What do I do with this white powder? How do I apply it? Where is it supposed to go? If you have wondered any of these questions we have answers for you!
Before we address how to use Diatomaceous Earth it is important to understand what it does and why. The word "diatomaceous" comes from the root word "diatom", which is a single-celled organism found in freshwater lakes and riverbeds. Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a chalk-like powder that is made up entirely of these diatoms that have fossilized over thousands of years. DE has an abrasive texture. This abrasive texture allows DE to have many jobs. Many of our clients use DE to dry out the exoskeletons of of pesty bugs that bother their plants or pets. While others take it in their morning water to promote their gut health. It has many different uses!
One of our amazing customers David Lippold made a quick demo showing how he uses Diatomaceous earth on his Urban Farm! He shows us step by step all the different ways to use Diatomaceous earth! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiRdYJg3BfE
Youtube: El Jardin Perdido
Instagram: El_Jardin_Perdido
We have compiled some of the different uses of Diatomaceous Earth and the steps on how to apply it. Here they are:
Clear Out Those Pesty Bugs!
Identify where the bug mainly visits wether it is the leaves or the soil and use enough DE to create a coating. For an effective application, spray your plants with water and then apply the DE. This will allow the DE to stick to the plants. After a rainstorm, you should re-apply the diatomaceous earth.
While using crawling insect control diatomaceous earth as a natural pesticide, you may want to have the appropriate applicator. For large treatments, you will need a heavy-duty duster such as the Dustin-Mizer. This allows you to powder large gardens and other outspread areas.
To treat anthills, powder the ant mound and the trail. For more instructions, see our how-to article.
DE works to treat bug infestations in the home; it can also be used to deodorize unwanted smells from the garbage, shoes, sock drawers, the refrigerator, and many other places. If you have a spill that needs to be cleaned, you can sprinkle DE over the spill to absorb the mess. Coat the area you want to treat, let it sit as long as needed, then vacuum it right up!
Farmers and pet owners have found several benefits of using diatomaceous earth. It's been known to help with an animal's living quarters to clean out harmful insects and parasites. Livestock owners can use it around the farm to ward off flies and other pests. It can also deodorize smells. For more detailed instructions on how it's used in the farm and garden, visit our farm and garden section.
Human Consumption!
The health benefits from diatomaceous earth are widespread. People have found relief from joint pain, aid in digestion, stronger hair and nails, and many other benefits. You can take it in the morning with a little juice or tea. You could even pour some in a smoothie. DE has no taste, and you don't have to take much to improve your health. Take about one teaspoon of food grade diatomaceous earth with water once a day. Take it on an empty stomach at least one hour before or two hours after eating. DE is nearly tasteless, but if you don't like its mildly gritty texture, try taking it in juice, yogurt, or a smoothie.
Cleaning and Care!
DE has a powerful ability to be both abrasive and gentle. The tiny, porous diatoms work to scrub off stains on silver or aluminum objects. You can mix DE with other natural cleaning products for the ultimate cleaning concoction. Items like lemon juice, vinegar, water, and a little DE go a long way to make silver shiny and new. This mix can also clean up tough stains around the home.
Diatomaceous earth works as an exfoliator! Its gritty texture and oil absorbing structure makes it a great chemical free option for skin care! You can use it to treat acne and acne scars. The silica can also help improve skin health. All you do is mix one teaspoon of DE with a few drops of water. This turns it into a paste texture that you can gently apply to your skin. Create a DE mask by leaving it on for 15 minutes. You can also add it to your shower gel or soap.
Diatomaceous earth has a natural ability to kill parasites which makes it a great addition to toothpastes. DE powder is hard and porous, which makes it the perfect abrasive to help remove plaque and tartar from your teeth. In fact, many name brand kinds of toothpaste already include silica–DE's main ingredient–but you can add diatomaceous earth to your name brand toothpaste to increase its cleaning power.
As you can see Diatomaceous Earth can aid you in multiple categories of your daily life! Make your life easier and order some now!