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Does Diatomaceous Earth Really Kill Bed Bugs?
Since you’re checking out my blog you’ve probably seen that I am a big believer in using diatomaceous earth. But you might be wondering, does diatomaceous earth really kill bed bugs.
Fair question. Here is a youtube video that I recently came across that tests that question.
How Diatomaceous Earth Works
In the video you can hear the narrator wondering about how this powder actually works. It’s really pretty simple but also really effective.
Diatomaceous earth is made of finely ground shells. The shells themselves are not poisonous to you, your family or your pets.
But when bed bugs walk across the powder it creates tiny rips in their abdomens. In short order these rips cause the bugs to dry out and die.
How To Use Diatomaceous Earth
To use this product you just put a light sprinkling around the areas where there are bed bugs. Put it where you find them. Or where they need to go to get to you when you are sleeping.
Remember that the bugs usually like to feed in the early morning hours. Jjust before dawn is when you are usually sleeping the deepest. This is a safe time for them to feed when you are deeply asleep. You’re less likely to stir and disturb their feeding.
Bed bugs are also bugs of opportunity. So if they sense you nearby and not moving they are likely to try and feed on you.
When I have an issue with a bed bug infestation I use the powder first around the bed. You can create a barrier between you and the bugs.
This gives you instant relief from any infestation if you take the right steps. You can read more about those steps here.
Does Diatomaceous Earth Really Kill Bed Bugs?
So for me, after dealing with several infestations of bed bugs. diatomaceous earth is an important tool. It helps in my fight against the bugs.
One of these experiences included living in a building that had a big problem with the bedbugs. The property management company would spray two floors at a time every month in this 12 story building.
The problem was the bugs would just crawl up and down to floors that weren’t being sprayed. Once the spray dissipated they would eventually re-infest those floors again.
We would kill all the bugs in our apartment, but after they sprayed a floor close to us we would be re-infested.
Early on I discovered diatomaceous earth. It quickly became a crucial part of our response to these infestations.
Does diatomaceous earth really kill bed bugs? The answer for me is a resounding YES! If you use it right.