What Is DE? One Word - Amazing!

FOOD GRADE Diatomaceous Earth. 

What does it do?  Well the better question may in fact be what doesn't it do?  This is not a sponsored post, I am merely passing along probably some of the best knowledge that I have come across in a very long time. 

Okay so what is Diatomaceous Earth, commonly referred to as DE, for those of us who use it?  DE is the fossilized remains of microscopic shells created by one celled plants called DIATOMS. 

We began using this in our home just about 2 years ago, and the more I read, the more amazed I am by this universal product. 

First, let me strongly express that there are 2 different grades of Diatomaceous Earth.  Food Grade and Pool Grade.  Pool grade DE is toxic, and can be extremely harmful to pets and people.

For the purpose of this post, I will only be discussing FOOD GRADE DE. 

Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth has loads, and I mean loads of benefits and uses.  I do believe that if this was more widely available in stores, many of the pesticides, and flea control products would lose millions of dollars! 

How does Food Grade DE work?  It works by physical action, not by chemical action, and because of that, garden insects NEVER, EVER become immune to it.  It works on all exoskeletal insects.  As insects and pest walk across the DE, the fine powder gets into the joints of them, scratching off the insect's waxy coating, and dehydrate it.

Believe it or not, Food Grade DE is in fact widely used, and IS FDA approved for humans and animals.

Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth is 89% Silica, which is one of the most important trace element in human health, according to Dr. Barbara Hendel. 

What are the benefits and uses?  Get ready for this amazing list!

♦ Pest Control.  Food Grade DE is used in the control of Roaches, ALL types of Ants, Silverfish, bedbugs, flies, scorpions, box elder bugs, crickets, fleas, ticks, mites, lice, and many other types of insects.  Best of all it will not harm earthworms!

♦ Flea Control.  Sprinkle in a dry yard as well as on your pets.  In order for this to work in your yard, it is best to use two - four times a month

♦ Metal Cleaner.  Make a paste with water and use to as a metal polish. 

♦  Use the same water and DE paste and use as a body scrub.

♦ Whiter Teeth?  Yep.  Sprinkle a small amount on your toothpaste and you'll notice a "just went to the dentist" feeling when your done brushing!

♦ Can be used int he same way baking soda is when reducing odor in the freezer or refrigerator.  Just replace every two weeks or so. 

♦ place a cup of DE inside a tube sock, tie at the top, and place inside foul smelling shoes when not in use, for fresher smelling shoes!

♦ Cover a newly stained area on carpets with DE, slightly work into carpet, let stand for at least 2 hours, then vacuum up.  Works great on new pet stains!

♦ Out door garbage bins?  Sprinkle a cup or so in the bottom of your cans to deodorize.  This will also kill any bugs and larvae that are present. 

♦ Food Grade can reduce arthritic inflammation in your elder pets joints.

♦ Depending on the size of your pet, a 1/4 to 1 teaspoon daily in the food will also act as an organic dewormer for many types of internal parasites. 

♦ Although there has yet to be any real studies done to prove this, many people who take DE internally claim their metabolism has increased, and they have more daily energy. 

♦ Although, I cannot speak for any of THESE uses, there is a website that is receiving loads of emails from their consumers claiming all kinds of health benefits, many of which I believe. 

Too Good To Be True?  I used to think it was, until I started to use it and see for myself the reults we were getting for just flea and tick control!