The use of DE or Diatomaceous Earth powder is so popular nowadays. It is said that this is one of the powerful products to kill fleas and other insects like bed bugs. But, somehow, you find that it doesn’t work as it is expected. So, why is diatomaceous earth not killing fleas? Well, in this article I am going to share why diatomaceous earth is failed to kill fleas.
Actually, in using diatomaceous earth, you surely need to consider some particular things such as the right way to apply, the humidity, and the place where you apply it, etc. Those things are important to be observed because the misapplication of diatomaceous earth will not lead you to a successful treatment.
Now, let us check it out in the following section.
People often Use it As Spray in An Ineffective Way
It doesn’t matter how powerful a weapon is. When people cannot use it properly, the weapon will be useless. The same thing is applied to the diatomaceous earth that can be so useless when it is used in the wrong way. Well, there are some particular mistakes that people do when they apply diatomaceous earth to kill fleas.
Mostly, people use this powder as a spray. Well, spraying is a very good way to kill fleas. You just need to add some water, shake it, and spray it to every single place that might be infested by fleas. And then, waiting for a while for the failure of the diatomaceous earth.
Well, here is the thing you need to know. It is a fact that this powder becomes useless to eliminate insects when it is applied in a humid place. So, using it as the spray will completely make this powerful powder becomes useless. Surely, do not use diatomaceous earth as a spray. Now, you may wonder why. So, let me explain.
The diatomaceous earth powder works well in dry conditions. This powder absorbs the liquid from fleas exoskeleton which is fats and oils. This condition makes the fleas die because of the dry out. In this case, the fleas will be torn apart. That is why a wet diatomaceous earth powder will absorb nothing.
So, what you need to do instead?
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The trick in Using Diatomaceous Earth Powder as A Spray
Actually, using diatomaceous earth powder as a spray is a must when the spot is hardly reached. Some spots like micro holes and scratches are usually difficult to be reached. In this situation, you cannot just simply pour the powder around the spot because fleas are so small. It means that they can escape from you and hide anywhere.
So, here is the trick you can do in reaching the fleas.
First, you have to completely pay attention to the ratio of diatomaceous earth spray. Here, I recommend you use this ratio; 2 cups of water and 8 tablespoons of diatomaceous earth (1/2 cup). Hopefully, this thick compound is enough to kill the fleas that cannot be reached by you. In this case, you can run some experiments because it all depends on the humidity and the environment where fleas hide.
Second, diatomaceous earth powder will not fully be mixed with the water. You can find that the powder will sediment to the bottom of the bottle. Therefore, you have to shake it every time before you do spray the fleas. It may take more effort and waste a bit of your time, but just shake it and see the result.
Third, as has been mentioned before, diatomaceous earth powder will not work when it is wet. So, you have to wait for it to dry before it becomes a deadly killer-agent. That is why you sometimes need to wait for days to see the result instead of thinking that this diatomaceous earth doesn’t work at all.
At last, you need to add other substances to make the diatomaceous earth more effective. This study finds that the use of diatomaceous earth alone doesn’t work as well as the other mixture which includes pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide. Here, the other substances, pyrethrins, and piperonyl butoxide make the diatomite‐based insecticide work better and more effective. So, you need to check the composition of the diatomaceous earth product first before buying it.
In short, to use diatomaceous earth more effectively as a spray, there are some things you need to consider such as:
- Use the good ratio of diatomaceous earth and the water.
- Shake before spray to avoid sedimentation.
- Wait a few days until it dry.
- Choose the diatomaceous earth product that contains other substances like pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide.
It Is Used in A Humid Environments
The other thing you need to consider is when and where the diatomaceous earth powder should be applied. It is related to the humidity around the spots where you apply the powder. In this case, there are a few things that I want to share with you.
First, you have to choose the moment that the spots are completely dry without moisture or dew points. In some countries, the surfaces become dry at 10 am. While in other countries, it may take longer. So, make sure that it is completely dry, especially when you want to apply it outside.
Second, surely you need to check the humidity. You cannot just simply use diatomaceous earth powder when it rains, or a bit windy with moisture. Those situations will make the diatomaceous earth powder lose its absorbing ability.
Third, if it is in an indoor spot, make sure that the spot is dry and there is nothing to make the spot becomes wet or humid. It is important to make the carpet or pets’ bedding stay dry while the diatomaceous earth powder is applied.
The Treatment Applied in A Short Time
One of the biggest mistakes in applying diatomaceous earth powder is that people will just simply vacuum it after a few hours of application. Well, that thing should be avoided because it takes some more time to make it effective. Especially, when the diatomaceous earth is applied in a wet condition, you surely need to wait for it dry first before it starts to give some effects.
In this case, you need to wait at least 84 hours (the other source says 7 to 17 days) before you clean the sprinkled diatomaceous earth powder from the spots. Even though it is a powerful pests control powder, it still needs some more time to remove the fleas. Well, you have to be patient but you can count on this long-lasting treatment.
Therefore, if you still find some fleas after a few hours of applying diatomaceous earth powder, it means that the powder still needs more time to remove the fleas completely. The absorptions in fleas’ bodies take more time than you expect. This usually happens in the pure diatomite‐based insecticide. So, once again, be patient.
Diatomaceous Earth Powder only Kills the Adult
Well, there are more things that you need to consider before using diatomaceous earth powder. In this section, I want to talk about which factors are needed to apply it.
First, you can only target the adult fleas. This powder is completely good in killing the adult fleas. So, you can use it anytime and anywhere to eliminate that those fleas that infest you.
Second, this diatomaceous earth powder does not kill cocoons. So, the possibility of fleas to reinfest is big enough. There will always be the continuous treatment even for a while, just to keep the fleas completely removed.
Well, that is all about the failure in using DE or Diatomaceous Earth powder which is so popular nowadays. Do you have any comments or suggestions? Feel free to contact us on this contact page below.