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. Both can be purchased at the Natural Garden or Barton Springs Nursery in and around Austin as well as on many online sources. Hi Michael, nah just wipe those down, just focus DE on the floors and any fabric. I am also a little unsure honestly but since it says food grade (which means its completely safe), it should be fine. It makes me happy knowing that i have assisted with your fight against fleas For your old dog that has licked himself dry, using natural treatments (such as lemon, dawn, etc.) Thank you!! A flea that ingests diatomaceous earth will be torn apart, explains Dr. Costantino. Fossilized diatoms, whose cell walls are made of silica, are used to make a fine powder called diatomaceous earth (DE). I would like to know if it is safe to dust her cat tree that she sits in with safer brand d earth from home depot. I cant put anything else on them for 3 more weeks! I will add this to the article when I get some time as you make a good point . It didnt affect them negatively, and when I treated the window sills and rug they actually started going and rolling in those areas or pushing themselves into those areas until their coats were dusted again. Or do I need a lamp that produces heat? I would like to say that when I use it in my house I do have to wear a mask while applying because it bothered my lungs pretty bad last time. Im hoping that getting her dusted isnt going to be a big fight. Is it dangerous? Thank you all. Its definitely less toxic than that flea spray . So, again, I am assuming that this is the correct product. Its supposed to be completely safe for people and pet use. We noticed our cats had fleas a few weeks ago and since then Ive tried everything. I found one flea last night and one today while in bed. Hi Sarah! Hi Valerie! 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. Thanks, appreciate your kind words and I am very glad that you have followed my advise. makeup, etc.) Its not that its dangerous chemically, its just can cause respiratory issues for small animals, if handled incorrectly. Hi! Hey David! I apply DE with a plastic applicator that is made for this purpose. I just purchased some DE, to spread on the floor. Please help. 1. Hello After reading the article, I wonder if I can use DE with my smaller dogs. Well, I noticed about 2-3 weeks ago that he was disappearing alot. Bathe her once per week lately, never find fleas on her. . Salt does but it is not as effective as DE. what about them inhaling while they sleep.. or am I over thinking :^), Hi Laura, definitely mix it up. Hey Shawn! This really doesnt have to take more than a few minutes to accomplish, depending on the size of your garden. What color should it be? on the patio are mostly gone too. Thank you!! Anyway, heres my situation. Legumes like clover and vetch act as fantastic living mulch between rows, or under-sown. Please do, I am excited to hear your feedback! I will appreciate anything you say on the matter. A ton on the back patio I need to do but there are only so many hours in a day. Thanks for all the information. Your article says that the DE can be sprinkled on the lawn but it becomes less effective once moist. Hi! I was thrilled and yes, it did work. It can be mixed with water in order to be sprayed into the environment. Get practical pet health tips, articles, and insights from our veterinary community delivered weekly to your inbox. My cat had been suffering from fleas for the majority of the summer and every flea spray I purchased failed miserably. Our beds are wrapped in mattress cover protectors after we vacuumed them of DE. Hi Peggy! Ive flea-sprayed the carpets and furniture. I sprayed their curtains. Also, Im a bit confused after reading the above comments. I recommend getting your yard a lime treatment (its not too expensive) or alternatively, as I just recommended to Shannon, get yourself some beneficial nematodes to kill those fleas outside. Also, leave it down for a week, while putting a DIY flea trap (article on this blog) in each room at night. I also spread it all over floors and carpet. When using diatomaceous earth for killing fleas in your home, dont put any household fans or anything that creates a draft as it can blow the fine granules all over your home, making it a nightmare to clean. Do your best to keep tall weeds and old piles of leaves out of the garden where these insect pests may overwinter. Hi Danny! Hi Charlene! 4. Jon. So far I am very impressed. Hi Susan, I appreciate you helping Candace out and yes, you are correct. Do you have any experience with this product and birds? Ideas on how to make this work without it being icky? But the lady told me it was safe to use for flea control. Provided you take this precaution, DE is fantastic for getting rid of fleas . On monday, we set off Raid max foggers and took our dog to the vet for a chewable, they gave him Comfortis. I have never had a flea problem before in my 27 yrs as a pet owner, and Ive only recently heard of DE so I was just wondering what the best way to use it would be. And they are spread throughout the body. Plant of the Day: Society Garlic This is an evergreen grass that grows about 22 that does well in full sun or filtered light. How long does it stay on pets? is almost required in addition to using DE. Readers, this is also beneficial for humans to take for many reasons. Hi Jan, yes that is fine! I hope to hear from you soon. Organic insecticidal sprays, powders, or drenches may be purchased to help combat flea beetles in your garden such as: Chemical pesticides are a last resort option. Grateful for this informative site! Thanks and thanks for taking the time to write this. You should also not fertilize for a few weeks after you apply the Nematodes. Do you make a liquid with D.E. I bought de from a pet food store. So thanks for posting! Have a good one! Thank you, thank you, thank you, Natasha for this post! For about a year now I have been using this Earth I place 1/2 tsp on their breakfast every morning. Please also consider sharing my blog with your friends . Hi Terrie, not sure if Helen will reply so here goes. Went to the pool store and got a 10lb box lol. Natasha, I am so thankful to this site. This has reduced the flea population by about 75 percent. My question to you is, what is the best thing I can do to treat my dogs at the same time Im treating my house? In this case, the fleas will be torn apart. Any thoughts or better ideas? :-) I will let you know if we are a complete success, Hi Amy, awesome yeah good luck and let me know how it works out for you. How long will it take to start killing them on my cats. Let me know if you need any further help and thanks for sharing your success with the community. So I started researching and hiding is something they do if they are sickly So I began checking him over. Thats why the fleas have been avoiding me! We have 9 children who love on this dog so its untelling where eggs have ended up! Hope that helps! Thats what I will be using in about a week or to when the cold snap begins. Yes you can use that outside, it will work nicely (presuming that its not too wet outside. I spray it on my boots and my clothing when I go into the forests to photograph game animals. Couple of questions. Hi! Thanks for your help. Make sure its *NOT* Visine GET THE RED OUT stuff. Hi Lee! So far there have only been 2 or 3 in each dish for the 24 hour period. I can deal with a markedly improving situation over the next few days and then repeating the process for the next month to make sure theyre all dead and gone! We live on a farm having 3 dogs, 7 cats, and a pig named Petunia along with 47 goats. I read that it can dry out your eyes, what precautions should be taken with this? I do not use it on wood floors but use a damp floor mop with liquid that has some white vinegar. I think I might have used a bit to much DE on my carpet, but I can live with that. Ive read that planting lavender around your house that the dog brushes past will help repel. Hey Laura! But it doesn't have to only be ingested to be effective. i.e. They caked their home in it, to the point of overboard but they were losing their sanity after months of battling these nasty bugs. Hi Dotti! I have never used one with that filter but let me put it this way, its basically just dust. Thanks! Now, though, im concerned that the Advantage wont work if there is still DE in their fur. We will continue this treatment just to be safe and to make sure we catch any that have recently woken up. Okay, gonna give this a try I have 3 cats, an old boy and 2 younger girls. Just remember to use a sturdy shop vac (or cheap bag vacuum cleaner) to suck up the DE, as you dont want to clog up and burn out the more expensive ones. I just used DE on my carpets which were infested with fleas. they are covered in fleas. Thank you so much for your informative articles! Hi Natasha! Can you please tell me if diatomaceous earth is harmful to good bugs as well? Hi Ella, thanks for your helpful comment! To be honest, if you can afford the exterminator and they can confirm their treatment will not affect your family, go for it. With DE, less is better. Do you think that keeping the rabbit off the carpeting being treated will make it safe for him? Incorrect application makes a mess that is difficult to clean up. Thanks for the lovely summary on how to use DE effectively, you really hit the nail on the head. How long will it take for the nematodes to kill the ants. Maybe they know that its for I bought a glass shaker and have dusted my house all over my carpets Ive done it in the evening and then vacuumed it up the next evening. As an fleas-infested person, do I need to use special shampoo/conditioner, soap on myself? Thanks for the great tip! Fleas sometimes dont bite certain people, might have some thing to do with their skin. Its time to get down to business! Hey Katrina! As I did more research, I noticed it wasnt actually a spider bite, but BED BUGS instead. Thanks for this DE info. Hi Mike! if I only treat 3 of the 5 rooms, then treat the other 2 immediately after finishing the first will the DE still be effective or the fleas just move? Not sure what you recommend on our next steps to ensuring this problem goes and stays away. Last spring, my husband I planted the most perfect potato patch. you might try using a sho-vac (sometimes called a wet/dry vac). but i am desperate to try anything lol. I have never read anything that suggests that Diatomaceous Earth can kill the beneficial nematodes or bees. Also, the comb captures fleas that I squash with my fingernails. Yum! Do you think that the DE will absorb the Advantage and prevent it from spreading over the cats? Two days after I had gotten home, I noticed that I had been bitten by something. Im wondering if a mixture of both DE and Boric acid would be more effective than just using one or the other. As for fleas sticking to me I have found that if I use a body lotion that has lavender in it (not just lavender scent but the actual oil ) the fleas avoid me.Thank you again for the advice ..I was thrilled to hopefully get these little buggers under control while not breaking the bank..Keep up the good work !! I will be sharing this on my facebook page, I think everyone needs to know there are safer solutions to pest control than just spraying chemicals. Reapply every couple weeks when you think fleas might be invading. Just made sure its food grade please. Do you put it on and leave it (and if so does this harm them if they start to lick the DE/clean themselves? I hate seeing them miserable. So I started panicking! Hi Deb, thanks for your fantastic tips, really appreciate it. Hi Donna, you can put it anywhere you think fleas might be hiding, dont hold back hehe. That being said, thanks to all those that gave tips I will come back each day and read more of them. I can use something else to get them off her, i am just wondering if you have heard of this brand and is it too coarse for flea control? Can I use it around my 2.5 month old puppy. ft. up to 10 acres. Do I have to re-apply the DE to kill unhatched eggs? Powder can get everywhere. I was so disappointed when I found fleas still on him after the bath. I found your last comment to be hopeful, I will take a yogurt container (big) and punch some holes in it to lightly sprinkle. Many pets, like those who are allergic to fleas, need alternatives that will kill fleas quickly. Can I be sure this is good for her? thats when I discovered DE. Ive done extra long shampoo sessions. When this flea-war is over then I will just put new filters in. Sprayed the house with Ultracide. Washed everything in sight with bleach and Borax. . If I just hit the rugs, cloth furniture and such will that help? It makes a quick bug wipe and moisturizers your skin too. There mustve been around 300 or 400 on him when I came back. I dont usually like to hard sell something, but its only $9 and since you need a holistic approach here (that covers everything), its going to save us both time lol. Hi George, sure thing. I just found your website yesterday, but have been using DE on carpets for two weeks now. My friend suggested I might also find it useful in getting rid of roaches. If you put little holes in it, you can apply the DE like a salt shaker. Thanks for posting these detailed steps! As I had mentioned this was about 2 months ago. Will this work if I put it on and then vacuum later? We had treated them with Advantage and its time to retreat. Thanks for the great tip, much appreciated! I know if I rub it on them they will lick it. Ive left it down for a week at a time before vacuuming and Ive used it on the couches and chairs both under the cushions and on the surface of the cushions. Ive been putting the DE on my cats every other day I know it dries their skin out, but Im desperate. Didnt read them all, because I want these creatures gone fast, but I appreciate how you are taking time to answer everyone! Thanks for your great information. I have a shitzu who likes to bring her nasty biting friends over after a day outside the yard. Hi Shelby! Came across DE randomly one day and never even heard of it. Can we still sleep on the bed or avoid for a while? I dont want to say to the world its 100% safe but realistically, it is very unlikely that it will cause issues. On a side note I did try Natural Care + , I dont know if it did anything or not but it was natural and I could use it on my pets. Hello Natasha. Also i used the flea traps u suggested as my cat had a bunch of fleas on him and didnt catch anything in any of them. And if new ones hatch will they go into furniture fabric instead and lay new eggs? Good luck! It arrived this afternoon and my husband has already scattered quite a bit of it around. Thank you so much for keeping up with this article of yours!! thank you very much for this comprehensive ariticle on DE but I dont have a clue how densely it should be spread it around. I had to share that it works so well since it was a really horrible year for the mites and our neighborhood is dense with old oak trees. I got fleas about a year and a half ago., Now here is the problem, the fleas are living on my body.. Just be careful with essential oils btw, it is often rather hard on their liver. how would I use? My kids would tell me he was in their rooms sleeping. DE is great, let me know how it goes. They cannot survive in high heat but will die off once they have eaten the pests anyway. 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. Hey Amy! I just like to share that DE is a natural and good way to get rid if fleas.