Diatomaceous Earth and Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are small nocturnal bugs with flattened bodies. Their flattened bodies help them to enter the narrow crevices or cracks in the house. These can easily enter into the seams in the mattresses. Bed bugs are nocturnal, so while you are asleep, these parasitic bugs come out of their hiding place looking for food, which is unfortunately your blood. After coming into contact with the skin, they pierce into the skin for their blood meal. Since these bed bugs reproduce at a fast rate, it becomes essential to get rid of them. So, how can you get rid of bed bugs quickly? Ever thought about using diatomaceous earth for killing bed bugs? Here's some information on diatomaceous earth and bed bugs treatment.

What is Diatomaceous Earth?

Diatomaceous earth is actually a mineral-based pesticide made from tiny fossilized shells of marine plants, which are also called diatoms. Magnesium, silicon, calcium, iron, manganese, copper, titanium, sodium and boron are some of the minerals present in this pesticide. If your house in infested with ants, cockroaches, silverfish and mites, it would be a good idea to use diatomaceous earth. It also works wonders when it comes to controlling the infestation of aphids, thrips and earwigs. No wonder many people use diatomaceous earth in their vegetable gardens. Well, diatomaceous earth can also be used for getting rid of bed bugs. Is diatomaceous earth effective in getting rid of bed bugs? Let's find out how diatomaceous earth can help in getting rid of bed bugs.

Diatomaceous Earth for Extermination of Bed Bugs

The best way to know if you have bed bugs is to look for brownish-red specks around the seams of your mattress. If you notice such marks or get bitten by bed bugs, make sure you get diatomaceous earth to get rid of bed bugs. If you wish to kill bed bugs safely with diatomaceous earth, you need to make sure that you buy the food-grade diatomaceous earth. The one that is in an amorphous form can pose certain health risks and must not be used at all.

Diatomaceous earth is an abrasive powder. It is also highly absorbent in nature. These properties are responsible for its ability to kill insects. Since it is highly abrasive, the pests die of lacerations. The protective covering of the insects is also absorbed by this powder and as a result, the insects get dehydrated and die.

Before you apply this abrasive powder, wear a face mask so that you don't end up inhaling this powder. Keep your pets away while you apply it around the crevices and cracks around the bed. For applying diatomaceous earth, mix it with a little water and apply it using a paint brush. Make sure that you run the brush around the cracks and crevices at all places in your homes. These bugs can crawl into the tiniest of the spaces, so, look for them carefully. They could even be hiding under the crevices of the walls or the cracks in furniture. Make sure that you wash the bedding or linen with hot water more often. Using a steam cleaner on the mattress might also help. Since bed bugs can crawl from the walls onto the bed, so make sure that your bed doesn't touch the walls.

This was some information on how diatomaceous earth can help in eliminating bed bugs. Now that you have some idea about the application of diatomaceous earth to kill bed bugs, use diatomaceous earth and say goodbye to bed bugs.