Question from paul wheaton
Hi Debra, I’d like to share an article I wrote about organic flea control with you and your readers. It’s at www.richsoil.com/fleas.
In it I recommend using diatomaceous earth (DE) to kill fleas.
I know there is a fair amount of debate on this. Some people like the idea of creating a cloud of DE, but others, like me, prefer to keep it on the ground and not in the air. I think for cats, a flea comb is the best thing and a paper thin layer of DE goes around the house wherever a vacuum cannot reach.
The impact of food grade DE on the lungs is the same as flour (most flours contain DE), talcum powder or corn starch. I have read anecdotal speculative concerns about DE, but so far all of these concerns pale (IMO) to the scientifically researched problems with pyrethrins and borates. I think the biggest problem with DE to date is that it is … well … dusty! But I think this dust is less worrisome than your average house dust.
