Diatomaceous Earth
If you have a bedbug problem in your house, then you may have heard about using diatomaceous earth to get rid of them. Today, we’re going to teach you what diatomaceous earth actually is and why it’s not an ideal solution for your bedbug infestation.
What is diatomaceous earth?
Diatomaceous earth is a natural, soft type of rock that is often reduced to create a white, dry powder. Also known as diatomite, this powder has been used by scientists like Alfred Nobel, who made it a key ingredient in dynamite in 1867. It has also been used as an abrasive in toothpastes, and for various agricultural and hydroponic purposes.
However, most recently, it has also been used as a form of pest control. By leaving diatomaceous earth around your home, it can attach itself to bed bugs, which disables their exoskeletons, causing them to die of water pressure deficiency. While it is often advertised as a miracle cure to your bed bug woes, you’re better off using ultrasonic pest repellers and other solutions.
Why is diatomaceous earth ineffective against bed bugs?
Diatomaceous earth has mixed ratings as a bed bug killer. Used correctly, in a large enough dose, it can reduce a bed bug infestation in a certain area of your home. However, it can take several weeks to work, and isn’t really effective for larger scale bed bug problems. So, while those who sell diatomaceous earth advertise it as a miracle, all-encompassing pest killing solution, it quite often falls far short of that mark.
Of course, one of the major problems with diatomaceous earth is that it can be a pain to clean up. Sure, spreading it around your house can reduce the number of bed bugs that you have, but wiping all of that dirt up after you’re done can be annoying.
And, even if it does kill off a significant number of bed bugs, it leaves their rotting carcasses lying in your bedroom – or wherever your bedbug infestation may be. This is a less than ideal solution, particularly when compared to an ultrasonic device like Pest Repeller Ultimate AT, which simply drives away the bugs. If you use diatomaceous earth, it may leave an unappetizing smell around your bedroom for years to come.
There is another problem with diatomaceous earth: buying the wrong product can be hazardous to your health. Certain kinds of diatomite are amorphous, which means that it can cause silicosis. If you do want to use it as a bedbug solution, make sure you buy food grade diatomaceous earth, which is generally used as an additive in livestock feed.
Ultimately, if you’ve heard of diatomaceous earth as a miracle product, then you shouldn’t believe the hype. Compared to real, physical solutions like Pest Repeller Ultimate AT, it pales in comparison.