What Are the Benefits of Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth?

Diatomaceous earth, also known as DE and fossil shell flour, is a chalk-like material composed of the fossilized remains of single-celled algae-like plants called diatoms, which is where the name diatomaceous comes from. Dont confuse natural (food-grade) DE with pool-grade DE, which has been heat-treated, creating crystalline silica that are not safe to breathe.

Crawling Pests

To mammals, DE feels like a powder, but for insects its a dangerous desiccant that dries the outer waxy exoskeleton. Its sharp edges also cut the exoskeleton, making internal fluid bleed out. DE therefore provides two mechanisms for drying out a bug, yet is safe to use around pets and children.

Pet Pests

Apply DE to pet and farm animal coats to kill fleas and flies. Bedding and carpeting should also be dusted thoroughly. Vacuum it up after two to three days. Dont dust the carpet heavily or your vacuum could get clogged. Because fleas lay so many larvae, youll need to apply the DE twice a week for three weeks to kill off each new hatching.

Internal Parasites

Incorporate a few pinches into your pets daily diet to kill off parasites in the GI tract. Several zoos have done this, including the Brookfield Zoos of Chicago; the zoo in Buffalo, New York; and the Whispering Winds Animal Sanctuary in Riverside, California. Note that this is not effective against heartworms, which do not generally reside in the GI tract.

Grain Storage

You can protect stored grain from pests with DE. The DE can be separated from the grain later on easily enough, but need not be, since it is edible. According to Dirt Works, an adequate ratio is 1 cup of DE for every 50 lbs. of grain. This translates into 1 lb. of DE for every 300 lbs. of grain.