use diatomaceous earth ???

[kelley123]

Okay, I struggle with search on this forum.

I am looking for tidbits and ideas on using DE for cleaning. I know I have seen some.

Today I put a mix of baking soda and DE on part of my carpet. Anyone else try this? Did I do good or bad doing this?

thanks

Kelly

[Kritters]

Hey Kelley!!

one tip: search only from the home page. I agree it's not easy.

So, when you put that mix on your carpet, did it fizzle up, leave the floor, wisk you up and take you to Tibet?

(I'm the one with the weird sense of humor, sorry)

I'm thinking I'd do the same, but for your carpet, I think the DE would be enough. Just my thought.

Kritts

[kelley123]

I did search from the home page - I think next time I will use google and look only at this forum. I did see posts on laundry and car cleaning with DE in my search.

I thought the DE was too fine so mixed with the soda. I was looking to deodorize and maybe attack mildew as I assume it is there. The carpet powder products are baking soda and fragrance - even that is all that was listed for the ARM & HAMMER® Carpet & Room Allergen Reducer and Odor Eliminator commercial product and also for the pet product that they sell to us peons.

Both cats have walked over the rug and smelled it - hmm - but then that is typical curious cat syndrome.

I have yet to vacuum it up. I brushed it in well and will vacuum before I go to bed tonight. I only did about 1/4 of the dining room for this trial and used 2 boxes of soda and about 2 cups of food grade DE. I did put extra along the edge.

So far no trips anywhere - not even a free ride to the beach (2 miles away). Maybe if I get a trip to Tibet I will get a Neti pot for my sinuses.

[gigi22]

HI KELLY!

I've heard lots of great things about DE.. I have some here myself and need to start spreading it around.. my husband complains so I'm going to have to do it when he's not looking.. and then blame it on the dog!

Anyway.. DE is supposed to work well .. not against all bugs.. some state that some bugs are too small and can walk around the DE. But I am going to try it before resorting to other things.. The only real complaint that I've heard is that you need to make sure it's not clumped up .. it can really ruin a vaccuum!

[gigi22]

Maybe I would try doing them by themselves. So, use the baking soda, then vacuum it up for a contact kill of mold/mildew.. then apply the DE to the carpets and leave it there for awhile... don't vacuum it up for awhile. Bugs that contact it will die.

By the way.. I love my DE.. now anytime I see a bug (spider, etc) in the house, he gets sprinkled with DE and he goes bye bye really fast!!!!

[kelley123]

The vacuum didn't like what I did - I changed the filter 3 times - do reuse them so not out money - and afterward I cleaned the hose and all outside. I even broke down and replaced the belt as I had it all apart.

I think I got about a decrease of a third in the mildewy odor and I left the stuff along the edge as that is where the bugs will be first. I figured the cost for materials was well under $4 as WM had baking soda for 57 cents a box and I am not sure how much DE I used but way under a pound - got 10 pounds of food grade DE for just over $30 - next time buy 50 lbs. I will clean the filters and plan to do this disaster again.

I do have another almost identical vacuum in the garage I can use for other spare parts if needed.

I talked to a friend today at the beach about taking it and using it for edge of the rug for bugs in the house. She knew about using DE for garden control but that was it and never had even done that even though she is a "master gardener".

I hope others will contribute ideas on how they have used DE for household tasks and how it worked out. As I do more I will add my experiences.

[Robin]

Hey everyone,
I sprinkled the DE on my son's mattress and it seemed to bring them to the surface of the mattress then i brushed it off and scrubbed it with a bristle brush dipped in bleach! it did seem alot cleaner after that! just sharing.
XO Robin