How to Apply Diatomaceous Earth

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Diatomaceous earth is a great eco-friendly powder that is used to eradicate lots of different pests—from slugs to mites to fleas and even bedbugs. Use it to treat your yard or garden by applying it as a wet mixture or as a dry powder. You can even use it indoors on your carpets, pet bedding, and mattress! Choose food-grade powder for a non-toxic option that will be safe for you, your family, and your pets while still being an effective pesticide.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Spraying a Wet Application onto Plants and Trees

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  1. Sometimes you might have a tree or a section of your yard that is infected with bugs but that you wouldn’t be able to reach to sprinkle powder on the area. In these situations, you can make a wet application to spray onto those infected areas. [1]
    • Keep in mind that this will kill all of the insects on your plants—including any beneficial ones that might be living there.
    • After it dries, diatomaceous earth will reduce the number of pests and bugs within 1 to 5 days, just depending on the type of pest.
    • In addition to being a good option for hard to reach areas, a wet solution works well in areas that are really windy, as the dry powder would just blow away.

    Did You Know: Diatomaceous earth is made from the fossilized remains of algae. When insects come into contact with it, the powder penetrates their bodies and essentially absorbs all of their fat and oil, causing them to dehydrate and die. [2]

  2. Put the diatomaceous earth and the water into a container with a lid. Shake the mixture up thoroughly until the powder is completely dissolved in the water. [3]
    • Because diatomaceous earth only works when it’s in powder form, it’s really important to not dilute it too much. Once it’s sprayed on the infected area, it’ll dry and leave behind a thin layer of powder, which is what will actually kill the pests.
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  3. Once the mixture has been completely combined, go ahead and pour it into a spray bottle. If you need to cover a large section, use a garden sprayer to cover more area at once with more control over where the mixture lands. [4]
    • Buy a handheld sprayer at your local home improvement store. You can buy a battery-operated sprayer for about $50 to $100, or get a manual one that you pump yourself for about $15.
  4. Take your time to get both the tops and undersides of infected leaves. Spray trunks, stems, and the soil surrounding the base of the plant. Once the mixture dries, the remaining powder will stick to the plant and create a protective barricade to keep pests and bugs from damaging your plants, killing them along the way. [5]
    • It should only take 2 to 3 hours for the water to evaporate and leave behind the layer of powder. Once it has evaporated, the powder will start doing its work.
  5. Remember, the diatomaceous earth is only effective when it’s on the plant in powder form. If the dried layer of powder gets washed away in the rain, spray another coat onto the infected plants or trees. [6]
    • Once your plant or tree is insect-free, you’ll only need to use the diatomaceous earth whenever you notice pests creeping around again.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Using Powder Outdoors

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  1. Use diatomaceous earth in your garden to get rid of unwanted pests. Food-grade diatomaceous earth is safe to use in areas where you, your family, and other creatures will come into contact with it. It’s great to apply to both potted and planted plants, vegetables, flowers, and trees. [7]
    • Diatomaceous earth is a great way to get rid of slugs, worms, mites, spiders, and fleas without potentially harming larger creatures, like birds, rabbits, or your household pets.

    Tip: You can also use dry diatomaceous earth on potted plants that are indoors.

  2. Use a small shovel or a trowel to move the powder from its container to a garden duster. Use gentle movements to make as little dust as possible, and wear a disposable mask so that you don’t breathe in too much powder and irritate your throat. [8]
    • The food-grade powder is non-toxic to humans, but breathing in the dust can be irritating, especially if you have asthma or other similar sensitivities.
    • A garden duster is a simple tool you can buy at your local home improvement store that allows you to disperse powder evenly.
  3. The slight dampness will help the powder stick to the plants and prevent it from blowing away in the wind. You could also apply it later in the evening and let it work its magic overnight. [9]
    • If the forecast is calling for rain, it would be best to wait for clearer weather to use the diatomaceous earth. Rain will just wash it away and it won’t be effective at killing pests.
  4. Use your garden duster to apply a thin, even layer of powder over your yard, garden, or potted plants (you should still be able to see the color of the leaf or the ground through the powder). Sprinkle powder over the tops of the plants as well as the soil surrounding the base to catch any new pests that will try to climb up. [10]
    • If you do use diatomaceous earth on vegetables, just make sure to rinse them off thoroughly before you eat them after they’ve been harvested.
  5. Diatomaceous earth is only effective when it’s in its powder form, so once the rain washes it off, it won’t be much use anymore. If, after a rain, you notice there are still some lingering pests, go ahead and sprinkle another layer of powder over the infected areas.
    • If there’s no rain, the powder will last as long as the wind doesn’t blow it away, so it could be good for up to 2 to 3 days before you would need to reapply it.
    • Reapplying the powder shouldn’t harm your plants at all. You can use it as often as you need with minimal adverse effects. The potential risk is if your plants can’t receive enough sunlight through the powder and start to look a little yellow. If that happens, stop using the powder for 1 to 2 weeks to let your plants recover.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Applying Diatomaceous Earth Indoors

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  1. Use diatomaceous earth indoors to deal with fleas and bedbugs . Instead of using chemicals or bug bombs, use food-grade diatomaceous earth to stop flea and bed bug infestations. The powder will kill eggs, larvae, and adult bugs, making it a great option to deal with these pests that lay eggs that hatch quickly. [11]
    • In addition to using the diatomaceous earth, you’ll also need to treat all your linens, clothes, pillows, and other soft materials with hot water and heat to make sure they are clean, too.
  2. Consider wearing a face mask while you’re sprinkling the powder so that it doesn’t irritate your throat. Focus on areas that you’ve noticed are infected, like pet bedding, mattresses, box springs, windows sills, baseboards, and carpets . Apply a thin layer of powder over the entire infected area. [12]
    • Carpets and pet bedding are the biggest breeding grounds for fleas.

    Tip: Remove items that are small enough to be washed in the washing machine before sprinkling the diatomaceous earth, like pet toys, pillows, throw blankets, and stuffed animals.

  3. The powder is non-toxic, but you don’t want it getting all over your clothes or in your hair. If your mattress is currently covered with powder, see if you can stay with a friend or use an inflatable mattress—but if it's just on the floors, it's fine to sleep in a room where diatomaceous earth has been applied.
    • If you treated your carpets with diatomaceous earth and you don't want to track it throughout your home, you may want to lay down towels or a plastic tarp so you can walk over the carpet without spreading the powder around your home.
    • It might be inconvenient for a day or so, but before you know it your home should be pest free!
  4. Fleas start to die about 24 hours after they come into contact with diatomaceous earth; bedbugs start to die about 48 hours afterward. Vacuum the powder up really thoroughly—not only are you cleaning up the powder residue, but you’re also sweeping up all the dead bugs. [13]
    • If you can’t wait 24 to 48 hours, leave the powder for a minimum of 12 hours and plan to repeat the process 3 to 4 more times over the next 2 weeks to kill any newly hatching pests.
    • You could even leave the powder for 2 to 3 days.
  5. Because fleas and bedbugs can mate and lay eggs very quickly, to be safe you should apply a second round of diatomaceous earth after 2 weeks to eradicate any lingering pests. Remember to vacuum up the powder after 24 to 48 hours.
    • Treat pests as soon as you notice them to keep the problem from getting worse.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How thin should the layer I apply indoors be?
    Chris Parker
    Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control
    Chris Parker is the Founder of Parker Eco Pest Control, a sustainable pest control service in Seattle, Washington. Since 2016, Chris has been specializing in Integrated Pest Management and doesn’t use any chemicals for pest removal. He offers removal services for ants, rodents, fleas, spiders, wasps, and more. Chris is a certified Commercial Pesticide Applicator in Washington State and received his bachelor’s from the University of Washington.
    Chris Parker
    Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control
    Expert Answer
    You want to do a very, very fine dusting with the powder. If the layer is too thick, insects will just walk around it.
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  • Question
    How does diatomaceous earth work?
    Chris Parker
    Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control
    Chris Parker is the Founder of Parker Eco Pest Control, a sustainable pest control service in Seattle, Washington. Since 2016, Chris has been specializing in Integrated Pest Management and doesn’t use any chemicals for pest removal. He offers removal services for ants, rodents, fleas, spiders, wasps, and more. Chris is a certified Commercial Pesticide Applicator in Washington State and received his bachelor’s from the University of Washington.
    Chris Parker
    Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control
    Expert Answer
    It's basically a very fine powder of fossilized particles that cuts up insects when it comes into contact with their exoskeletons. It's also a desiccant, so it dries out insects.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  • Question
    Can you make a wet application indoors?
    Andrew Hemmer
    Community Answer
    You can but it will create a mess. It's better to apply it dry in an even, visible, and light fashion. Not in big piles but rather just so it is visible for most insects. With insects like cockroaches that have larger bodies and sit higher on their legs, apply it a little thicker. For rooms that are hard to get into (attics, crawlspaces) look into applying with a larger applicator to fog that area so it gets into all the cracks and crevices.
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      Tips

      • While food-grade diatomaceous earth isn’t toxic to humans, it can still irritate your throat if breathed in. While you’re applying it, wear a disposable face mask.
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      Warnings

      • Don’t use pool-grade or feed-grade diatomaceous earth on your plants or in your home. Only food-grade diatomaceous earth is safe for areas you and your family will come into contact with.
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      Things You’ll Need

      Spraying a Wet Application onto Plants and Trees

      • Diatomaceous earth
      • Measuring spoon
      • Water
      • Spray bottle or garden sprayer

      Using Powder Outdoors

      • Diatomaceous earth
      • Garden duster
      • Small shovel or trowel
      • Disposable face mask

      Applying Diatomaceous Earth Indoors

      • Diatomaceous earth
      • Disposable face mask
      • Vacuum cleaner

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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8706096/
      2. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8706096/
      3. ↑ https://staysafe.org/pest-control/what-is-diatomaceous-earth-and-how-can-it-be-used-for-ants/
      4. ↑ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0304113181900266
      5. ↑ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0304113181900266
      6. ↑ https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/animals-and-crops/plant-health/integrated-pest-management
      7. ↑ https://dec.alaska.gov/eh/pest/bedbugs/choosing-an-insecticide-for-bed-bugs/
      8. ↑ https://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/pestmgt/pubs/ants_color.pdf
      9. ↑ https://dec.alaska.gov/eh/pest/bedbugs/choosing-an-insecticide-for-bed-bugs/
      1. ↑ https://staysafe.org/pest-control/what-is-diatomaceous-earth-and-how-can-it-be-used-for-ants/
      2. ↑ https://www.epa.gov/bedbugs/do-it-yourself-bed-bug-control
      3. ↑ Chris Parker. Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control. Expert Interview. 18 February 2021.
      4. ↑ https://woodfloors.org/maintenance/

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