There are several different types of powders used in pest control. Some are Wettable Powders that you mix with water or other solvents and some others you use in dry form as powders. But what concerns us most is the way in which the different powders affect the particular pest we are dealing with.

Some powders are very poisonous and carry the DANGER signal word and the familiar skull and crossbones. Others, more common to the do-it-yourself homeowner, are pyrethrins based and are much milder, and then there is Diatomaceous Earth.

Pyrethrins and Pyrethroids

Pyrethrins are chemicals, used to make pesticides, which are extracted from some types of Chrysanthemum flowers. These pesticides are derived from Nature and are called botanical pesticides. But if Nature can make pesticides then so can we. Pyrethroids are a synthetic form of pyrethrins which are manufactured in the lab. Some common pyrethroids are: bifenthrin, permethrin, and cypermethrin. Most pesticides ending in thrin are either pyrethrins or pyrethroids.

Even though Pyrethrins (and pyrethroids) affect the nerve cells of insects, they are very mild forms of pesticides and, if used properly, will have low risk to humans and other mammals due to their very low toxicity. Unfortunately, bed bugs have become resistant to Natural and synthetic pyrethrins and these products are no longer lethal when used as directed; they mereley act as repellents. So, consumers have been abusing these products in an effort to solve their bed bug problems and are consequently poisoning themselves in the process. These products are dangerous to fish so be careful. Read A Short History of Bed Bugs and Their Treatments below to learn more about the products used on bed bugs.

Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is a non-toxic naturally occurring fine powder made up of fossilized water plants called diatoms. DE has an abrasive quality and traditionally has been used in filtration systems, cat litter, and even in making dynamite. DE comes in different grades for its myriad of applications.

Some DE grades are crystalline with very sharp edges and other grades are much finer. When used for pest control, DE cuts into the protective outer shell of insects and dries them out, thus killing the insect. This is also of concern to humans and pets since inhaling DE can do the same to the nasal cavity and the lungs as it does to insects. You must be careful to select the least crystalline DE you can find in order to minimize the dangers associated with inhaling DE.

Cedar Bug-Free™ Carpet Powder

Cedar Bug-Free™ Carpet Powder is Natural and non-toxic to humans and animals. It is not poisonous like many other powders and will not hurt your lungs if inhaled, like many Diatomaceous Earth products. The Cedar Oil in Cedar Bug-Free™ Carpet Powder overwhelms the breathing system of insects and triggers a suicide response - the spiracles (breathing pores) close and cannot re-open. The Silica used in Cedar Bug-Free™ Carpet Powder is amorphous and not crystalline. Amorphous Silica does not contain the sharp edges that cut into your lungs. Cedar Bug-Free™ Carpet Powder adheres to the outer skeleton of insects and causes them to dehydrate and suffocate by clogging their respiratory system.

Cedar Bug-Free™ Carpet Powder is electrostatically charged and adheres to the fibers and the base of the carpet, thus preventing the vacuum cleaner from easily removing it all the first time you vacuum. This helps the powder remain in the carpeting for several months and continue to kill bugs as they hatch, come out of their hiding places and travel on and inside the carpets. This adherence property also helps the powder stick to insects. As insects groom themselves to remove the powder, they ingest it and the powder dehydrates them from the inside as well.

Because Cedar Bug-Free™ Carpet Powder works in a physical manner instead of a chemical reaction, bed bugs and other insects do not become resistant to this product. After all, the cockroach never becomes resistant to the shoe that stomps on it!

Cedar Bug-Free™ Carpet Powder is the keystone of long lasting pest treatments in carpets and rugs. See Carpet Powder Application for detailed instructions on how to apply it.

Besides killing bed bugs, Cedar Bug-Free™ Carpet Powder kills fleas, ticks, mites, ants, roaches, silverfish, earwigs, centipedes and many other bugs. In carpets, Cedar Bug-Free™ Carpet Powder can be applied as directed to eliminate mite, flea and tick infestations, and any other bugs that live in your carpets. Just follow the instructions described in Carpet Powder Application on this site.

While this is a carpet powder, it can also be used in kitchens, bathrooms and laundry areas to effectively control ants, roaches, silverfish, earwigs, centipedes and other bugs by puffing it under and behind appliances, into cracks and crevices, in voids between cabinets, and other areas where bugs are seen. A hand held puffer such as the Pest Pistol is a great tool for this application.

Customers keep finding new ways of using Cedar Bug-Free™ Household Bug Spray. Besides being awesome at killing any bug imaginable, Cedar Bug-Free™ Household Bug Spray has proven to be an excellent multi-purpose cleaner.

A customer wrote to us that she sprayed Cedar Bug-Free™ Household Bug Spray on the legs of her gourmet stove to repel bugs. A minute later she noticed that the old grime and grease that she had never been able to clean off her stove was sliding down the legs. She wiped the legs with a paper towel and they came clean as new. If that worked, why not try it on everything else? So she sprayed the stainless steel stove top, front and handle with similar results. It was the best stainless steel cleaner she had found. She went on to clean her stainless steel refrigerator, dishwasher, sink, and every other metal appliance in her kitchen with amazing results.

Another customer tells us that she sprayed Cedar Bug-Free™ Household Bug Spray on the aluminum tracks of her tub enclosure and the water stains were gone without scrubbing. She then sprayed the water and ice dispenser area of her refrigerator and the water stains on the plastic and rubber were gone.

Some of us tried Cedar Bug-Free™ Household Bug Spray on metals and plastics with similar results, but my wife went one step further. She sprayed the sides on our fine leather stuffed arm chair, which our dog uses as a recliner, and all the dog stains came off.

We would like to hear success stories from any of you that find new uses for Cedar Bug-Free™ Household Bug Spray.

Cedar Bug Free™ Laundry Additive does more than kill bed bugs and mites in the wash. Customers keep finding more and more uses for this wonderful product. Here are some other uses:

Kill Bugs as You Mop

Many of our customers have found that adding one ounce of Cedar Bug-Free™ Laundry Additive per gallon of mop water kills bed bugs and mites on their floor. Clean your floors and kill the bugs, all in one easy step!

It's a Dip for Your Dog or Cat

Customers are taking advantage of the anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties of Cedar Oil. They are adding one half ounce to one ounce of Cedar Bug-Free™ Laundry Additive to the rinse water of their pet?s bath to help heal rashes, bites, fungus and other infections. As always, you should check with your veterinarian before using anything on your pet.

General Pest Control

If it kills bud bugs and mites maybe it will also kill ants and roaches. This is what some customers think and they are putting Cedar Bug Free™ Laundry Additive to the test. They mix 4 ounces of Cedar Bug-Free™ Laundry Additive per gallon of water and use it as a general pest control spray for ants, roaches, silverfish, earwigs, fleas, ticks and other household pests. We hear is very effective at killing and repelling bugs.
Note: This solution is not as powerful as our Cedar Bug-Free™ Household Bug Spray but it?s certainly cheaper.

Flea, Tick and Mite Spray

Cedar Bug Free™ Flea and Tick Spray for Dogs and Cats is an excellent product for killing and repelling fleas and ticks. Some pet owners, however, want a less potent product they can use daily on their pets to control mites. Mix ? to 1 ounce of Cedar Bug-Free™ Laundry Additive per quart of water and mist your pet daily or several times a day to kill and repel mites. Customers tell us they use it on themselves as well.

There has been a lot written about bed bugs in the last 10 years. Bed bugs have rapidly become our most influential pest causing great stress and a considerable economic impact on our society. By the 1950s, bed bugs were under control in the US, but with the tremendous increase in international travel, bed bugs are back with a vengeance.

Pest control operators are unable to successfully treat for bed bugs because the available products are no longer very effective against them. In the days when DDT and other such chemicals were widely used, bed bugs were kept at bay in the US and maintained under control as a by-product of regular ant and roach treatments in the home. DDT was very effective at killing all bugs, including bed bugs. Unfortunately, DDT was also very efficient at killing people and animals, and so it was banned in the early 1970s.

Other very toxic chemicals were also effective against bed bugs, but those have been banned as well due to the high risk associated with them. Historically, bed bugs have been excellent at developing resistance to pesticides, which accounts for the ineffectiveness of today?s pesticides against bed bugs. Natural and synthetic pyretrins based insecticides are no longer lethal; they merely act as repellents. In apartment buildings, bed bugs are driven from one unit to the next with the use of these products, only to return when your neighbor takes action. Even with the use of these mild pyrethrins based insecticides, consumers are poisoning themselves by improperly using these products, and over-using them until they become poisonous.

The 4-Step Program introduced on this website has been proven successful at eliminating bed bug infestations. The fact that the products used are Natural and non-toxic is an extra added benefit. Start by reading 4-Step Program and educate yourself on the alternatives to traditional pesticide treatments.

Here is a link to a very informative article on bed bugs and their habits, diets, etc. http://www.ecosmartpestcontrol.com/pest_info/bedbugs.html