Understanding Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous Earth is a widely used, widely misunderstood substance in pest control. Over 50% of the calls we get have attempted self treatment with diatomaceous earth, without understanding the risks involved.
Diatomaceous Earth powder and Cimexa Dust Powder can last up to 10 years after you apply it! Applying it incorrectly or to the wrong areas can mean you are exposing your household to some serious risk for a very long time period.
Diatomaceous Earth can be incredibly dangerous if breathed in. While it is an organic product, even available as a pet food additive, it is very dangerous to DIY pest treatment with Diatomaceous Earth or Cimexa Dust.
Many of us are familiar of the dangers of asbestos inhalation, and if you’ve flipped on a tv in the last decade chances are you’ve seen a legal ad for those now suffering as a result of asbestos exposure. While not exactly the same, it’s a good comparison. Inhaling Diatomaceous Earth can lead to a very dangerous health condition known as silicosis. Silicosis is the Inhaling crystalline silica can cause inflammation and scarring of your lungs.
While Diatomaceous Earth itself can be a safe product and professionally applied, widespread and improper use within your home can be very dangerous. Cimexa Dust is another similar product that if applied incorrectly can pose dangers to you and your household.
Rogue Applications and Proper Clean Up
Most commonly, we see instances of folks that have just spread the dust all throughout there house – All over carpets, furniture, etc. This is NOT the proper application! In some cases, we see pets and infants crawling across these same surfaces daily, and you can even see the dust remnants in the air.
Before we treat any home, we confirm that if you used Diatomaceous Earth or Cimexa Dust, you must vacuum it up with fine particulate construction bags or drywall dust bag filters for your shop vac. You CANNOT vacuum the dusts up with regular vacuum bags.
Unfortunately, Diatomaceous Earth, Cimexa Dust and any other over the counter product for bed bugs are highly unlikely to completely get rid of your bed bug problem. If they did, we wouldn’t have a job nor tons of great reviews on the BBB! It is important to seek professional help, especially in the early stages.
