# What is this powder in front of my neighbors' doors? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 19, 2013, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-powder-in-front-of-my-neighbors-doors/661330 "2013-06-19T04:48:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-powder-in-front-of-my-neighbors-doors/661330/1 "2013-06-19T04:48:06Z")
I live in an apartment complex with indoor carpeted hallways. For the past couple weeks, there has been white powder that looks about like baby powder (maybe a little coarser) in front of one of my neighbor’s doors, spread all the way across fairly uniformly. I was wondering what was up with it, and then today I noticed that they seem to have added more to that door (a lot of it had gotten tracked away), and now one of the other doors has it too. What could this be? ---
**Author:** ![Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emtar_KronJonDerSohn)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-powder-in-front-of-my-neighbors-doors/661330/2 "2013-06-19T04:56:05Z")
I’m guessing diatomaceous earth. It kills insects but is otherwise fairly harmless unless atomized and aspirated. ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-powder-in-front-of-my-neighbors-doors/661330/3 "2013-06-19T05:06:12Z")
I figured it was probably some kind of pest control thing, and that’s what I was afraid of because does that mean they’re going to come in my unit next?? It’s already spread to another unit! They’re on opposite sides of the hall but pretty close. The new one is just two doors down from me. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![toofs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@toofs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toofs)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-powder-in-front-of-my-neighbors-doors/661330/4 "2013-06-19T05:16:45Z")
Diatomaceous earth, boric acid or plain borax. Kills bugs. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-powder-in-front-of-my-neighbors-doors/661330/5 "2013-06-19T05:21:38Z")
I don’t know about you all, but I have a 70lb bag of _DIATOMACEOUS EARTH_ for killin’ creepers in various places around the ranch. Did I really just type that? ---
**Author:** ![toofs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@toofs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toofs)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-powder-in-front-of-my-neighbors-doors/661330/6 "2013-06-19T05:48:30Z")
Yup. You did that. ---
**Author:** ![Staggerlee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/staggerlee/32/3134_2.png) [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-powder-in-front-of-my-neighbors-doors/661330/7 "2013-06-19T11:50:01Z")
Or it could just be salt, to keep out slugs. Try tasting/snorting it. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-powder-in-front-of-my-neighbors-doors/661330/8 "2013-06-19T11:50:37Z")
I figure it is most likely salt to deter ghosts and all variety of demons. And if they are blocked from entering your neighbor’s place, where do you think they are heading, neighbor? ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-powder-in-front-of-my-neighbors-doors/661330/9 "2013-06-19T11:53:45Z")
You live near the world’s sloppiest coke dealer? ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-powder-in-front-of-my-neighbors-doors/661330/10 "2013-06-19T12:00:54Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > I figure it is most likely salt to deter ghosts and all variety of demons. And if they are blocked from entering your neighbor’s place, where do you think they are heading, neighbor? Should you use kosher salt to keep dybbukim away? ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-powder-in-front-of-my-neighbors-doors/661330/11 "2013-06-19T12:05:22Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > Should you use kosher salt to keep dybbukim away? It’s responses like this that caused me to join the SDMB. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-powder-in-front-of-my-neighbors-doors/661330/12 "2013-06-19T12:38:38Z")
If this neighbor is prone to muttering under his breath about the CIA, Obama and government plots, and grows castor beans, I’d be a bit more worried about that white powder. ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-powder-in-front-of-my-neighbors-doors/661330/13 "2013-06-19T12:39:53Z")
> [@Staggerlee](#): > > Or it could just be salt, to keep out slugs. Try tasting/snorting it. I told my daughter to taste it and report back but she wouldn’t ☹ But no, we’re on the fourth floor and it’s indoors, no sluggies. > [@Dinsdale](#): > > I figure it is most likely salt to deter ghosts and all variety of demons. And if they are blocked from entering your neighbor’s place, where do you think they are heading, neighbor? I don’t care, that’s better than bugs! There was an ant problem, those tiny little ants, at my last apartment and I almost had to kill myself to escape them. I couldn’t even just leave, because twice I was at school and saw that I had brought one with me on my jacket! Ghosts don’t follow you around town. > [@Jackmannii](#): > > If this neighbor is prone to muttering under his breath about the CIA, Obama and government plots, and grows castor beans, I’d be a bit more worried about that white powder. Still better than bugs. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-powder-in-front-of-my-neighbors-doors/661330/14 "2013-06-19T12:47:59Z")
Maybe you could knock on their door and, I don’t know… ask them? ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-powder-in-front-of-my-neighbors-doors/661330/15 "2013-06-19T12:57:18Z")
> [@Rebo](#): > > Maybe you could knock on their door and, I don’t know… ask them? I don’t want to bother them and they probably don’t speak English anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_From\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Girl\_From\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_From_Mars)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-powder-in-front-of-my-neighbors-doors/661330/16 "2013-06-19T13:00:46Z")
Not to alarm you, but diatomaceous earth is one of the only things that kills bed bugs (besides fire and stabbing with knives). We had in infestation in a share flat when I lived in London, and while originating in one room, they managed to get tracked through the house to rooms on the same floor and upstairs to my room (we think perhaps on footwear, but perhaps under their own steam?) So I would be suspicious that your neighbours might have them, and if they do, it could spread to your place. No guarantee that’s it, but I’d be keeping an eye out. Horrible things. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-powder-in-front-of-my-neighbors-doors/661330/17 "2013-06-19T13:01:46Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > Should you use kosher salt to keep dybbukim away? For those of us that are hopelessly and tragically gentile, please translate dybbukim. ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-powder-in-front-of-my-neighbors-doors/661330/18 "2013-06-19T13:14:19Z")
> [@Girl\_From\_Mars](#): > > Not to alarm you, but diatomaceous earth is one of the only things that kills bed bugs (besides fire and stabbing with knives). We had in infestation in a share flat when I lived in London, and while originating in one room, they managed to get tracked through the house to rooms on the same floor and upstairs to my room (we think perhaps on footwear, but perhaps under their own steam?) > > So I would be suspicious that your neighbours might have them, and if they do, it could spread to your place. No guarantee that’s it, but I’d be keeping an eye out. Horrible things. Okay you have definitely alarmed me. I guess I better ask management about it! Shit shit shit, and I just checked and it’s actually the place next door, not two doors down! I wish the office was open right now. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-powder-in-front-of-my-neighbors-doors/661330/19 "2013-06-19T13:17:43Z")
Does he stop and comb his hair there? ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-powder-in-front-of-my-neighbors-doors/661330/20 "2013-06-19T13:18:05Z")
> [@VunderBob](#): > > For those of us that are hopelessly and tragically gentile, please translate dybbukim. Basically, evil ghosts. I used a pseudo-Hebrew plural form because Internet. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-powder-in-front-of-my-neighbors-doors/661330.md?page=2)