What You Need to Know About Diatomaceous Earth

I first heard about Diatomaceous Earth when I was researching dirt baths for chickens. And in case you didn’t know, chickens don’t take baths in water. They use dirt. I know…kinda backwards. But they like dirt because it helps cool them down and get rid of mites.

Our flock roams the farm freely these days. But there was a time when they were confined to the hen yard for several weeks. The hen yard became a muddy mess when it rained. There was nowhere for them to wallow in the dirt. Hence, the need for a dirt bath.

Enter Diatomaceous Earth. Pronounced “Die-uh-tu-may-shus earth”. Most folks just call it DE. So much easier, don’t ya think? Surprisingly, I found that it’s good for more than just dirt baths. If DE is new to you, you’ll find that it has a ton of uses inside and outside of the home.

But before I get into that, it’s important to know what it is, how it works and how to use it safely.

 

 

First, what is Diatomaceous Earth?

DE is a powdery substance, called silica. Silica comes from fossilized remains of tiny aquatic organisms. Basically, it’s fossilized algae and looks like shards of glass under a microscope. Because it’s aquatic in nature, it’s mined from oceans, lakes, rivers and streams. It is a naturally occurring substance that makes up approximately a quarter of the earth’s crust. And it’s been around since the dawn of time. Obviously, it’s an available substance that won’t run out any time soon.

• Food Grade DE: This version of DE is considered safe for human consumption because it does not enter the blood stream. When ingested, it passes completely through the digestive tract without much fanfare. Some folks have even used it as a dietary supplement when doing a “detox”. This article will be focused on the food-grade version.
• Filter Grade DE:  This is exactly what it sounds like. It has been used in many industrial applications to include filtering water for pools and fish tanks as well as a stabilizer for dynamite. It is not recommended for human consumption and is considered toxic to animals.

Surprisingly, Diatomaceous Earth has been approved by the EPA, USDA and FDA. It is registered as “Generally Recognized as Safe”. That’s saying a lot! It’s not often that THREE government agencies actually agree on anything!

However, there are reasons to limit exposure to DE. Because it is an abrasive (remember, tiny glass shards), it can cause skin irritation in some people. There are no studies to support a link to cancer or any other disease. However, DE has been known to cause nasal and lung irritation in those who breathed in too much. 

.Pop Quiz…

Have you accidentally (or on purpose) squeezed a bottle of baby powder? Many a prankster will admit to dousing a friend (or enemy) in that big, billowing cloud. DE is exactly like that. If you’ve never worked with DE before (or have sensitive skin), I strongly advise wearing long sleeves, gloves and a mask. At a minimum, you should stand up-wind while applying DE. The faintest breeze will carry DE right onto your skin.

 

 

 

What works for me…might work for you!

As you can see, a repurposed cheese shaker works great in the garden. I use it for dusting the tops of leaves…wider application in a shorter period of time. This is essential if you have a lot of plants to cover. And I use this duster applicator for the underneath side of leaves. Because bugs hide underneath everything! And dusting the bottom of leaves takes a lot of time!

This duster applicator has a longer wand than most and has a slight angle at the end for spraying upward. No standing on your head to dust under everything.

Also, it’s great for reaching into the middle of bushy-type plants. I highly recommend the duster applicator for use inside your house as well. It can reach those nooks and crannies without having to move heavy furniture.

What is Diatomaceous Earth used for?

DE can be used inside and outside of the home. It can kill or deter just about every kind of creepy crawly known to man. The list is lengthy but it includes: bed bugs, cockroaches, termites, ants, fleas, ticks, spiders, scorpions, slugs and most garden pests. 

It is used as an abrasive in skin care products (scrubs), toothpastes, household polishes and cleaners. DE has also been used to prevent caking in animal feed and as a clarifier in the making of beer and wine.

And that’s not even scratching the surface!

 

 

 

How does Diatomaceous Earth work?

As I mentioned earlier, DE looks like shards of glass under a microscope. When a bug crawls through the DE, it scrapes at the outer layer of the bug’s shell. The DE gets inside the shell and causes the bug to literally dry up and die from dehydration. In the case of slugs and worms who don’t have a protective outer shell, the process happens much quicker.

What makes Diatomaceous Earth (Food Grade) so great?

Let me count the ways! For starters, it’s all natural so there’s no poison concerns. It’s safe for human consumption and won’t harm pets or livestock. Not to mention the gazillion ways it can be used around the house and garden. You read that long list of bugs earlier, right? That’s not even half of what DE can do!  It can also deter rodents! Heck yeah!!!

If that isn’t enough to make you jump on the DE bandwagon, how about its cost effectiveness? You can buy a 5-lb bag of DE for the cost of two bottles of hazardous bug spray. How about the fact that you have to wait several days to harvest garden produce after using a chemical in the garden. With DE, you can harvest the next day! And if you use chemicals in your home, you have to be careful about keeping kids and pets clear of the stuff. So…why bother!

Diatomaceous Earth is not a bait. Bugs are not attracted to it. So it must be spread everywhere you want protected. Because DE is all natural, the bugs that come in contact with it will die a physical death, not a chemical death. That means bugs won’t eventually build up a tolerance to it and mutate into some Godzilla-like creature after a few years of exposure!

So…is there a bad side to using Diatomaceous Earth?

Not really! It has been suggested that it may harm bees. But I did some more research and this is what I learned: Bees have tiny little hairs all over their body so the DE never comes in direct contact with their skin. Because the bees can vibrate the dust off of their bodies, DE doesn’t have a chance to do any damage.

If you’re really worried about the bees, pay attention to where you’re spreading DE. By all means cover the leaves and ground area where it’s needed but avoid sprinkling it directly on flowers or blooms. It’s also a good idea to apply DE early in the morning or late evening when bees are less active.

What about its health benefits?

Aside from its many uses in the garden and around the home, it also has many health benefits. I mentioned earlier that some people use DE to do a detox and help with digestive issues. There are claims that it’s good at promoting strong nails, hair growth, skin and bone health. It’s also used to help improve cholesterol levels and heart health. The list goes on.

Medical Disclaimer: Before you use DE internally, please talk to your doctor or health care provider. Even though DE is approved by the FDA, many of these claims have not been verified with proper testing.

One last thought…

DE loses its effectiveness when it gets wet. So it must be reapplied after a rain or heavy dew. This might seem like a waste or extra work on your part. But it’s totally worth the effort when you consider its cost effectiveness.

If you can’t tell by now, I’m a big fan of Diatomaceous Earth! It is absolutely possible to get rid of every harmful bug spray you currently have hiding under your kitchen sink. It’s that good! I challenge you to find another product that does everything DE does; is safe to use inside and outside, is safe for kids and pets and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.

Go ahead…I dare ya! Leave a comment below and let me know if you come up with anything. Heck, leave a comment just because! And if you know someone who might find this information helpful, please share. Because sharing is caring!

Until next time,

lisa