What is Diatomaceous Earth Used For?
Over 150 known applications — from pest control and pet care to farming, gardening, spill kits, and beyond.
Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is one of nature’s most versatile minerals. Formed over millions of years from the fossilised remains of microscopic algae, our Australian-mined DE works through simple physical and mechanical action — no chemicals, no toxins, no resistance build-up.
DE works by penetrating the waxy protective coating on an insect’s exoskeleton, causing it to dehydrate and perish. Because it works mechanically rather than chemically, insects cannot develop resistance — making it effective long term.
Effective against: ants · cockroaches · silverfish · earwigs · carpet beetles · bed bugs · weevils · stored grain pests · crickets
Apply along skirting boards, around door frames, under appliances, in roof voids, and in any crack or crevice where insects travel. A light, even dust is all that’s needed.
One of the most overlooked uses of DE is fly management — particularly around cattle, horses, and poultry where fly populations can cause significant stress and disease.
Cattle & horses: When added to feed at 1–2% of total feed weight, DE passes through the digestive system and disrupts fly larvae development in fresh manure — dramatically reducing fly populations around dairies, feedlots, and paddocks without chemical residues or withholding periods.
Poultry sheds: Apply DE to litter and manure to reduce moisture and inhibit fly larvae. A dry litter environment is the single most effective fly management strategy in poultry sheds.
General: Dust around rubbish bins, compost heaps, and dung piles where flies breed to disrupt the larvae cycle naturally.
DE is highly effective for flea and tick control on pets and in the home environment.
For dogs and cats: apply lightly to the coat, work into the fur, and leave for 24–48 hours before brushing out. Treat bedding and carpets at the same time for complete control.
For carpets and soft furnishings: dust lightly, work into fibres, leave for 48–72 hours, then vacuum thoroughly. Repeat weekly until infestation clears.
This is a fascinating and increasingly important use — particularly for transport and logistics operators. DE applied to timber pallets and wooden shipping materials creates a physical barrier that termites cannot cross or colonise. The fine powder coats the wood surface and penetrates cracks, dehydrating any termites that attempt to nest.
Truck drivers and freight operators storing pallets in the field or in open yards can dust DE around pallet stacks and directly onto timber surfaces to deter termite attack — no chemicals, no fumigation, no withholding periods.
Also effective: applied around the perimeter of sheds, warehouses, and buildings as a natural termite deterrent in the soil and along foundations.
Red mite and poultry lice are among the most damaging and persistent problems in backyard and commercial poultry keeping. DE is one of the most effective and safest treatments available.
Apply generously to: nesting boxes · perches · coop litter · crevices in walls and flooring where red mites hide during the day.
Apply lightly to birds: part the feathers and dust around the vent, under wings, and around the neck. This treats lice and mites living on the bird directly.
For cage birds and aviary birds: dust lightly into nesting material and along perches. DE is safe for birds when used in ventilated areas.
Repeat weekly during active infestations, monthly for ongoing prevention.
DE has multiple applications across beef, dairy, and sheep farming:
Feed additive: Mix at 1–2% of total dry feed weight for cattle, sheep, and goats. Acts as a natural anti-caking agent, improves feed flow, and supports gut health.
Fly control via feed-through: DE in feed passes through and disrupts fly larvae in manure, reducing fly populations across the property.
Lice and external parasites: Dust DE into bedding areas, yards, and crush areas to reduce lice and mite populations. Apply lightly to cattle coats in areas of heavy infestation.
Dairy sheds: Apply to floors and drains to reduce moisture, odour, and fly activity without milk residues or chemical contamination.
DE is a backyard chicken keeper’s best friend:
- Red mite & lice control — treat the coop, nesting boxes, and birds directly
- Dust bath additive — add DE to your flock’s dust bath for ongoing mite and lice prevention
- Litter treatment — reduces moisture and ammonia odour in coop litter
- Feed additive — mix at 1–2% of feed weight as a natural anti-caking and gut health supplement
- Fly control — apply to manure areas to disrupt fly larvae
Safe, natural, and chemical-free:
Flea & tick control — apply to coat, bedding, and carpets
Kennel treatment — dust floors and bedding areas in kennels and runs
Odour control — DE absorbs moisture and neutralises odour in pet areas
Kitty litter — DE can be used as a natural kitty litter or mixed with existing litter to improve absorption and odour control. Superior to clay-based litters for moisture absorption.
- Natural pest control — apply around the base of plants, along bed edges, and on foliage for ants, slugs, snails, aphids, thrips, and whitefly
- Soil amendment — improves soil structure, aeration, and water retention in both sandy and heavy clay soils
- Silicon fertiliser — research across 150 Queensland farms showed up to 28% yield increases with regular soil application. Silicon unlocks phosphorus already in your soil, builds drought resistance, and strengthens plant cell walls
- Potting mix additive — add to potting mix to improve drainage and prevent compaction
- Moisture retention — top-dress garden beds to retain moisture and protect roots
DE is chemically inert and highly absorbent — making it ideal for spill management:
- Oil spills — scatter coarse DE over oil spills on concrete, soil, or gravel. Leave for 15–30 minutes, then sweep up. Absorbs motor oil, hydraulic fluid, and diesel effectively.
- Chemical spills — chemically inert and non-reactive with most industrial substances
- Workshop and shed floors — keep a bucket of DE in the workshop for quick spill absorption
- Truck and machinery maintenance — ideal for field spill management on farms and remote sites
- Rubbish and bin areas — scatter around bins to absorb leachate, reduce odour, and deter flies and pests
DE makes an excellent natural kitty litter — either on its own or as a blend:
- Highly absorbent — up to three times more absorbent than clay-based litters by volume
- Naturally neutralises odour through moisture absorption
- Non-toxic and safe for cats
- Biodegradable — can be composted after use
- Dust-free when slightly dampened before use
Use the fine grade (Fines or -2mm) for best performance. Refresh daily and replace fully every 1–2 weeks.
Mix DE through stored grain at 1–2kg per tonne to protect against weevils, beetles, and moths during storage. Works mechanically — no chemical residues, no withholding period, grain can be fed or sold directly after treatment.
Research continues to uncover new applications for diatomaceous earth:
- Thermal insulating paints — DE added to paint formulations creates millions of trapped air pockets that reduce heat transfer, improving energy efficiency in buildings
- Green concrete — 15% replacement of Portland cement with DE has been shown to increase compressive strength by 53%
- Silicon fertiliser — proven crop yield increases of up to 28% across 150 Queensland farm trials
- Health supplement — natural amorphous silica for bones, joints, skin, hair, and nail support