Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor and nothing in this article should be taken as medical advice. Please talk to your doctor before using any of the herbs and/or remedies mentioned in this article.
Have you ever heard of diatomaceous earth? Most people haven’t, but it’s an incredibly useful mineral. It occurs naturally when algae are fossilized into sedimentary rock that crumbles into a fine white powder.
So what’s so interesting about it? Well, it has many health benefits and everyday uses, it kills critters in your food and around the house, it’s very affordable, and it’s 100% natural. If you’re a prepper or a homesteader and you aren’t using diatomaceous earth, you’re missing out.
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What It Is
Every large body of water contains a type of algae known as diatoms. They are unicellular organisms enclosed in silica. When they die, their skeletal remains sink to the bottom and become fossilized. Over time, these fossils accumulate and form a sedimentary layer known as diatomaceous earth (hereafter referred to as DE).
DE is gathered and sold in two forms: industrial grade and food grade. Industrial grade DE has many uses, but it is mainly used in filtration systems such as pool filters. It is not considered safe to consume or spread around your property.
Food grade DE, on the other hand, is perfectly safe to consume and use on pets, plants, carpets, and anywhere else.
How It Works
Fossilized diatoms have many sharp points and edges, so when they come in contact with insects, they scratch up the waxy coating on their exoskeletons. This causes insects to dry out and die, usually within an hour. Diatomaceous earth kills ants, aphids, beetles, fleas, flies, lice mealworms, mites, slugs, snails, ticks, weevils, and all sorts of other insects.
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Not only is it safe and non-toxic, bugs can never develop an immunity to it. And because it absorbs moisture, it keeps foods from clumping, germinating, or growing moldy. As long as you keep DE dry, it has an unlimited shelf life.
How To Use It
Food grade diatomaceous earth is mainly used in wheat and flour, but it can also be mixed with beans, corn, legumes, oats, rice, and any other dry food that bugs might contaminate. There’s no wrong way to apply DE, as long as it’s thoroughly mixed into your food.
You’ll need 1-2 cups of DE per 50 pounds of food (or 1-2 teaspoons of DE per 1 pound of food). If you’re planning on storing food for more than just a few years, the upper limit is probably better. 1 cup of DE weighs 2.25 ounces, so you should get at least 70 cups out of a 10 pound bag.
To mix in the DE, I recommend using a 5 gallon bucket and gamma seal lid. Pour in a pound of food and a teaspoon of DE, screw on the lid, and roll the bucket around or shake it up until the food and DE are mixed together.
Then add another pound of food and another teaspoon of DE and repeat. If you don’t have a bucket and lid, just stir it up with a large stick or utensil. When you’re done, pour your food into mylar bags and start sealing them.
Although food grade DE is safe, be aware that it can severely dry out your skin, eyes, throat, and sinuses. DE is abrasive and it absorbs moisture, so avoid getting it anywhere on your body and be careful not to inhale the dust as it’s bad for your lungs (according to this).
Just to be sure, you should wear gloves, a dust mask, and some goggles while handling DE. Once the dust settles there is nothing to worry about.
Health Benefits
Before I continue, I must point out that the following claims about diatomaceous earth have not been evaluated by the FDA and should not substitute for advice from your doctor or pharmacist. This information is based on reviews by people who have used diatomaceous earth to improve their health.
Thousands of people have reported all sorts of health benefits from adding DE to their diets. This is probably because DE is a great source of silica, an important part of the human diet. Silica is good for you because it:
- Improves skin. (Here’s how to make a facial exfoliator.)
- Strengthens nails.
- Make your hair shiny.
- Strengthens your immune system.
- Is good for your teeth. (Here’s how to make toothpaste with DE.)
- Strengthens your bones.
- Improves joints (according to this study).
It is also good for vital organs such as:
- The liver.
- The lungs.
- The heart.
- The brain.
Unfortunately, people no longer consume as much silica as they used to, mainly because of modern agricultural practices. Pesticides and certain fertilizers along with the invention of hybrid foods have significantly reduced the amount of silica in our diets.
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To make up for this deficiency, some people take 1-2 tablespoons of diatomaceous earth every day. It can be mixed with applesauce, yogurt, juice, protein shakes, soda, or plain water. People who do this have reported:
- Less joint pain.
- Lower cholesterol (according to this study).
- Lower blood pressure.
- Stable blood sugar.
- More energy.
- More restful sleep.
- Faster weight loss.
DE has also been known to take care of other health problems. For example, it can:
- Absorb endotoxins.
- Eliminate parasites.
- Regulate digestion.
- Stop urinary tract infections.
- Help the body absorb nutrients (by cleansing the intestinal lining).
Some people add a bit to their toothpaste and face wash to give their teeth and skin a better scrub. There haven’t been many long-term studies of the effects of DE on human health, but it is definitely safe to consume. And based on the overwhelmingly positive reviews, it is probably worth a try.
Household Uses
Diatomaceous earth isn’t just good for killing critters in food. It can also:
- Kill bugs everywhere. Just sprinkle it on carpets and bedding, spread it on the floors of closets and pantries, make a border around the outside of your house, spread it around your yard, and pour it on anthills.
- Kill fleas and parasites. Sprinkle DE on your pet’s fur, and add it to your pet’s food for worm and parasite control.
The absorbent qualities of DE also make it good for:
- Deodorizing. You can sprinkle DE in garbage cans and litter boxes, or you can set an open jar in your refrigerator. For drawers and boxes, some people put DE in a matchstick box, poke holes in it, and place it in the back.
- Deodorant. It can deodorize your home, but it can also deodorize you. Here’s how to make deodorant with DE.
- Soaking up spills (oil, juice, milk, or anything liquid) on concrete, wood, tile, and carpet.
- Removing stains. Work some DE into oil stains on your clothes, then wait for a while and let it absorb the oil. You can also remove carpet stains. Rub a lot of DE into the stain, wait a few hours, and vacuum it up.
- Cleaning. When mixed with water or lemon juice, DE can be used to polish metals, sinks, and bathroom surfaces. (Here’s how to make an all-purpose cleaner with DE.)
Homestead Uses
DE is also useful if you’re living a self-sufficient lifestyle and have a garden and/or farm animals. Use it to:
- Kill garden pests. Apply a light dusting to your plants if pests are becoming a problem.
- Improve chicken health. Add a small amount of DE to their food in order to help chickens produce eggs with stronger shells.
- Improve your farm animals’ health. A little bit of DE in their food will kill parasites and remove toxins.
- Help compost piles. It stops odors and kills pests without affecting beneficial organisms.
- Improve garden soil. DE helps soil to hold water without affecting natural drainage.
Conclusion
Diatomaceous earth is a great investment for any prepper or homesteader. And at $2 a pound, it is very cost-effective. Again, make sure it is food grade before you purchase it. I myself purchased this 10-pound bag and am very happy with it.
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Iv been using this on dogs,cats,chickens, for fleas, ticks, also using on my garden to keep pest away but becarful it will kill even butterflies, and bee’s. I only use it on plants I see have problems and my other home remedies haven’t worked. I also sprinkle it all my foods. My grandparents and mother did all this since I was a kid. And I have done it with all my kids. I use food grade (white).
Hello Renee, for fleas I recommend you to put DE on a dish and a small incandescent green lamp, up to 5 Watts. It´s temperature atracts fleas that die in DE. I´ve built a lot of them here.
A neighbor gave me a box full of DE. She doesn’t know if it was food grade or not! What can I do with it? Obviously, not knowing if it’s good grade or not, I can’t use it for my pets or anything else. But I don’t want to waste it. Is there any way of knowing what type it is? Otherwise I will put it in the trash can.
while reading all the information about this material, i read that if the COLOUR of your product is a dark brown or reddish in colour, it is NOT for human consumption, it should be a lightish colour, not dark
hope this helps
I’ve personally used DE that isn’t food grade and is also a white color. Used it outside around the house, on my garden, on my horse, pets, & some stray cats to kill their fleas. I only use the food grade for ingesting and use on skin. I wouldn’t throw it out.
IT ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY KILLS FLEAS …..I have a 4 thousand sq. Garage with a concrete floor ….the flea infestation was hideous…..a fortune on chemicals did nothing…….food grade DE from rural king killed them all,,,also killed anything new that hatched …..messy BUT worth it ….😊
You can purchase DE at farm stores, such as Tractor Supply or AgriSupply too. I use it for pest control on my goats and chickens as well as ant beds. It’s very useful and I totally keep it on hand for any critter that is not wanted. I didn’t know the other possible uses though, so that’s great to know!
I would like to know where I can purchase DE ?
Bob ,
You asked where to buy d.e. If you live in a warmer area ,where pool supplies are sold year round , industrial grade d.e. is fairly cheap . Buy the larger bags , it’s even cheaper . Food grade d.e. is sold at restaurant supply companies . Having spent the last 50 years in the pool industry , l can only tell you about industrial grade .
Food grade is used to filter fryer oil . You can probably ask any fast food manager where they get theirs. Hopefully this is some help .
I buy food grade DE from Amazon
Home Depot
Just bought food grade at WalMart in the pet section.
usually sold at health food stores, i believe they would be fresher. (don’t know if this product has an expiration date)
have seen Walmart ads that sell it as well
I bought my food grade DE from amazon
I’ve consumed it daily for periods of time and find less joint pain for sure…. I would NOT recommend mixing it with applesauce….. it literally looks like poop LOL! I just mixed it with 1/2 cup(ish) of water and downed it quickly before it settled in the bottom too much. It tastes like dirt.
I frequently read about making water filter/purifiers using things like pebbles, sand, then charcoal in a plastic bottle then I got to thinking about the DE filters I have used in connection with above ground. Could they be used to produce a larger volume of purified water? As a kid I probably drank hundreds of gallons of pool water with no effect other than making me ugly. Can you or some of your readers share with me any information from anyone who has tried something like this? Jerry 575-635-6451
The DE used for pool water filter only removes debris NOT infectious organisms. That is why the pool water is sanitized with chlorine. If DE did such a good job to sanitize the water then why use the chlorine? I also do not see how DE helps with gastrointestinal parasites since it kills insects by making micro cuts in exoskeleton- which intestinal parasites do not have. It is good for insects and to remove particulates from water- there might be suggestions of benefit for a lot of other things but until those claims are supported with randomized controlled double blind studies ( the way medications are tested) then using DE for other purposes will only PROVE to lighten your wallet.
I suppose you’re against anything that is natural. Read between the lines…
Hardly as it isvery cost effective. Been using it for years.
Has anyone had success with killing off pantry moths? If so what tips can you give me?
Pantry moths are a real pain to get rid of, especially if you have a lot of them, they infest absolutely everything. I had this problem a few years ago & this is what I had to do. Go through every bag & box of food you have & I do men every single one. Pour the contents out into a wide bowl slowly & inspect the contents. If you see any, including their outer shells (they shed them) throw the entire contents away. A lot of them will be in the bottom too so do this slowly & carefully. If there are no signs of them then repackage the contents in an air tight container. You can use heavy plastic containers that are air tight. Do not repackage in light plastic bags like the ones you get in the produce department as the moths will eat through them. After re-packaging put it all in a huge plastic tub sprinkled with bay leaves. Wash down your pantry shelves with a mixture of white vinegar & water. Get bay leaves, use scissors & cut between the spines to better release the fragrance & sprinkle them generously throughout your pantry. This dissuades the moths. Go through all your cereal, flour, corn meal, chips, rice, pasta, all pre-packaged mixes & meals and even dried beans & lentils. Then every time you bring something home from the store go through it before you put it in your pantry. The moths are most often brought home that way as they infest the warehouses. I know this is tedious & time consuming but it is the only way. Good Luck.
I have been told to put flour, pasta, rice, dry beans, corn meal and other grain products, dry mixes, and similar dry food items in the freezer for three days to kill any insects and eggs that may have been packaged along with the food, then store in airtight containers.
Look for a product made by Dr. Killigan’s Called pantry moth traps… You place them in cabinets and on top of refrigerators where these bugs fly and the sticky substance on inside the little tents that are made out of paper catch the bugs and of course kill them… It takes a while but it works.. most hardware stores carry this product
Freeze it. Also freeze bird seed
I use it under furniture and around wall perimeters, on windowsills, floors, pantries to kill insects. I’ve even used it under couch and chair cushions and in the cat litter box. I give it occasionally to my dogs in their food.
I mix it with yogurt or broth and feed to my dogs to keep them worm free. They love it and I love not using harsh chemicals.
I use it myself too sometimes. Good stuff.
You do understand that DE works on insects by damaging the exoskeleton? How many worms do you know that have an exoskeleton? I am not aware of any. I don’t see that it would hurt them. BEWARE this article relates that some people received the listed benefits ( like treated urinary infection and others). Unless the material is double blind placebo controlled randomized studied ( like medications) then there is just as much chance it could hurt you as help you. “Some people said it helped their….” is far from convincing to me. Some people swear about the power of crystals. Some people in Africa swear by the power of a chicken foot. I prefer using proven benefits for my pets and family,
Well, good for you, mr. md, but there are many ways of doing things that have been known to work LONG before western medicine came along. Ways that were created and offered to us EONS before college education became ‘the only’ intelligence for some people. Ways that the pharmaceutical companies and other big businesses do not have vested interest in researching. So, you keep doing what works for you, but so will the rest of us, who prefer to do things God’s way instead of man’s. Blessings!
I believe God gave us the intelligence to discover cures for illnesses. God helps those who help themselves. Both my son and I would be dead long ago if it were not for modern medicine. Don’t get me wrong. I believe in eating healthy foods and in gardening without pesticides. But please do not put down modern medicine!
I bet they didn’t test the COVID vaccine in one of those studies before trying to tell everyone it was the only way to not die from COVID! Lol
You win.
We grew zucchini last year and had these bugs that ate the zucchini as well as the plant. We began to use DE. It killed some of the bugs but did not get rid of them. What it did get rid of was the bees. Until we stopped using DE we had no new zucchini. The bees would not come near the plant, therefore, they did not get pollinated and the flowers would wither and fall off.
I have large type ants on my small acreage. Do you think this would work by self or should I mix with corn meal.
yes but as soon as it gets wet it loses its “drying out” power with bugs.
for ants (and roaches) you can mix borax with sugar and try to pour it into the entrance hole. I have heard that boraxo is harmful to pets and wildlife if they eat it, and the caution label on the box says to avoid contact with eyes and skin, do not ingest, keep away from children, so please research further and take appropriate precautions if you try this.
Will this kill roaches?
Yes.
As a pest control professional (sounds good doesn’t it) I love DE (medical/food grade). I wish I could use it all the time, but as mentioned when it gets wet it is done and goes back to the earth. In Texas I used in on my dogs, my cattle and myself. I do a lot of Bedbug jobs and DE is my go to for safe control. However, I would like to know where you find it for $2 a pound. I also want to emphasize that this is NOT the DE that is used in pools. DO NOT USE POOL DE!!!
The smaller livestock stores have 50 lb bags very inexpensive. It is the food grade type, but be sure to ask. Fran
We’ve used DE for years. Have very few bugs in our garden. Have 3 dogs and 2 cats. No fleas. We dust our animals about once a month and have great success. Have not tried with flood storage but dogs eat it on their food at least once a week. No worms.
We had fleas in our basement and we put this on the floor so when they would jump they would get it on them and they died off. This was a great thing to use.
IF mixed with beans, later when you use the beans do you have to rise off the DTE before use?
No, DE is safe to consume.
The food grade DE is safe to consume, but as a general sanitary food preparation step, you should always rinse dry beans/peas/lentils very well before soaking/cooking. We also rinse rice very well before cooking.
We got rid of bed bugs with D E. It took several applications and it’s messy but it works! There are videos on YouTube that show how to do it.
We had “professional” try to get rid of bed bugs but that was a joke my boyfriend used DE and he completely got rid of them too. Your right messy as hell but damn effective!!
My son told me about DE when our apt. was infected with bed bugs and 2 going on 3 treatments later the pest control didn’t make any difference. I had to throw away my furnishings it was that bad.
I couldn’t understand how I got them since I am always home so we assumed it might be coming from my neighbour. My son took off the baseboards of the connecting area and sleeping areas, put DE down and on the connecting area he put sticky tape since the bldng manager gave out power bars that was suppose to kill the bedbugs so my son figured if the nfestation is coming in from the neighbour they would not get into my place. I have never had a problem and no unsightly mess