Talk to me about diatomaceous earth!! Please?

[JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff]

So I have discovered a few little black beetles around the house and want to put a stop to them. Have had DE recommended but unsure where to get it and exactly how to use it.

Can anyone advise pls? Has anyone had success with it?

[NathanBarley]

You can buy it on amazon

[Coldhandscoldheart]

I ordered it off amazon. I think it was 500g which was a bit much with hindsight.
I googled instructions and then just threw it about liberally where I’d seen the carpet beetles *shudders
and then vacuumed it up the next day & did it again. I think I maybe did it for three or four days?

I’ve left a thick line of it round the edges of the carpet. I can’t wait to get rid of this carpet I hate it so much.

[JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff]

Ooh thanks. So is all diatomaceous earth equal or is there anything to look out for? And it doesn't mess up your hoover, vacing it up?

[AntiHop]

Used it to get rid of silver fish in the kitchen, which worked. I left it down for a week or so then hoovered it up.

[Unescorted]

It is the fossil remains of silicious algae. Look under a microscope and they have the most beautiful structure....Google diatom images. It is a finite resource mined off the coast of Mexico so think carefully before throwing it about. Can you not vacuum up the beetles?

[smileygrapefruit]

It killed my dyson!

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

Just be careful that you don't breath it in...

[yamadori]

Tesco 'low dust' cat litter, about £4.20.
It is diatomaceous earth, and looks like little orange balls of dried clay.

[JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff]

Smiley really? Oh dear.... can one sweep rather than vac it up?

[smileygrapefruit]

I had used it EVERYWHERE as the animals had brought in fleas and I wanted to make sure there was no trace of them left. It killed the vacuum but we haven't had any fleas since!!

[Pasithea]

It is very dangerous if inhaled.

[Pleasebeafleabite]

Yes sweep before hoovering

Personally I just dethlac the skirting boards - worked on silverfish and woodlice like a dream