How to Kill Fleas With Diatomaceous Earth

Fleas are wingless insects that live off the blood of mammals and birds. There are many ways to kill fleas but if you would like to take a natural approach, Diatomaceous Earth is a great option. Diatomaceous Earth is tiny crushed up fossilized sea shells, called diatoms. It works by puncturing the fleas exoskeleton and absorbing lipids from their protective layer, causing them to dehydrate and die. Diatomaceous Earth was approved and registered by the Environmental Protection Agency and can be used to kill indoor and outdoor crawling insects.

Purchase a bag of Diatomaceous Earth from your local pet store or Internet. It comes in many different sizes depending on the area you want to cover. The average price for a five-pound bag is around $12. Make sure you get the food grade, not the filter grade. The filter grade is used for swimming pools and is not safe for pest control.

Put on your protective mask and glasses and sprinkle a thin layer of Diatomaceous Earth in areas where fleas are found in your home, such as carpets, pet bedding, sleeping areas, baseboards and cracks. The fleas will walk across the Diatomaceous Earth and die within 48 hours. Vacuum the area you dusted two days later.

Apply Diatomaceous Earth outside your home to kill fleas. Dust your entire yard with a thin coat, especially where your pets play. Dust your yard periodically until there are no signs of infestation. A 50-pound bag of Diatomaceous Earth should be enough to do your whole yard.

Rub Diatomaceous Earth directly on your pets. It will safely and effectively kill fleas, ticks, lice and red mites. Reapply as often as need until all fleas are gone. Fleas will not develop immunity to the dust, unlike most synthetic chemical treatments. It also has a long-term residual effect that will continually repel fleas.