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Diatomaceous Earth

What is Diatomaceous Earth and What is it Used For?

Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a naturally occurring, chalky white powder made from the fossilized remains of microscopic aquatic organisms called diatoms. It is primarily composed of silica. When dry, it is highly absorbent and acts as a microscopic abrasive, making it a popular, non-toxic tool for households, gardens, and industry.

1. Natural Pest Control

DE is most famous for its ability to eliminate crawling insects. When bugs walk through the powder, its sharp microscopic edges scrape away their protective waxy outer coating, causing them to dehydrate and die.

• Household Pests: Sprinkle it around entry points, window sills, or baseboards to target ants, cockroaches, spiders, and fleas.
• Garden Use: Dust it on dry soil to deter garden pests like slugs, beetles, and fungus gnats. Note: Always apply it carefully in dry conditions to protect beneficial pollinators.

2. Household Cleaning & Odor Absorption

Thanks to its porous, absorbent structure, DE works as a natural cleaner and deodorizer.

• Stain Removal: Sprinkle it on carpet or upholstery grease stains, let it sit for a few hours to absorb the oil, and vacuum it up.
• Deodorizing: Use it to neutralize bad smells in refrigerators, trash cans, or cat litter boxes.
• Gentle Polishing: Mix it with water to create a paste for polishing tarnished silverware or metals without scratching.

3. Food, Health, & Supplements

Only purified "food-grade" DE should ever be consumed or used on the body.

• Dietary Supplement: Some people consume food-grade DE as a source of trace minerals and silica to supposedly support hair, nails, and bone health, although scientific research on these benefits is limited.
• Personal Care: It is widely used as a gentle exfoliant and silica source in skin care products and toothpastes.
• Anti-Caking: The FDA lists food-grade DE as safe, and it is commonly used in agriculture to prevent animal feed from clumping.

4. Industrial & Water Filtration

Industrial-grade DE is processed to create a powerful filtering agent used worldwide.

• Water Filters: It is frequently used in large-scale drinking water treatment and swimming pool filtration systems.
• Liquid Processing: Used as a clarifier to filter unwanted materials out of beer, wine, and other beverages.