I used diatomaceous earth in my studio apartment, primarily on the carpet, and I still see some leftover under furniture, especially in spots where I applied more than just a light dusting. I rented a DeWalt Stealthsonic shop vac to clean it up, wiped all surfaces and the carpet with a wet cloth, and vacuumed with my upright vacuum which has a HEPA filter. Plus, I have a cleaning company coming in that uses HEPA vacuums, and I also run an air purifier. Am I doing enough to ensure I've cleaned it all up?
3 Answers
Honestly, you're probably overdoing it. Even if you miss a few particles, you’ll be okay. Just make sure not to breathe it in while you’re cleaning. But as far as safety goes, you should be just fine!
It sounds like you're being really thorough! Just so you know, diatomaceous earth (DE) isn't toxic, especially if it's food-grade. Some people even consume it. But for cleaning, as long as you vacuum thoroughly and do a wet wipe down, you should be fine. It's not harmful to have a little left behind, but you're definitely on the right track!
I often use DE for pest control in my home too. It's great for prevention! If yours is food-grade, you don’t need to worry about it at all. Just clean up as much as you can and go ahead and replace with food-grade DE since it’s safer for you and pets.
Yeah, for sure! Since it’s food-grade, I wouldn’t stress too much. But if you have kids or pets, it’s great that you’re being cautious.