If you’ve looked much into bed bug control, you’ve probably come across diatomaceous earth as one possible solution to killing bed bugs. When exploring bed bug treatment options, diatomaceous earth offers an effective and natural solution to chemical sprays.
This food-grade diatomaceous earth acts as a powerful insecticide. It uses its fine powder of crystalline silica to dehydrate and kill bed bugs, including their eggs. Not only does diatomaceous earth work as a bed bug killer, but it also handles pests like cockroaches, fleas, roaches, and spiders.
Applying a thin layer in key areas for bed bug control works with current infestations and helps prevent re-infestation. In this article, I’ll discuss what diatomaceous earth is and how to use this desiccant effectively.
For immediate assistance with a severe infestation, I recommend using the tool below to contact top pest control companies in your area.
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What Is Diatomaceous Earth?
Diatomaceous earth, made from ancient, fossilized single-cell algae rich in silica, comes from mining silica deposits found in river banks. People commonly use this substance for pest control, instead of bug sprays with pesticides.
Diatomaceous earth can be used for bed bug infestations and effectively kills insects due to two key properties.
- It absorbs lipids. Many insects have a waxy outer coat to their exoskeleton, which helps them maintain moisture in their body. When insects come into contact with diatomaceous earth, it absorbs lipids. This erodes the waxy outer layer of insects’ exoskeletons and causes dehydration over days or long periods of two weeks.
- It’s sharp and jagged. These fossilized remains are not smooth or rounded. At a microscopic level, they’re full of sharp, jagged edges, making it easy to latch into insects that come into contact with it. The sharp, jagged edges cling to insects and damage their exoskeletons, often transferring to other bugs that come into contact.
Although diatomaceous earth is deadly to insects, it’s safe for humans. Some types of diatomaceous earth are food-grade, which has been sterilized to remove harmful bacteria. This product also serves as an additive in grain storage and livestock feed.
Diatomaceous Earth Safety
Diatomaceous earth occurs naturally and lacks the toxicity of chemicals, but you should handle diatomaceous earth powder with care. It won’t cut or harm you, but it can dry out your hands, so wear gloves when handling it.
The main problem is inhaling it. Wear a dust mask and avoid breathing in fine, foreign particles. These can irritate your lungs, eyes, and nasal membranes. Although current diatomaceous earth isn’t known to be a carcinogen, airborne particles could still cause irritation.
To minimize risk, wear proper safety gear like goggles and a mask when handling it.
Food grade diatomaceious earth is generally safe for pets and humans.
Applying Diatomaceous Earth To Kill Bed Bugs
Diatomaceous earth is easy to use to kill insects like bed bugs. But you should know a few things to make it work best. Diatomaceous earth works as a natural insecticide by using its desiccant properties to dehydrate and kill bed bugs. To be effective, it needs to be applied in thin layers to areas where bed bugs are likely to travel, such as along baseboards, around mattress seams, and in cracks and crevices.
Methods of Application
Diatomaceous earth is a powdery substance. It’s not a liquid you can squirt out of a bottle like most chemical sprays. Distribute it lightly and evenly to be effective.
The most common and effective way to do this is by using a powder duster. A powder duster is basically a handheld device where you load powder into a chamber, and lightly squeeze the chamber to shoot powder out of the narrow spout.
This gives you a lot of control over how much powder to disperse. You can get close to your target to keep the powder more concentrated. Or pull the duster back more to let the powder spread to cover a wider target more lightly.
Another way of applying diatomaceous earth is with a dry, flat paintbrush. You wouldn’t want to do this to cover a lot of areas, but if you want to get diatomaceous earth into cracks and crevices that may be hard to reach, it’s a good choice.
A paintbrush may also be useful when you want to keep the amount of powder to a minimum. If you’re fighting bed bugs, you might want to apply a controlled amount of diatomaceous earth in the creases of your mattress. A duster would likely be too much.
One key thing to remember is that you want the bugs to come into contact with the diatomaceous earth. This means you want to keep it spread thin so it doesn’t look like an obstacle bugs will move around.
If you spread out too much, you can always vacuum it up. I recommend a good vacuum with a HEPA filter to prevent irritants from being spread into the air.
Wet Application
While using a dry application of DE described above is the most common and easiest method. You can also apply diatomaceous earth in a wet form. Mix diatomaceous earth and water in a one-to-four ratio — one cup of diatomaceous earth to four cups of water. Spray this mixture through a spraying applicator.
I recommend using the wet application method only for awkward areas where a powder duster is ineffective. For example, apply DE to the underside of surfaces or vertical surfaces where a powder won’t stick. The water will adhere and leave the DE behind as it evaporates.
However, keep in mind that diatomaceous earth won’t kill insects while it’s wet. It needs to dry out before it starts to work.
Where to Apply the Diatomaceous Earth
The first thing to know is that bugs must come in contact with diatomaceous earth for it to kill them. Place the diatomaceous earth in areas where bugs already live or travel.
Avoid using diatomaceous earth with repellent insect products. If you apply a bug repellent in the same place as diatomaceous earth, bugs won’t come into contact with it. Doing this renders the diatomaceous earth ineffective.
Instead of spreading diatomaceous earth everywhere, apply it strategically. For bed bugs, focus on areas around your bed.
Get the power under your baseboards, around the feet of your bed, under the edges of the carpet (if possible), and even behind your electric outlets. Apply the powder into wall crevices. Be sure to turn off power to the outlets while you work.
Work some diatomaceous earth into cracks in your headboard, dresser drawers, bed frame, box spring, and mattress.
Remember, diatomaceous earth is only effective when dry. It isn’t ideal for outdoor use since you’d need to reapply it after rain or high humidity.
How Long To Use Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth works on a physical level, not a chemical one. It remains effective indefinitely as long as it stays dry, so one treatment can last a long time.
Vacuum up any remaining diatomaceous earth after treatment, but leaving it in cracks and crevices is fine. It continues to act as a killing agent for other pests that might invade your home.
Pest Control Alternatives
If you’re hesitant about tackling this DIY extermination method, I recommend getting a quote from our top national exterminators to professionally eliminate your bed bug infestation.
This site receives compensation from the companies featured in this listing, which may impact where and how products appear. This listing doesn’t feature all companies, products, or offers that may be available.
So, Will Diatomaceous Earth Kill Bed Bugs?
Diatomaceous earth does effectively kill bed bugs. It is not harmful and does this naturally by drying them out and hurting their bodies with its sharp, rough particles. Use a small amount of food-grade diatomaceous earth in areas where bed bugs are likely to move, like mattress seams, baseboards, and cracks. This will help you get the best results. Make sure the product remains dry to be effective.
While diatomaceous earth is a potent bed bug killer, you need proper application and patience. Bugs must come into contact with the powder for it to work. Bed bugs will not die instantly and it may take several days to weeks to see full results. If you have a severe infestation, I recommend contacting a top-rated exterminator. A professional can provide swift and efficient removal of severe infestations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but there are some important considerations. Make sure you’re using food-grade diatomaceous earth, as it’s generally deemed safe for humans and animals. Steer clear of the pool-grade version, which undergoes chemical treatment and can be hazardous if inhaled.
Diatomaceous earth kills a variety of insects including — beetles, bed bugs, roaches, centipedes, fleas, mites, and more.
Use food-grade diatomaceous earth for bed bug and other insect control.
Yes, it is safe to sleep in a room with diatomaceous earth as long as the dust remains undisturbed and you’re not breathing it in. Since diatomaceous earth is nontoxic, you won’t have any issues if it stays settled.
Reapply diatomaceous earth every week for a month to control the bugs completely. New eggs will hatch and all stages of the bugs must touch the powder to work.
Yes, you should use a shop vac or a vacuum with a high-quality HEPA filter to clean up diatomaceous earth (DE).
DE won’t be effective against bugs while wet. It needs to dry out before it starts to work.
Yes, diatomaceous earth (DE) is suitable for outdoor pest control in gardens, lawns, and other areas. It is a natural and non-toxic solution.
