuff - presumably it is safe for cats & dogs and people to come into contact with it? It sounds like shrapnel and razor blades
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
16 Sep 15
all ya had to do was ask, lol. i've used it fer years, in the garden, 'round the house 'n e'en as a daily wormer fer the horses. yepperz, it works fer that 's well.
@Morleyhunt (21736)
• Canada
23 Jan 16
I have used this. It took me forever to be able to say it, let alone spell it. Good job.
1 person likes this
