Diatomaceous earth

fortview · Oct 5, 2017

A few Gite's on the Le Puy route are using Diatomaceous earth, in the fight against bedbugs.

"Here’s how diatomaceous earth works: each particle of DE contains microscopic sharp edges. When bed bugs are exposed to these sharp edges, their exoskeletons are eviscerated. Once the exoskeletons are removed, the drying action of diatomaceous earth goes to work. The bed bugs dry out and die."

In Poudally, Mars de Ver, Manu and Elsa provide puffers full of it in each room, and advise you to use it around the beds and in your sleeping bag.

For those affected by chemicals, this natural product could be helpful.

Deleted member 67185 · Oct 5, 2017

fortview said:
A few Gite's on the Le Puy route are using Diatomaceous earth, in the fight against bedbugs.

"Here’s how diatomaceous earth works: each particle of DE contains microscopic sharp edges. When bed bugs are exposed to these sharp edges, their exoskeletons are eviscerated. Once the exoskeletons are removed, the drying action of diatomaceous earth goes to work. The bed bugs dry out and die."

In Poudally, Mars de Ver, Manu and Elsa provide puffers full of it in each room, and advise you to use it around the beds and in your sleeping bag.

For those affected by chemicals, this natural product could be helpful.

Hmmm. In the sleeping bag? First, DE can cause respiratory problems if inhaled. Second, not only will a bedbug still feed, because the DE will not be immediately effective, but I don't feel like sleeping in dirt, DE or not.

The placement of DE on the floor is not a big bedbug deterrent. The critters live in cracks, crevices, and within the shadows off of the floor. Since DE can take from one to two weeks to kill the critter once it has made contact with DE, I have a feeling that the DE protocol they are using is more of a 'placebo', to help calm nervous pilgrims who are overwrought about bedbugs, than an effective 'treatment' or preventative.

hel&scott · Oct 6, 2017

This sounds like the old gardeners advice of using crushed egg shells to ward off snails, it doesn't work either as the snails actually eat it to make their own shells stronger.

I've used DE in brewing for filtering, and to help recondition wool that's been inadvertently felted, seriously doubt it would do anything to bed bugs.

trecile · Oct 6, 2017

DE does work against bedbugs, but is just one tool, and isn't used in the way described above. Here's some info:
https://www.zappbug.com/get-rid-of-bed-bugs/bed-bugs-diatomaceous-earth/

Walking Lover · Oct 7, 2017

fortview said:
A few Gite's on the Le Puy route are using Diatomaceous earth, in the fight against bedbugs.

"Here’s how diatomaceous earth works: each particle of DE contains microscopic sharp edges. When bed bugs are exposed to these sharp edges, their exoskeletons are eviscerated. Once the exoskeletons are removed, the drying action of diatomaceous earth goes to work. The bed bugs dry out and die."

In Poudally, Mars de Ver, Manu and Elsa provide puffers full of it in each room, and advise you to use it around the beds and in your sleeping bag.

For those affected by chemicals, this natural product could be helpful.

Also, great to put on our lawns where deer ticks are a problem. The DE cuts them up as they move through. We treat our lawn each year with DE.

burningmine · Oct 7, 2017

fortview said:
A few Gite's on the Le Puy route are using Diatomaceous earth, in the fight against bedbugs.

"Here’s how diatomaceous earth works: each particle of DE contains microscopic sharp edges. When bed bugs are exposed to these sharp edges, their exoskeletons are eviscerated. Once the exoskeletons are removed, the drying action of diatomaceous earth goes to work. The bed bugs dry out and die."

In Poudally, Mars de Ver, Manu and Elsa provide puffers full of it in each room, and advise you to use it around the beds and in your sleeping bag.

For those affected by chemicals, this natural product could be helpful.

I live in Seattle, WA and recently had bedbugs in my apartment.. A disgusting ordeal, let me tell you. Anyway, the professional exterminators we hired used diatomaceous earth and steam cleanings on the mattress and it took three applications but it got rid of them. We weren't particularly asking for a "natural" approach but that's apparently the standard these days. They made us leave the house for four hours each time, but after that it was safe for us and the cat to be in the apartment. The exterminator said it probably would be safe before then but for legal reasons they need to lean towards caution. Would probably be a good idea for alberques to treat around beds + baseboards, probably less good to have it all in your face... Also worth noting that it's a gradual fix rather than a spray that kills instantly.

CatherineAnn · Oct 7, 2017

fortview said:
A few Gite's on the Le Puy route are using Diatomaceous earth, in the fight against bedbugs.

"Here’s how diatomaceous earth works: each particle of DE contains microscopic sharp edges. When bed bugs are exposed to these sharp edges, their exoskeletons are eviscerated. Once the exoskeletons are removed, the drying action of diatomaceous earth goes to work. The bed bugs dry out and die."

In Poudally, Mars de Ver, Manu and Elsa provide puffers full of it in each room, and advise you to use it around the beds and in your sleeping bag.

For those affected by chemicals, this natural product could be helpful.

I have read the same sharp edges harm your lungs and you should never breathe the powder.

trecile · Oct 7, 2017

CatherineAnn said:
I have read the same sharp edges harm your lungs and you should never breathe the powder.

Which makes it a good idea not to stay in gites where people are using puffers to spew DE about! The dangers of this practice should be brought to the attention of the proprietors of these places.

SYates · Oct 7, 2017

The "danger" of DE is mainly to the person that applies it not to the one that sleeps in a room where it has been used. When applying DE you should always wear a mask, but once the stuff has settled, it stays settled. And, as others have said, DE is a tool in the anti-bed-bug tool box which has some big advantages and very few disadvantages but it isn't an only solution. BC SY

fortview · Oct 7, 2017

burningmine said:
I live in Seattle, WA and recently had bedbugs in my apartment.. A disgusting ordeal, let me tell you. Anyway, the professional exterminators we hired used diatomaceous earth and steam cleanings on the mattress and it took three applications but it got rid of them. We weren't particularly asking for a "natural" approach but that's apparently the standard these days. They made us leave the house for four hours each time, but after that it was safe for us and the cat to be in the apartment. The exterminator said it probably would be safe before then but for legal reasons they need to lean towards caution. Would probably be a good idea for alberques to treat around beds + baseboards, probably less good to have it all in your face... Also worth noting that it's a gradual fix rather than a spray that kills instantly.

Welcome to the forum! So sorry to hear about your ordeal. That is exactly the kind of experience we are all trying to avoid, and why we have to be so careful with our stuff when we get home!

fortview · Oct 7, 2017

CatherineAnn said:
I have read the same sharp edges harm your lungs and you should never breathe the powder.

Apparently, inhaling food grade DE is no worse than inhaling dust. You still wouldn't want to do it if you could help it of course !

fortview · Oct 7, 2017

Walking Lover said:
Also, great to put on our lawns where deer ticks are a problem. The DE cuts them up as they move through. We treat our lawn each year with DE.

A friend of mine uses it for cat fleas in her house, and it works brilliantly.

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