There is a lot of brush and natural ferns that outline the perimeter of our yard and also on outside of our fence. It did raise a tremendous dust cloud. Then to take it a step further, put out a couple DIY flea traps each night (see my article on this, just browse to the fleas category at the top of the page). Hey Nancy! From all the comments, I believe this is going to work. It is made up of the fossilized remains of single-celled aquatic microorganisms called diatoms. Are there spots they like to lay eggs more than others? I got fleas about a year and a half ago., Now here is the problem, the fleas are living on my body.. Any suggestions? It shouldnt hurt them, just vacuum it up as soon as possible and replace with the food grade variation. I wouldnt recommend putting it on your pets (even though it wont hurt them), rather use a spot on treatment . Will it decrease effectiveness? Thanks!! ( its early November here in Wisconsin) and will continue with the DE if I feel the need. & it seems to be starting to help.. Would using dawn be more effective? Keep new fleas from getting on them when they go back outsde, since I havent heard the word Repellant used? I usually dispense the DE by using an ice cream container that contains small holes (I use a knife to do this), almost like you would use a salt shaker. Hey La! This is just one of hundreds or thousands of horrible tests being done all over the country at this very moment. Over the past 2 weeks I have seen 4 fleas in my new apartment. Thanks for any help you can offer! Other non-food allergies are harder to pinpoint, for example I found out after 3 years that my dogs allergy was to grass! Hi Momo! Hey Brenda! Even though the food-grade material is safe, wear a dust mask while applying diatomaceous earth to tomato plants. Let me know how it goes! Hey Karen! They all eat it as well. Join the fastest-growing email membership in pet care. since I completed putting the DE around the basement with a shaker bottle. Even the flea sprays are not helping. And thats likely to cause a problem in your vegetable patch, unless you take action. We have released bug bombs and had out yard treated. Is DE effective against bees? Readers, this is also beneficial for humans to take for many reasons. My Kitties veterinarian says Frontline has not been effective in recent years so she recommends Advantage now. For applying the DE, use a broom to brush it into the carpet, that works the best. The Dm (which I was able to find at a local hardware store ..I live close to the Canada border and it was not easily available at the local walmart etc) was less effective in my home . At this point, it might be worth considering an exterminator, let me know if you want a free quote . I did use the Food Grade DE. A four-pound bag, for example, generally costs under $15 dollars, and depending how often its used (experts say only a small amount should be used in the home), it can last a long time. . Ive read through some of the comments, clearly I am using WAY too much. hi i found small infestation of bed bugs in my bedroom , i did deep cleaning , i sprayed bed bug killer spray couple of time ! I will leave it over the weekend, clean and reapply next week. Hi Jon! My friend just sent me this article-my cat is highly allergic to the traditional back of the neck flea products, and I have tried all the herbal remedies (shampoos with cloves, Rosemary, etc), And now my bed is flea-ridden. I havent sprinkled it onto my area rug but I did around the bed and wall door crevices. Yes, unfortunately you will experience a similar situation with DE. Record when you plant your first transplants, and when you spot your first beetle. It may work on carpets but its not working when dusting my cats. I just got a nine week puppy and my yard has fleas, I have a canal in the backyard and also some stray cats, squirrels and opossum visit my yard. I am not even sure of our vacuum will pick up the DE. I have heard about DE from a friend with dogs. It has a strong garlic scent and produces tall spikes with clusters of Lavender flowers. Remember DE can also be used in small quantities and be just as effective though hehe. Hi Chanta, its a pleasure! I have a tile bathroom and have washed the bathroom rug 100 times! I bought a big bag of DE at amazon and sprinkled it all over my carpet on the living room, hallways and bedrooms carpet and left it there for at least 24 hours to be sure. Hi Rob. Hi Chris, if you dont have pets or small kids (or if you keep them away from it and vacuum it up 100% afterwards), that should be fine. The best Ive found is 85%. So is that safe enough to use for fleas in the carpet? Im reading all the benefits of DE and since our basement is unfinished I was planning on keeping a coating of the powder on the cement floor and in the separate entrance doorway for no less than 4 days. Thank you so much, Evie. Thanks so much for all your helpful information! Leave it, and then vacuum them up. Advice? Thank you for all of the great information here. The next day, tiny fleas are biting the heck out of my feet/ankles. Our vet told us it could take months to get rid of the fleas. Thanks!!! I am vacuuming daily and re-sprayed the house today (7 days later). I do leave Boo go outside to roam around during the day, and he mainly comes in at night to eat/sleep. Until recently, they both slept on the bed, but we have been having building work done (the roof is off) and a burst of very hot weather. I went on a trip to Chicago. My pets Are being treated, but I knew I would have eggs/larvae in my carpets. She lives with her husband, daughter, three cats, one dog, and a pet dove. Hi Michael, nah just wipe those down, just focus DE on the floors and any fabric. I wouldnt take their word for it. Organic management methods may be employed to combat these pests through cultural, physical, and organic-approved sprays and drenches. I bought de from a pet food store. or is the carpet cleaning even necessary? How can we keep him from picking up fleas from this place again? I found that clearing their tear duct (just the area at the inner corner outside the eye) with a damp tissue brings them some welcome relief. Hope someone else can use this info to locate the product, what about using in/on shavings.. have our dogs bedded on shaving in buildings, dog houses and sheds. Ive searched around and found this site about using DE. Thanks for your kind words and for sharing those valuable tips with the community, its really appreciated! Flea comb picks up nothing except maybe eggs? Hope that helps. Any brush with stiff bristles . I dipped the flea combs in DE before using them, then shook them slightly in the bag so that there was a very minimal amount transferred to the cat, and combed them. It is called food grade, as in it talks about using it as an anti caking agent in animal foods, It also says Food Chemical Codex Grade, it has Diatomaceous Earth and Calcium Bentonite, guaranteed analysis says moisture maximum 8%, ash (mineral matter) maximum 95%. I was planning on weekly treatments of the borax. We have snakes living under our house and we are cool with that as they eat mice that may want to enter our home. We all have computers, and Im a bit worried about the fridge as well. After a few days, remove the cotton balls, then plug up any hole(s) that the bees may have been using as their entryway. My kids would tell me he was in their rooms sleeping. So, how did you avoid this nightmare using your broom as you instructed??? Hi Sara! I gave him a good 10min soak in dawn soap last night and afterwards brushed him out like crazy. It even develops collagen in some folks faces. Hey Vicki! My fiance and I take it in water daily and have noticed it helps our general health. Please give me any advice you have I appreciate it greatly!! If you visited the orange hardware store, they sell St. Gabriel online for about $11 a bag. Very popular around here and now I see why. Dont feed your dogs DE, its not going to help in any way. Yes, definitely give that a try as it will help distribute the DE evenly. I just used some DE in my living room this morning on the rug and the couch, but just in there as I only had a very small jar that my friend gave me. Another thing to try are Seresto flea collars. I took the vet for a check up and he advised me that she is highly anemic and so Im treating her for this condition and now fleas!!! that can be affected by it. Hey Debbie! In fact, their relatively smaller size and proximity to the application surface may put them at a higher risk for experiencing side effects than the pet parent.. As replant is my new cologne and linen spray. Now that is summertime, it seems they have come back, I just applied frontline again on all my dogs and treated the house with DE, unfortunately two of my dogs, the ones who had the worst results last year as to the skin problems, where the first to show signs of allergy again, hopefully it is controlled soon. Hey Xara! I do have a large backyard. Luanne S. Hi Luanne, yes I am sure its fine, just dont let them ingest it or anything. Do you think that keeping the rabbit off the carpeting being treated will make it safe for him? She appears to be scratching less and I noticed that the small bugs, ants, etc. I did put the DE on an old dismantled picnic table, pipes, some old Christmas lights, old wooden chairs, snow shovels, plastic Christmas decorations, etc. Good luck, please share this article on Facebook if you appreciated my help . Hope that helps! How can I use this product on concrete or laminate? Don't confuse food-grade diatomaceous earth with the stuff used to filter pools. If you have a large home, grab yourself a slightly bigger one. Came across DE randomly one day and never even heard of it. Just want to be sure I got the correct product. Hi Jessie! Not to get to far off track but my dog had a close encounter with a locale skunk. Treated him and the other two cats with Advantage and hundreds fell off. I have a great article on the best flea treatment for dogs, check it out for more details. We are vacuuming twice daily and washing clothing we are wearing and bedding every other day. Hello, I just did a treatment with D.E. Hhh This is the best thing I have ever discovered I am so happy. Thanks-. Thank you for all the information and reply. But when I walk around my bedroom i do not have fleas jumping on me. Should I vacuum up the DE I put down and reapply? Country fleas are as big as horses lol. Just be careful with essential oils btw, it is often rather hard on their liver. Unlike the other varieties and mixes, this is completely safe for the family and will not cause any problems in the house. Leave it down for about 2-3 days, that should be sufficient. Glad you have found this information useful I havent used it for that purpose myself but I have read that it is good for parasite removal and things like that but rather contact a medical practitioner for confirmation. Once the predicted storms are done and things dry out again, Ill put it around the yard, raking it into the dirt to dilute it a bit. In laboratory tests, it caused lung inflammation and emphysema [13]. My question is, how will DE affect electronics? While it does kill fleas, there are some important things to be aware of before using it. I put down DE last night and after reading your article I went around and used a broom on the carpets. Owner of 3 dogs and 2 cats in a house with 2 backyards. Or would I need to wait the 3 weeks, hoover, then apply the DE? I have a 9 month old daughter and I saw one on her neck! 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!! Diatomaceous earth is likely best for environmental treatment when used in conjunction with products that get applied directly to the pet, like flea preventatives, says Falk. Thanks! I dont know how they got in here again, Unless through open windows (with screens.) Will try tractor supply or home depot. I am not sure about the 10 years thing, but I think that as long as it is dry, it should be good. I know it might be challenging but if you have to go the natural route, try washing your cat in warm water and dawn dish soap, kills fleas instantly. I camo up and photograph game animals in the wild. I moved him to our basement as theres no furniture nor carpet. Why not? Ive been using DE for a couple weeks now, and although it has lessened the amount of fleas, my 2 cats and dog are still biting and scratching at themselves, and I am, too. Hi Julie, thanks for the fantastic tips, I really appreciate you sharing those gems with us! But now Im worried I may have harmed all my babies . Getting Kids Started with Vegetable Gardening, Getting Kids Started with Vegetable Gardening. I have no carpets. Its effectiveness varies depending on the environment its used in. Clearly, small amounts of less crystalline forms are safe, but when you walk into a home where it has been spread everywhere by the homeowner trying to kill fleas in carpet, I have major concerns, says Dryden. I caution about using a vacuum every day to vacuum up DE because mine was badly damaged (heavy duty shop vac) and the wall outlet turned back. Just a regular vacuum with a bag works well. Hope that helps! We live on a farm having 3 dogs, 7 cats, and a pig named Petunia along with 47 goats. Good luck! Hope that helps! This past Summer I had a TERRIBLE flea infestation in my home. We just moved into a new home, the previous owner had four cats, and also apparently a huge flea problem which I didnt know about until we brought our kitty here! After getting wet from the grass/bushes reapplied. This time they both got baths, then a spot on treatment and also some DE to kill the ones that were still hanging on. It is even pretty to look at and I only need it on while there is a risk if inhaling the DE . It kinda disappears. I dusted my dogs and within 10 minutes they ask settled down, quit itching and started resting. Any feedback will help, thanks in advance! Thank you!! We have hardwood floors, how is the best way to get rid of fleas on these types of floors, using DE? Diatomaceous earth may also irritate the eyes, due to its abrasive nature. Alternatively, you could always water down the area and mop it up, since it didnt sound like it was on stuff like carpets, etc. It can have a drying effect. If this is the case, let me know and we can share it with the community! I used DE a few years ago, very successfully, to get rid of fleas in my apartment and treat my cats. Both the Dm and Borax can be hard to spread evenly but I purchased a fine pasta strainer at the $ store ..It makes both easier to spread and keeps down on the extra dust..FYI I have severe asthma and using these products in this way has not induced an asthma attack. Hey Jessica! Fleas were quickly eradicated as it feels like baby powder to us however to fleas, spiders, and such it's like walking on glass. Planting earlier than adult flea beetles become active in springtime can give your plants a head start on the season. Can I hose it down? Im going to try the food grade DE option now after reading your article, but was wonderingonce I sprinkle it on the carpets and furniture, can I still walk around on the carpets and use the furniture like normal? Hi Melody, DE is not for direct application to your pets, just use it for everything except them. within a week I caught hundreds and hundreds of fleas. They are everywhere and the cats are getting infested again!! One of the cheapest places to get food grade DE is at a feed supply store. I recommend leaving it down for around a week, longer the better honestly (so a few weeks is great). Hi Natasha, Ive been reading through some great info here on DE & Borax for fleas, but wonder how to effectively use it on hardwood floors if I dont have a vacuum. I was incredibly paranoid and didnt sleep in my bed for exactly a week. I completed the task of spreading the DE at 8:30 pm last night, June 5th. But it doesnt have to only be ingested to be effective. Hi, I was wondering at what age I can use this on my pups?? Hi and thanks for all your helpful information. What I have learn is that you need to wash all your bedding on a hot cycle as well put it in the dryer, repeat more then once. Just want to make sure I do everything needed first time around! This doesnt need to be expensive, drop me an email and I will organize some free quotes for you. Carpet under furniture and very close to baseboards can be left with the dust to keep killing bugs. Thanks. I live in an apartment complex and there is grass, but I am not sure about where my outdoor indoor cat is picking up the fleas. Note that it will only kills fleas that come into contact with it, so make sure that your coverage is sufficient. Fleas can live on humans but its not their preferred target. I discovered hundred of eggs in these place. If you spend $45 bucks, theyll ship to your house for free. The powder should not be applied directly to pets unless you are specifically instructed to do so by your veterinarian. If the fleas really are in these areas, they will die. 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. Hey April! . I cant thank you enough . It also is said to contain vital minerals that help both. Hi Linda! But also remember that allergies bother pets just as humans. For your pets, just get a spot on (such as Frontline). Please advise because I cant afford a hefty vet bill. Using a living mulch interplanted between rows of your main crop (the insects target) confuses flea beetles, thus limiting their ability to identify their target. If there are fleas on your dog, I suggest a topical spot on treatment. It also makes them invigorated! If you like the article, please feel free to leave a comment there as well , I love the article! And it smells good! The flea beetle is approximately 1/16-1/4 inch long, depending on the type. Apparently, they only sell the food-grade brand online. Another record-keeping tip: If you arent keeping a gardening journal already, start one. I just like to share that DE is a natural and good way to get rid if fleas. I tried refined salt, several bombs and what not. When do you suggest I use this! I am wondering if you have ever heard of that brand. Long story short It didnt work, so I redid everything, still no grass. Up to 30 at a time in my own home. About to fog again ( 2nd time in two weeks) had my hair cut to two inches long to ensure there are no eggs on my head. I cant remember how long it took me last year to take care of the situation but hopefully it will be soon. I recommend grabbing yourself about 5kgs, thats around the size that my local supplier gets. So thanks for posting! Hi Natasha Im going to get some DE tomorrow and vet recommended treatment for my cats. Hi Lisa! Its a pleasure, I am glad to help the community with these frustrating bugs hehe. Its been two hours now and I havent seen a flea. Hi Rhonda! If my eyes got irritated, so did my animals eyes get irritated. However, on that note, I dont usually recommend DE for direct application on pets as it can dry out their skin. And would I have to wash down everything else that I covered?? I have been using apple cider vinegar to get rid of fleas on my dog and cats but I have noticed that my dog has got fleas again he still has apple cider in his food and water every day it did work at first and can I use diatomaceous earth with Apple cider vinegar and other natural herbs and oils on my dog and cats. Hi Denise! I have an elderly cat that is infested with so many fleas I cant even go in the same room with her without getting attacked by fleas. I just used DE on my carpets which were infested with fleas. Is the Spider Killer DE the same as food grade? Does using DE seem like an appropriate way to handle this situation? There are a variety of generalist predators and parasitic wasps that can help in the effort to manage a flea beetle population. Nematodes in the families Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae are particularly noted for their capacity to manage populations, while Steinernema carpocapsae are known to manage flea beetle populations in potatoes. 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