Sometimes, one simple ingredient is all you need in your home to solve most of your problems. Diatomaceous earth, also known as DE, is one such ingredient with several uses around the house.
Diatomaceous earth comes from fossilized diatoms, which are hard-shelled algae that grow in various bodies of water. These fossilized diatoms form a hard powder, which is what diatomaceous earth comes from.
Diatomaceous earth has a high concentration of silica, which makes it good for hair and skin health. It also has a negative charge, which proves to be more than useful when it comes to several health problems.
17 Simple Ways to Use Diatomaceous Earth
DE has many more uses than our list, but let’s look at 17 simple ways to use diatomaceous earth:
#1 – Diatomaceous for Fleas
If you have cats and dogs in the house, then there is a good chance you have fleas around your house. The silica in DE manages to cut the exoskeletons of fleas, causing them to die before they can breed any longer.
To use DE, simply sprinkle it over the house, preferably on the carpet where your cat or dog lays the most. This is where fleas are most likely to reside.
A small amount is all you need to adequately kill fleas. Make sure to wait a few days before vacuuming and you can repeat the process every two weeks until you’ve killed all the fleas.
You can also apply DE directly on your pets. Sprinkle DE on their fur and brush their fur. If you wash your dog, you’ll need to re-apply DE once more.
#2 – Diatomaceous for Garden Pest Control
DE is very useful in the garden and it is especially useful for killing beetles and snails. It works to eliminate pests in the garden the same way it will remove pests from your house.
Simply sprinkle DE around the plants you want to protect and apply DE once or twice a week for a few weeks. You’ll want to find the ideal locations where slugs and snails will move to ensure they are eliminated. If it does rain heavily, you may need to re-apply DE since it will not work as well.
#3 – Diatomaceous for Home Pest Control
Pests like ants, spiders, and bed bugs can invade your home quickly, particularly when the seasons change.
You should sprinkle DE around the four legs of your bed along with any other area where bed bugs are residing if you believe they have invaded your home. You’ll need to do this every few days for upwards of a month to kill any babies or un-hatched eggs.
You can also sprinkle DE along the entrances of your house if you have carpet. Otherwise, grab a small brush and line a dusting along the doors, windows, or any other place you may think pests are coming inside your home.
#4 – Diatomaceous For Internal Detoxification
Humans can safely ingest diatomaceous earth (food grade only – we’ll explain below). When ingested, studies show that DE can help the body detoxify as well as supplements that contain organic silica too.
Specifically, since DE has a negative charge, it attracts positively charge ions or those that come from heavy metals like aluminum or cadmium.
Heavy metals are often ingested by individuals only a somewhat daily basis. DE attracts these positively charged ions and then the two are released through healthy bowel movements.
Once detoxification is complete, you may find yourself in a more energetic state, and you’ll probably feel better in general as well.
#5 – Diatomaceous For Controlling Cholesterol
One study suggests that DE can help to regulate and control cholesterol levels. There are thousands of DE users that can attest to this as well.
In some cases, DE users have lowered their cholesterol levels to around 100 in just two months.
This is actually an impressive number given the average cholesterol numbers for most adults. DE also provides a significantly cheaper option than the expensive cholesterol drugs on the market today. Plus, there are no side effects to taking DE as well.
#6 – Diatomaceous For Toothpaste
If you’re a coffee, tea, or soda drink, then there’s a decent chance your teeth have some stains.
Sprinkle DE in your toothpaste and brush your teeth as usual. Since DE has abrasive qualities, it will scrub and steadily eliminate the stains on your teeth as well as any bacteria that may be residing in your mouth.
You only need to do this once every few days to see results. You can also make homemade toothpaste with DE if you want to as well.
#7 – Diatomaceous For Shampoo
Adding DE to your shampoo is an excellent choice that can help you improve your hair and scalp health. Try sprinkling some DE in your hair or adding it to your shampoo to see results.
If you have lice, DE should almost instantly kill the lice permanently. It may take a few days, but it should not take longer than that. Make sure to wash off DE thoroughly and eliminate any dead lice in your hair.
DE also helps promote healthy hair growth as well, so those suffering from hair loss may find DE especially useful.
#8 – Diatomaceous For Skin Care
DE is very abrasive, which makes it perfect as a scrub and exfoliant for the skin. Don’t worry though, the particles are small enough that will not cause irritation or trigger any skin allergies.
DE can help clean out your pores and remove excess oils that may be causing a number of skin issues. When ingested, DE helps to promote the production of collagen, which will leave your skin looking youthful and glowing.
#9 – Diatomaceous For Food Storage
DE can be added to food to make it last longer. It is often added to wheat and beans so that they do not spoil as quickly – lengthening the shelf life of the products.
You’ve probably seen the small packets placed inside certain packaging already. These packets are generally filled with silica and they promote long-term foot storage.
You can do the same with the food in your home. Make sure you use a cloth packet to ensure DE soaks up any moisture from your food. This will reduce the risk of mold growth and increase the shelf life of your favorite foods.
#10 – Diatomaceous For Parasites and De-Worming
Many pet owners like to use DE to de-worm their pets and livestock. Simply sprinkle as little as a 1/4th a teaspoon of DE in your cat or dog’s food on a daily basis for a few weeks.
This should be long enough to kill any worms residing in their food. Your pet will be able to naturally excrete the remains and eggs once they hatch. Just make sure to use food grade DE.
#11 – Diatomaceous For Healthier Farm Pets
Farmers frequently give chickens DE in order to produce stronger and better quality eggs. According to farmers, milk production improves in their cows, and their coats and hooves are also stronger.
Adding diatomaceous earth to their food may also reduce the likelihood that pests invade the farmhouse as well.
#12 – Diatomaceous For Deodorant
You can apply DE under your armpit and use it as deodorant if you do not like commercial deodorants or have run out.
DE acts has natural absorbent properties, so it will also help you stay dry and keep body odor at bay.
#13 – Diatomaceous For Killing Fungus
If you’ve got toenail fungus, try sprinkling in some DE on your feet on a daily basis. This will help dry up your socks and prevent the fungus from feeding of the moisture in your socks and feet.
It will also get rid of the gross smell from your feet and socks. You can also sprinkle DE in your shoe to de-odorize your socks if you find they are becoming smelly.
#14 – Diatomaceous For Deodorizer
If your garbage smells bad on a regular basis, you can sprinkle in some DE on a weekly basis to eliminate any odors. You can do the same on compost to avoid the nasty smell as well.
If you’d like to deodorize your fridge, you can do so by putting in a generous amount of DE in a bowl and placing it in the back of your fridge. This will take care of any lingering smells, although you will need to replace the DE every two weeks or so.
If you have cats, you can also sprinkle some DE on their kitty litter to prevent that smell from filtering through the whole house.
#15 – Diatomaceous For Natural Cleaning
DE is an effective cleaner thanks to its’ sharp microscopic edges. It can remove dirt and grime with relative ease without scratching the surface.
If you’d like to use DE as a cleaner, combine it with water, lemon, and some dish soap to create a paste you can apply.
Place the paste on the faucet or sink and wipe it all off and you should have a polished, clean surface. Some homeowners just simply sprinkle DE onto stainless steel and wipe it with a moist cloth.
You can try both techniques and determine which method you like more. DE can also be used on cooper surfaces and silverware as well.
#16 – Diatomaceous For Weight Loss
Many people are starting to acknowledge and utilize food grade diatomaceous earth for human weight loss due to its cleansing and detoxification properties. There are many sites and sources readily available that discuss this more in depth, but we strongly encourage and nearly agree with DE being a superior catalyst to help you along your natural weight loss journey.
#17 – Diatomaceous For Facial Cream
Not many have ever done this before, but due to the high silica content found inside a pure diatomaceous earth powder, you can actually add a little water to the DE and put it on your face almost comparable to a clay mask. This can act as a deep cleaning agent and facilitate the ability to bring surface level skin toxins and problems out helping restore and regenerate fresh face skin.
Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth – Mother Nature’s Best Friend
There are several different grades of DE available today, but the only kind of DE you will likely need is food grade diatomaceous earth. This is the only grade of DE safe for human consumption, and you should still take precautions when handling it.
The good news is that food grade DE is clearly labeled so you should not have any problems finding it. Check the label before buying a DE product though – food grade DE should have no more than 10mg of lead and arsenic per kg of DE.
Some other things you should consider include:
- DE should have a label approved by the FCCR (Food Chemical Codex Rating)
- The label should also show it has a Generally Recognized as Safe status (GRAS)
- Your DE product should be pure white or slightly off white. DE also comes in colors like pink, grey, brown, and orange, but these colors are not suitable for human use.
- Make sure the product has EPA approved labels. This may include: animal feed additive, inert carrier, grain storage protectant, anti caking agent, and trace mineral supplement.
How to Take DE Internally
Taking DE internally can help your skin, teeth, hairs, nails, digestive system, cardiovascular system, and pretty much every other part of your body.
To use DE internally, just add ½ teaspoon of DE to your favorite drink and stir. It will not dissolve completely, but it will distribute evenly throughout your drink.
The maximum dosage we recommend is 1 tablespoon a day, so make sure not to go over. Taking diatomaceous may deliver some, or all of the following benefits:
- Stronger teeth and nails
- Clearer, healthier skin
- Improved digestion
- Increased energy levels
- Stronger cardiovascular system
- Improved immune system health
There are plenty of other benefits to taking diatomaceous earth as well as the benefits mentioned above. If you haven’t given diatomaceous earth a shot, now is a great time to get started.
As you can see, diatomaceous earth has plenty of practical uses. Many searching the uses of diatomaceous earth are always weary about its crystalline silica content due to inhalation and breathing it in – but that is not always the case and has been vastly misunderstood to this point in time.
Remember, the great thing about DE is that it is fairly cheap too, so you can save some money in the process as well getting all of these wonderful benefits along the way.
Give DE a shot today and discover for yourself how diatomaceous earth can improve your health and make your life so much easier.
