Diatomaceous Earth
(Toronto, Canada)
05/15/2010
diatomaceous earth - I found this in the form at a garden nursery ( so the label said) as silicon dioxide...it was in powder form...do you know if in this form it's supposed to be harmful in inhaled??
EC: People on the site report taking Food Grade or Medical Grade Diatomaceous Earth, which is different from the kind found in nurseries and pool supply stores.
Re: safety hazards, please see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatomaceous_earth#Safety_considerations
(Gardner, Ma)
04/15/2011
★☆☆☆☆
WARNING!
The only Diatomaceous Earth products you should use inside your home are those that are Human Grade Formula. Many outdoor Diatomaceous Earth products/posions contain added chemicals that can be harmful to humans/pets.
Be Safe, Not Sorry.
(Katy, Tx)
05/20/2011
★★★★★
We used this with AWESOME results. Get food grade DE (it's relatively cheap), and sprinkle around the beds and baseboards. No type of DE is safe to inhale, you can use a mask if you like, but I didn't bother.... There weren't clouds of it wafting up or anything.... It's like a powder. Bugs were gone that night and haven't come back. It's been over a year, and we're bed bug free. But if you have animals you may want to try a different method, or lock them out of the room if you're lucky enough to only have one room infested. The other grades of DE are heat treated or have additives, and the shape of them has changed so they don't work as well, but they work wonders for pool filtering and agriculture. And the food grade DE is supposed to have other health benefits if you add it to your diet.... Just don't be stupid and snort it.... Very bad for your lungs!
(Houston, Tx)
07/25/2011
(Richmond, Indiana)
03/26/2012
(usa)
05/23/2024
(Louisville, Ky)
06/10/2012
(Leander, Tx)
07/29/2013
i would like to know Where you found food-grade diatomaceous earth. I've been all over the Austin area... Including feed stores... And let me tell you, there must be 100 store employees around and about the area that now think I'm an idiot... and kept trying to send me to pool supply places. I will gladly drive to the Houston area to buy some, and stop to visit relatives while I'm there.
(Al)
07/30/2013
Try Tractor supply co or your local co-op. Ask for different dusts for your poultry--they should have small bottles to large bags They may not realize what the name of it is, but if you say you need a dust for your feed grain or to dust your hen house, they'll show you where all the dusts are and then you have to read the label. I've seen it called earth dust or red earth, but the label will show it correctly. It's great stuff.
(Reno, Nevada)
09/09/2013
To the lady wanting to know where to purchase the "FOOD GRADE", you can find it at any animal feed store. I have learned the DE is best applied as a mud and rub skin. You will be amazed to see them rub off, but remember there are eggs and largea still in your pores. I also am using, Bag balm, hot water, cool water, a good soap, baking soda, Corn Starch, Epsom Salts, Betadine, Alcohol and high heat steamer cleaner, like a shark. I picked mine up at Lowes. The shower mud up with DE. I rub everywhere with it. Include the bottoms of your feet and trim nails cause they hide under the free edge, and pour in hair. Saturate everything with mud and leave as long as you can. I usually rinse the first application removing the ones loose on the surface. Apply a second coating. This is the coating to leave on as long as you can. After rinsing the DE follow with baby shampoo or a regular bar of soap. The hot water should be used if possible to open pores. I like to finish with a cool rinse. Finally, I either finish with leave on Eptom Salts or Vinegar splash. I also put the DE in my tea controling any problem that I might have ingested. Drink Vinegar now too cause I found reserchers documenting the helpful result from intake. See Symptom Finder. Wise Geek web site also explains the Arthopod problem and solutions in detail. Some of these mites are so small that they are not visible even with the use of a microscope. The baking soda sprinkle it on your couches and floors and bed(ing). Massage it into the fabric and leave it. It drys them out and you will see the corps floresent ready for vaccuuming. If you have pets, leave the baking soda on the floor to help them stay mite free. When finishing up your after shower treatment q-tip betadine on to any welts, which are burning bites. The Alcohol onto the scalp and seal with a towel. Just take a hair clip and hold the towel in place. Get yourself a high steam pressure machine about 70 dollars. I have not seen anything kill these tough bugs die instantly other than high heat. Wash all clothing in high heat and with Borax (Boron) or baking soda, both are natural sources just like DE. If you can afford a service call you local carpet cleaners cause they cost much less than the exterminator. Be vidulent on keeping the cleaning routing daily, maybe run the steamer around the house twice at first until you notice the reduction of bites. The last thing I have learned about the problem with these bugs is that in a house hold of five one or two may be effected by them. It is the allergy tollerance (wise geek site) of the individual which determines the situation. I am getting eaten alive and my husband nothing. I cleaned his favorite area with baking soda, his bugs presented after four hours were large, and make me wonder if he isn't the problem. I wish you all the best. This is the worst medical problem I have had in my entire life. Even if you feel like this, don't stop treating your home with baking soda and cleaning with the items I have mentioned. It will take time to get all the eggs from your home cloth surfaces and out of your pores. Brush your hair alot and spray the dog with vinegar daily before his brushing.
Diatomaceous Earth
★★★★★
Gum Spirits of Turpentine
★★★★★
** I used 100% pure gum spirits of pine tree resin turpentine, not petroleum based paint thinner **
Somehow bed bugs managed to get into my house last year. I spoke to pest control and he said it had 'probably' crawled onto me from public transport (!!! Now I'm afraid to get on the bus !!!). I think it's from my neighbours though, ngl.
I'm a holistic therapist so immediately went to natural remedies to annihilate the beasties! I used Diatomaceous Earth on the floor and I made up a spray of filtered water, turpentine, white vinegar, borax and cinnamon oil and sprayed it on everything. You need to continually shake it up when spraying as the oils separate - it really annihilates them quickly, but you need to be stringent and make sure you keep it up for days/weeks/ months to ensure any newly hatched ones get destroyed too. Spray it on all furnishings, mattress, pillows, cushions, carpets, the clothes you are wearing lol, your shoes, bags (!), it will not stain and smells good imo! I sometimes spray it on my skin before bed too. Anything to avoid the bites, I get bad reactions, they are huge red lumps and so itchy for weeks. I was so desperate to stop the itching, I actually found that rubbing my urine on the bites in the shower with a cloth for a good few minutes stops the itching after a few applications, it also heals them quicker - some of you may be disgusted - but Urine Therapy is an ancient remedy. Anything it takes to stop the constant itching!
I also washed my clothes on hot wash with borax and vinegar. Took neem supplements and also a half teaspoon to 1 teaspoon of turpentine every few days to ensure that any remaining bugs that bite me are disabled and have their reproductive cycles impaired. I also believe that supplementing with ivermectin would do the same thing...
Turpentine is a strong anti-parasitic/anti-candida though so if you've never done any sort of detox and start to take it - you will experience powerful detox reactions I.e colds/flu/rashes/headaches etc. Be careful.
https://www.earthclinic.com/remedies/turpentine-kerosene.html
Hair Dryer
★★★★★
(Jubail, K.S.A)
10/29/2008
★★★★★
Hello, Its 99% true I tried myself before reading this article just 3 months back it really works.
I will add two more steps.
Step 1) use high heat hair fryer.
Step 2) use vaccun cleaner immediately to suck the dead bugs and eggs.( not to forget clean the filter bags of Vacuum cleaner after)
step 3) I used Kitchen cleaner spray (EASE YOUR BAM which is available in grocery store) on Bugs and eggs on infected or hide place and wipe out with rough cloth, on spraying the Buggs egg get carbonize.
try once, it really works.
thanks
(Jaipur, India)
06/23/2012
Step 1) use high heat hair fryer.
Step 2) use vaccum cleaner immediately to suck the dead bugs and eggs. ( not to forget clean the filter bags of Vacuum cleaner after)
step 3) I used Kitchen cleaner spray (EASE YOUR BAM which is available in grocery store) on Bugs and eggs on infected or hide place and wipe out with rough cloth, on spraying the Bugs egg get carbonize.
Kerosene
Library Books
If you think about it, bed is where most people read library books. (I don't even want to think about the second most popular place they do their reading).
Anyway, heads up on the issue - better safe than sorry!
Merry Bug Free Christmas!!!
http://wtvr.com/2012/12/08/bedbugs-found-in-library-books-on-college-campus/
Multiple Remedies
(Central Ohio)
10/01/2015
It's only been a few days since my first post and I found a real tiny one. He must have still been in the egg stage when I bombed the couch. Upon further investigation, I discovered that in one small section where I had used a piece of tarp instead of the clear 4ml plastic, he had drilled a tiny hole through it. The hole was right where I lay my head, which makes sense because they find you through your breath. I saw several other holes and without looking further, I took the quilt up and put it in the dryer on high heat for 40 minutes. I also covered that tarp section with clear, thick plastic. I had used the tarp because I didn't have quite enough of the clear plastic, and it was sort interwoven with plastic and fabric both. When I mentioned the bombs, I said use the one for bed bugs and roaches. I meant the one that says it's for bed bugs and fleas. This is WAR.
(Central Ohio)
11/25/2015
This is an update on my earlier posts.
Well, it's been almost 2 months since I wrapped my couch (where I sleep) and I am thrilled to say I still have not seen any more bed bugs! And I look for them. If I get up in the middle of the night, I take a flashlight and really look, but so far, nothing. Yay! Just recently I was in someone else's apartment and as soon as I walked in I smelled a disgusting smell unlike anything I had ever smelled before. I could not put my finger on what it was. Thankfully I only sat on a hard kitchen chair, because I learned later that person's apt. is badly infested with bed bugs and I think that must be what I was smelling! So, take that for a head's up. If you encounter that in someone's house, beware! They DO have a smell if there are enough of them. My infestation must not have been too severe because I never noticed that smell in my place, thankfully.
(Central Ohio)
03/26/2016
Another update on my previous posts. After 5 months, I once again cut a slit in the plastic and set off a bomb. The next day I bravely removed the plastic. I found 6 dead bugs. I have seen none since then and I did this almost a month ago. I keep a big flashlight beside me when I sleep and every night when I get up at 3 am to use the bathroom, I look for them. Nothing. So I didn't have any in the walls, in the TV, behind pictures, etc. Like I said earlier, some of this stuff you read about this problem really sounds like a stretch to me. Now my problem is not letting the people visit me that I believe brought them to me in the first place!
Multiple Remedies
★★★★★
I tryed one such remedies. As, Super of 2-12 Unit Bachlor Apts. We had BBugs problems with one of our Apts Units that a tenant, left us to cleaning out. After multi-sprayings by the Pest-Control man. We finally had got this under-control. I later sprayed apt, with home-made remedy with combinations I. E. (2-8oz-cups-Apple-Cider Vinager, 2-80z Cups of Rubbing Alcholo, and 2-3 Cap-fulls of Eucalyptus Oil from 50ml Bottle I purchased. I put and poured all this into a Large 32oz(948-ml) Plastic-Spray-Bottle. This is all Natural and non-toxic, home-made remedy.
I first sprayed the entire bachlor empty apt bed-area, all around all apt base-board trims. And the walls, wipeing down the walls as well, with damp cloth and dry cloth. I sprayed the entire living-room, base-boards trims as well, closet, kitchen and bathroom, and apt-door entrance area as well. I also did this to my own Bachlor apt. Bed-room sleeping area where my mattress is and was, I sprayed my comforters and pillows, this does not do no-harm, nor not any discolourations , nor damages to your sheets, comforters, nor to your pillows. I just has bit of smelly smell for a few hours, best to open windows for few hours, the smell goes-away after few hours, Note: After you Spray your Apt. Bed-room, and or house area, keep door closed for few hours or go take a good walk for a few hours. If after a week, you can apply a second-applications or 3rd application, if you wish. But, one application does it. it does not hurt to doing a second application, best to be safe than sorryful.
But, I will tell you this. This method really works, have not seen not any BedBugs, in other apts which I have washed down and cleaned out. And that I have Sprayed with the Home-Made Combinations Remedy, of Apple-Cider Vinager, Rubbing Alcholo, Eucalyptus-Oil.
But, still if your not totally convinced, still call in proffessional-Pest Control. Sometimes this can be and get very expensive to treating bed-bugs problems inside your home. I waited 7-days after Pest-control sprayed our apts, I sprayed apts with this home-made Natural Remedies for bedbugs. I have not encountered not anymore bedbugs problems and not recieved any more tenants complaints from them about bed bugs.
I hope this works for you, give it a try. Good Luck People
From A : Superitendant whom has used this combination Home-Made Natural Remedy For BedBugs. Its worked for me. Its bit smelly at first. but open your windows, it will go away after-few-hours.
(Tulsa, Okla)
05/20/2013
Thank you so much, people need to know how to get rid of those crazy bed bugs, without paying a lot of money, it's all about the money. We can't afford it. God bless you.
Multiple Remedies
★★★★★
At this point, the bed should be free of bugs and the only way for more bugs to get back onto your bed is up the legs, but they are unable to climb glass. I had relief the first night, and haven't had a bite since. It's been 4 months. I know some of these items are pricey, but you will lose your mind and more money trying to get rid of these. If you have problems other than in the bedroom, use this method of cleaning and spraying the any furniture and raising it onto glass. The key here is keeping them from getting to you to feed. Do not wear clothes or bring any other items into bed with you unless they have been heat treated or you could reintroduce the bugs that way.
(Ca)
06/04/2013
(USA)
06/04/2013
Just a thought: Diatomaceious earth kills bugs, so could you put your mattress in a 'bed-bug proof' mattress cover and put DE inside the cover? Or use one of the plastic covers--seems like you wouldn't be exposed to breathing the dust but the bugs would, you could eventually remove it and vacuum thoroughly. I have also heard that M*** oil soal works, put it in a sprayer and really wet all cracks, crevices, etc and then wipe up after a short while. Said the oil coats the bugs, they come out looking for air but die. Heat, also, you could put fabric items (clothing, pillows, sheets) in a black plastic garbage bag, seal it up and leave in the sun for a week. At the very least, put some DE in a saucer and place furniture legs in the saucer so the bugs walk thru it when they come out at night. Hope this helps.
★★★★★
I used all the recommended remedies. 1. Hair dryer 2. Vaccuum 3. Soapy suds to get at eggs along wall. Scrub with very rough cleaner, wash clean.
I added ironing (couldn't hurt), I ironed the mattress, blankets quilts. I even ironed the floor a little.
Right now I do not see any bugs. But I intend to check every day for at least a month, and reapply.
It was SUCH a relief to find this method. All I was finding otherwise was poison sprays & dust sprays. I am so grateful
(Houston, Texas)
05/26/2009
Hi Thelma, This ia a thought but way don't you try food grade Diatomaceous Earth, plus it is reasonible enough too. Sprinkle it in your bed, mattress, carpet and etc. The DE kills parasites and bugs in your body and garden. I've had good result using it. Just be careful not to breath it. The DE should also take care of the eggs and new ones hatching out. If you try this post on EC so others will know if they should try it.
(London, Uk)
10/20/2010
I know this is an old post now, but I was wondering where do you buy Diatomaceous Earth? I'm in the UK and I'm not sure even what kind of store I would try. Thanks.
(Hampton, Va)
02/26/2011
★★★★★
Baby Powder..!! And Bedbugs don't mix
It is the cheapest method that I have found.! And it smells wonderful too.. Just try not to inhale the contents while using this method, can be a little messy but not anbything major that a wet cloth can't clean up... Anad it only cost a "buck" at the local dollar stores :^)
It asphyxiates them, dust the mattress box spring mattress cover and bed covers, this works exceptionally well in a hotel environment, and any transient lodging, this is the first thing I do before I sit down or unpack my things are left at the door or in the bathroom area, foyer, or any hard surfaced area away from the sleeping quarters, the reason is that I carry a trial sized plastic container with a little household bleach with me to sanitize everything just in case. (toilets and shower/tubs)..hope this helps
(London, Ontario, Canada)
05/24/2011
Another one that works too is using Dog and Cat Flea shampoo mixture in a spray bottle. This is one that I found out from "Billy the Exterminator" show.
(Berkeley, Ca)
08/05/2011
★★★★★
I tried almost every methods that are not toxic and safe. It took two weeks to get rid of bedbugs -- actually I am not 100% sure if they were bedbugs, fleas, or mites. I got more than 70 bites all over my body and my bites look like those bites. Anyway thanks to Earth Clinic for helpful information!
1. Spray the bedbug killers (environmental friendly, non-toxic, safe blend) on fabrics and furnitures.
2. Spray the mix of rubbing alcohle, viniger, and eucalyptus oil to fabrics.
3. Spray insectside (non-toxic blend as well) on front yard (especially near the main door)
3. Discard my old comforter and seal the matress completely with vinyl zip cover.
4. Diatomaceous Earth under the bed and under and above the matress -- then I covered matress with two cover sheets to make sure D-earth comes out.
5. Add Borax when doing laundary. Add a few drops of eucalyptus oil.
6. Vacuum frequently.
(Louisville, Ky)
06/10/2012
I had a cookout Saturday, June 2d, & someone brought bed bugs into my house & now I have a major infestation... I have killed 30, or 40 with my bare hands, sitting up each night all night ever since... I tried the soapy water, baby powder, 2 different types of insecticides & no luck so far.. They just keep coming in all sizes. I eat cinnamon every day for a year or 2 & they don't bite me, but they are going after my 1 year old daughter, because she is to young to injest cinnamon & I am going nutts... PLEASE HELP ME!!!
Get some DIATOMACEOUS EARTH All-natural flea repellant, insecticide, and health aid. You can buy this at a feed store, or order it on the internet. It is a powder. Just dust it where ever you think the bed-bugs are and it will kill them. Not harmful to humans, but do not breath the dust it will get in your lungs.
(Grateful For Earthclinic!, Usa)
06/12/2012
(El Espino, Panama, Central America)
06/13/2012
Hi there, i'm new to this blog--searching for bp remedies and saw your post. i've heard that d earth or diatomaceius earth will work for bed bugs as well as other things and is non-toxic in the food grade form. i purchased from on the net. its silica powder and very interesting to read about its origins and history. hope you can try it and it works for you--god bless, michelle
(Brisbane, Qld, Australia)
06/14/2012
I heard a pest controller guy on the radio say that the best chemical free way to get rid of bed bugs is to use a steamer, he said the heat kills them and the eggs. Make sure you get the steam into the seams and creases and vacuum the mattress & pillows after, let them dry completely before putting clean linen back on. Good luck
Peppermint Oil
★★★★★
Remove Clutter and Vacuum A Lot
★★★★★
First, REMOVE CLUTTER. What I did was put a large amount of my belongings in storage. Yes, I kept these items in storage for longer than the 18 months required to ensure that all bugs are killed (so I didn't have to discard them all).
After removing clutter, this is what worked for me. I read a lot about bedbugs. They can be anywhere in your home, but they are MOST likely to be near the headboard of your bad. If it's a small/minimal infestation, you may be able to clear it simply by vacuuming deeply and regularly around the bed, particularly all the nooks and crannies near the top/headboard of your bed. Do this regularly, ideally daily, and make this the area of focus.
It's important to empty your vacuum cleaner after every use. If your vacuum uses bags and you can't afford to replace them every time you vacuum, you can throw them in the freezer to isolate any bugs so they can't crawl back out and reinfest your home. This is important.
So, vacuum vacuum vacuum and empty the vacuum afterwards or take out and isolate the vacuum bag.
Silicon Dioxide
EC: WARNING!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicon_dioxide
"Inhaling finely divided crystalline silica dust in very small quantities (OSHA allows 0.1 mg/m3) over time can lead to silicosis, bronchitis or (much more rarely) cancer, as the dust becomes lodged in the lungs and continuously irritates them, reducing lung capacities (silica does not dissolve over time). This effect can be an occupational hazard for people working with sandblasting equipment, products that contain powdered crystalline silica and so on. Children, asthmatics of any age, allergy sufferers and the elderly (all of whom have reduced lung capacity) can be affected in much shorter periods of time."
(Barcelona, Spain)
09/18/2011
(New York, NY)
08/25/2012
★☆☆☆☆
WARNING!
Wrong! This is an irresponsible post! SILICA is in Diatomaceous Earth, NOT Silicon Dioxide!! DE "is almost pure silica (with some beneficial trace minerals); under a microscope, it looks like shards of glass (glass is made from silica). DE is totally nontoxic. There is no buildup of tolerance like there is to poisons because the method of killing is PHYSICAL, not chemical. On any beetle-type insect that has a carapace, like fleas and cockroaches, the DE works under the shell and punctures the body, which then dehydrates and the insect dies. "
(Lisle, Usa)
05/01/2013
Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is not crystalline silica. Both are essentialy pure silicon dioxide, but not in the same structure, which makes all the diffence in the world here. DE is made by diatoms and is amorphous. Crystalline silica comes from quartz containing rocks, including sand. The particles do not begin to get dangerous until they get below a few microns in size and are able to get into the lungs.
Soapy Water Spray
★★★★★
(Chicago, Il.)
10/02/2010
(Vancouver, British Columbia)
01/28/2013
Hey I like that! Simple and safe. I also bought one of those steam cleaners, and spray down my bed, all the corners and nooks. and the carpet. Then I moved into a non-carpet apartment. But, even tho I checked everything, I must have taken something with a bedbut or two on it! Now I have them again.
So I tried the rubbing alcohol out of desperation, I just mixed some with water and put into a water spray bottle. It kills them on the spot.
Once I was cleaning the kitchen with bleach spray cleaner... and went into my room to see a bedbug! I just sprayed the cleaner on it and bam! But of course, I can't use that everywhere.
Nice to read other ideas like cinnamon etc. Safe alternatives I like.
(Washington)
11/02/2015
Steamer, Tea Tree Oil
★★★★★
(Burbank)
03/16/2015
I just wanted to focus attention on the most important aspect of being able to successfully eliminate bedbugs. In all the posts I have ever read about completely getting rid of bed bugs, they say they hunted every last little one of those disgusting creatures down and killed them be it with, heat, soap or steam. No stone is left unturned. Bed frames and mattresses were torn apart, couches deep steamed, clutter and hiding places investigated - hunting every single one down and killing them. New bites after what you thought was a successful bedbug hunting season? That's to be expected and common AND your indication there is a hiding place you must hunt down and KILL! Depending on your level of infestation, will be how long this takes to eliminate them. I have never heard of anyone just spraying insecticides or sprinkling diatomatios to rid them permanently. This is why there are no professionals who guarantee curing bedbugs. DO NOT make it worse by roach bombing the place and making them spread. Diatomatios earth can help but also cause them to spread out of the area they were confined to. Hunting, cleaning killing is the most important part.
