# Anyone use Diatomaceous Earth for Bed Bugs?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-use-diatomaceous-earth-for-bed-bugs/658715
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [May 19, 2013, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-use-diatomaceous-earth-for-bed-bugs/658715 "2013-05-19T01:54:59Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@pauly1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pauly1)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2013, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-use-diatomaceous-earth-for-bed-bugs/658715/1 "2013-05-19T01:54:59Z")
[http://www.amazon.com/Earth-Diatomaceous-lbs-Powder/dp/B001THVH9G/ref=sr\_1\_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1368835332&sr=8-6&keywords=diatomaceous+earth+food+grade](http://www.amazon.com/Earth-Diatomaceous-lbs-Powder/dp/B001THVH9G/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1368835332&sr=8-6&keywords=diatomaceous+earth+food+grade)
I read about this while researching and saw this on amazon. Many ppl who have bed bugs said diatomaceous earth works for it but some say it doesn’t. Those reviews that say it works for bed bugs also are amazon verified purchase… which means its legit right?
This seems to be very cheap $16 for it and lot of good reviews. People mention how bug spray didn’t do anything yet this worked for them. Can people here give me their opinion?
1. Also, is it easy/hard to apply? One person mentioned you need to buy this to apply it
2. [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002SW52CE/ref=gno\_cart\_title\_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A269N201SWOEB6](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002SW52CE/ref=gno_cart_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A269N201SWOEB6)
Is this necessary or not? I seen some ppl mention you could just use a spoon and im confused what is the purpose of this.
1. So basically if i have bed bugs that bite me when i sleep on my bed at night, then just take a spoon and pour this surrounding my bed? Some ppl mention put it on each of the 4 legs on your bed… however… i dont have that The thing that supports my mattress is a box so how would i do this?
People say it looks like flour so i just put this around my bed? Do i put this under my mattress or anywhere near there?Basically its like flour and i just put it everywhere in that i suspect it has bedbugs?
2. Also, how long does one leave these things there for before you clean it up? Do you clean it up once ever week or month and then pour more?
3. Also, i heard ppl mention you could just pour it everywhere and then go to bed etc. So this doesn’t affect your smelling health at all?
I already bought bug spray and people say it doesn’t work. I also purchased a new mattress protector and pillow cover as well that i should be receiving sometime to help.
I’m curious if anyone knows much about diatomaceous earth for bed bugs?
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### Author:  [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2013, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-use-diatomaceous-earth-for-bed-bugs/658715/2 "2013-05-19T03:43:35Z")
Well, I can tell you that it DE doesn’t work by poisoning them or anything like that. The silica in the diatom shells scratches the cuticle of the insect, which exposes them to dehydration and they basically dry up and die.
I haven’t actually used it for bedbugs (never had an infestation (knock on wood)), so I can’t say if it works for them or not.
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### Author:  [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2013, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-use-diatomaceous-earth-for-bed-bugs/658715/3 "2013-05-19T04:05:21Z")
I’ve never had to try it myself (joining **jayjay** in knocking wood), but I can tell you that it while it should kill any bugs that crawl through it, it won’t keep all bedbugs out of your bed. Bedbugs can crawl across the ceiling and drop down when they sense a warm body below–DE on the floor won’t prevent that.
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### Author:  [@April\_R](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/April_R)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2013, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-use-diatomaceous-earth-for-bed-bugs/658715/4 "2013-05-19T05:03:52Z")
geez, sorry you have to deal with this. I heard BB are nearly impossible to get rid off.
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### Author:  [@April\_R](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/April_R)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2013, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-use-diatomaceous-earth-for-bed-bugs/658715/5 "2013-05-19T05:06:11Z")
> **[Bed Bugs: Get Them Out and Keep Them Out | US EPA](https://www.epa.gov/bedbugs)**
>
> Prevent, identify, and treat bed bug infestations using EPA’s step-by-step guides, based on IPM principles. Find pesticides approved for bed bug control, check out the information clearinghouse, and dispel bed bug myths.
From the EPA
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### Author:  [@NeonMadman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NeonMadman)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2013, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-use-diatomaceous-earth-for-bed-bugs/658715/6 "2013-05-19T17:06:04Z")
Bedbugs are notoriously hard to get rid of, and many of the efforts that people make to treat them actually make the problem worse. I have been in commercial sales in the pest control industry for several years, and have seen a lot of bed bug infestations. The sprays that people buy over the counter are usually contact-kill repellents, which means that any bugs actually hit by the spray will die, but any that are nearby will scatter throughout the facility. Bed bugs don’t live only in beds; the entire home needs to be inspected and probably treated. At least surrounding rooms to the room with the infestation need to be treated to prevent the bugs from retreating there and continuing to multiply, eventually spreading back to the original source area. Generally, I wouldn’t recommend trying to treat them on your own, but calling in a professional. Bedbugs are migratory by nature (the reason is kinda gross, but if you really want to know, Google “traumatic insemination”), so they will spread even without encouragement.
Bedbugs are good at hiding in every crack and crevice in a room. That’s the reason for the duster to apply the DE (or whatever other product you use, if it’s a dust-type formulation). Treatment needs to be very, very thorough, as two bugs left standing may start to reproduce and within 90 days, the problem will be back. The product needs to be applied into every crack and crevice in the room, including electrical outlets, around moldings, etc. Amateurs generally are not thorough enough and thus fail to get more than temporary relief. Mattresses and bedding need to be inspected by someone who knows what he’s doing and it may be necessary to replace them, wrapping them securely in plastic before moving them so as not to spread any resident bugs to other parts of the structure. If you’re in an apartment, you need to involve the landlord, so that neighboring units can also be inspected and treated for prevention - otherwise bugs may go there to escape the treatment and then eventually find their way back to you.
Bottom line: if you can possibly afford it, call a professional.
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### Author:  [@DylanMcKean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DylanMcKean)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2013, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-use-diatomaceous-earth-for-bed-bugs/658715/7 "2013-09-20T15:32:07Z")
Actually there is no solution of all this, these bed bugs are really irritating i never like them near me. The only solution of all this is a proper and regular cleaning with this you can get rid of all these pest.
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### Author:  [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2013, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-use-diatomaceous-earth-for-bed-bugs/658715/8 "2013-09-20T15:38:10Z")
I think I speak for everyone when I say, “huh”?
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### Author:  [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2013, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-use-diatomaceous-earth-for-bed-bugs/658715/9 "2013-09-20T16:38:19Z")
Due to the bedbug plague, I have sworn never to bring home thrift store garments again. Which is a shame, because some of my very favorite pieces of clothing have come from thrift stores. Now I have to go back to paying full price, which ticks me off (ha!).
And don’t even think about bringing home second-hand furniture.
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### Author:  [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2013, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-use-diatomaceous-earth-for-bed-bugs/658715/10 "2013-09-20T16:57:00Z")
> [@DylanMcKean](#):
>
> Actually there is no solution of all this, these bed bugs are really irritating i never like them near me. The only solution of all this is a proper and regular cleaning with this you can get rid of all these pest.
Wrong. Bedbugs are not attracted to dirt or grime, and no amount of cleaning will prevent or treat an infestation.
I keep reading people saying that some of the things folks try to get rid of the bugs make the problem worse. Then they say you have to use multiple approaches, but never which ones to use. Which strategies make it worse, and how? Which ones are most effective? Most cost effective?
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### Author:  [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2013, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-use-diatomaceous-earth-for-bed-bugs/658715/11 "2013-09-20T19:40:59Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#):
>
> … Bedbugs can crawl across the ceiling and drop down when they sense a warm body below–DE on the floor won’t prevent that.
They have to get off the bed also.
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### Author:  [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2013, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-use-diatomaceous-earth-for-bed-bugs/658715/12 "2013-09-20T19:51:46Z")
I read on a travel message board that most hotels have taken to using extreme heat to treat bed bug problems, as this was most effective in killing them and being thorough in getting in all their hiding places.
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### Author:  [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2013, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-use-diatomaceous-earth-for-bed-bugs/658715/13 "2013-09-20T21:56:49Z")
In winter when it hits –20 to 40 here, a simple solution — it seems to me — would be to turn off the water and heat, turn on the taps to drain the water, open the windows and grab a motel room for a day or two.
The buggers couldn’t survive that.
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### Author:  [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2013, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-use-diatomaceous-earth-for-bed-bugs/658715/14 "2013-09-21T00:02:15Z")
> [@Kenm](#):
>
> In winter when it hits –20 to 40 here, a simple solution — it seems to me — would be to turn off the water and heat, turn on the taps to drain the water, open the windows and grab a motel room for a day or two.
>
> The buggers couldn’t survive that.
Yes, they **can.**
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### Author:  [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2013, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-use-diatomaceous-earth-for-bed-bugs/658715/15 "2013-09-21T15:01:32Z")
OK. A week, then. Or even two.
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### Author:  [@dlz628](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dlz628)
#### Post date: [January 24, 2016, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-use-diatomaceous-earth-for-bed-bugs/658715/16 "2016-01-24T18:41:16Z")
We originally used Diatomaceous Earth but ended up switching to CimeXa after DE failed to get them all. Basically, as other have mentioned here, DE will cause them to go into hiding to avoid the powder, and it is ineffective if they do not physically walk over it (it must adhere to their waxy cuticle.
In the end, we bought CimeXa (~$12) and a bulb duster (~$8) and dusted a thorough dusting in cracks and crevices, around the bedframe etc. It worked much better than the DE had. [Here are some instructions on how to use it.](http://www.pest-control.info/#!the-ultimate-guide-to-killing-bed-bugs/aqgb0)
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### Author:  [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)
#### Post date: [January 25, 2016, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-use-diatomaceous-earth-for-bed-bugs/658715/17 "2016-01-25T00:00:56Z")
Reported.
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### Author:  [@Henga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Henga)
#### Post date: [January 25, 2016, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-use-diatomaceous-earth-for-bed-bugs/658715/18 "2016-01-25T00:07:35Z")
It might depend on when in the bug’s life cycle you apply it. DE works by cutting up the insect’s body. So any bug that walks on legs won’t be affected unless you can apply the DE directly to them. Otherwise DE works best on the larval stage of the insect because the larva would crawl around in it.
Some DE comes with added pyrethrins, that is a chemical poison that is derived from some species of plants. But, pyrethrins will kill beneficial bugs as well as bad ones, and it comes from flowers that must be picked by hand. Most if not all pyrethrins are produced in 2nd and 3rd world countries and the flowers are picked by women and children who suffer health problems because they are exposed too much.
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### Author:  [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)
#### Post date: [January 25, 2016, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-use-diatomaceous-earth-for-bed-bugs/658715/19 "2016-01-25T02:44:14Z")
> [@Henga](#):
>
> Some DE comes with added pyrethrins, that is a chemical poison that is derived from some species of plants. But, pyrethrins will kill beneficial bugs as well as bad ones, and it comes from flowers that must be picked by hand. Most if not all pyrethrins are produced in 2nd and 3rd world countries and the flowers are picked by women and children who suffer health problems because they are exposed too much.
I think I’d like a reputable citation or two on the hand picked pyrethrins comments. I don’t believe most commercial pyrethrins actually come from the plant anymore. I don’t believe they are hand picked flowers, I don’t believe there are health problems from the supposed hand picking of flowers. Pyrethrin is notoriously nontoxic to humans, being one of the few insecticides allowed for use in food establishments
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### Author:  [@Henga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Henga)
#### Post date: [January 25, 2016, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-use-diatomaceous-earth-for-bed-bugs/658715/20 "2016-01-25T15:21:58Z")
> [@Sigene](#):
>
> I think I’d like a reputable citation or two on the hand picked pyrethrins comments. I don’t believe most commercial pyrethrins actually come from the plant anymore. I don’t believe they are hand picked flowers, I don’t believe there are health problems from the supposed hand picking of flowers. Pyrethrin is notoriously nontoxic to humans, being one of the few insecticides allowed for use in food establishments
[http://www.fao.org/prods/gap/database/gap/files/485\_NATURAL\_INSECTICIDE\_PYRETHRUM.HTM](http://www.fao.org/prods/gap/database/gap/files/485_NATURAL_INSECTICIDE_PYRETHRUM.HTM)
ILEIA Newsletter Vol. 13 No. 4 p. 22
Natural insecticide pyrethrum
Rik Thijssen
Pyrethrum is a perennial herb with white-yellow flowers that grows to a height of about 60cm. In Kenya it is grown by more than 100,000 small-scale farmers at altitudes between 1500m and 3000m. Pyrethrins are concentrated in the flowers to a level of 1 to 2 percent of dry weight. Pyrethrin content is larger at higher altitudes. The pyrethrum plant is propagated by seeds or vegetatively by splitting parent plants.
The first flower picking takes place about 4 months after planting seedlings or splits, and thereafter at intervals of 2-3 weeks during flowering, a period which, in Kenya, extends over 9-10 months of the year. The flowers are picked by hand, usually by women and children, and a skilful picker can harvest up to 25kg of fresh flowers per day. The harvesting of flowers is labour intensive, and this has resulted in a decrease in cultivation in some parts of the world.
Wikipedia documents the potential health hazards of pyrethrin exposure.
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