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Old Cobblers Farm™ Wicked Repellent DE Repel

Product Overview

Description

Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a mechanical insecticide made from the fossilized remains of microscopic aquatic organisms called diatoms. Under magnification, DE particles have razor-sharp edges that damage the waxy outer layer (cuticle) of insect exoskeletons. This cuticle normally prevents water loss — once compromised, insects rapidly dehydrate and die within 24-72 hours of contact. DE works through physical abrasion, NOT chemical toxicity, which means insects cannot develop resistance to it the way they do with chemical pesticides. The product must make direct contact with the pest to work; it has no vapor action or residual chemical activity. DE continues working as long as it remains dry and undisturbed — moisture causes particles to clump and lose their abrasive effectiveness. Food-grade DE is safe for use around humans and animals because mammalian skin is not affected by the particle size, but it's lethal to any creature with an exoskeleton that crawls through it.

What Does It Target ?

CRAWLING INSECTS: Ants (all species including fire ants, carpenter ants, pavement ants) | Fleas (all life stages that contact DE) | Bed bugs | Cockroaches (German, American, Oriental) | Earwigs | Silverfish | Firebrats | Crickets | Centipedes | Millipedes | Sowbugs/pillbugs | GARDEN PESTS: Aphids (when dusted directly) | Slugs and snails (creates barrier) | Squash bugs | Japanese beetles | Cucumber beetles | Tomato hornworms | Cabbage loopers | Flea beetles | Thrips | Spider mites (with direct contact) | STORED PRODUCT PESTS: Grain weevils | Flour beetles | Meal moths | Rice weevils | POULTRY PESTS: Mites (northern fowl mite, red mite) | Lice | Fleas | Darkling beetles (lesser mealworm) | LIVESTOCK PESTS: Horn flies | Face flies | Stable flies (in bedding) | Lice | Mites

How to Apply

DUST APPLICATION (MOST COMMON): Use a hand duster, bulb duster, or squeeze bottle applicator to puff light coating onto surfaces. The goal is a fine, visible layer — not heavy piles. Apply in cracks, crevices, along baseboards, under appliances, in wall voids. | SHAKER CAN APPLICATION: For larger surface areas, use a shaker container with holes in lid. Apply thin, even coating. Works well for garden beds, around foundations, in coops. | BROADCAST FOR LARGE AREAS: For gardens, coops, and yards, sprinkle by hand or use a flour sifter to distribute evenly across soil surface or bedding. | WET APPLICATION METHOD: Mix 4 tablespoons DE per gallon of water, shake well, spray onto surfaces. DE reactivates as water evaporates, leaving protective coating. Useful for vertical surfaces and foliage where dry dust won't stick. Reapply after rain. | POULTRY DUST BATH: Mix 1 part DE to 4 parts sand or dry dirt in a shallow container. Chickens will self-treat through natural dust bathing behavior. | DIRECT DUSTING ON ANIMALS: For livestock and poultry, wear a dust mask and apply directly to feathers/fur, working into skin. Avoid eyes, nostrils, and mouth. | PERIMETER APPLICATION: Create 2-4 inch wide barrier bands around foundations, doorways, windows, and entry points.

GENERAL RATE: 1 pound covers approximately 500-1,000 square feet as a light barrier | For heavier pest pressure, 1 lb per 200-500 sq ft | INDOOR APPLICATION: Light dusting visible to eye — if you can clearly see thick white powder, you've applied too much. Insects avoid heavy piles. Target rate: approximately 1 oz per 10 linear feet of crack/crevice | GARDEN APPLICATION: 1 lb per 100 sq ft broadcast, or 1 cup per 10 row feet around plants | POULTRY COOP: 1-2 cups per 4x8 ft floor area, reapply weekly or after cleaning | 2-4 cups mixed into each nesting box | 1 lb per 10 sq ft of deep litter bedding | DUST BATH: 2-4 cups DE per dust bath station | LIVESTOCK BEDDING: 2-5 lbs per 100 sq ft of stall area | PET BEDDING/CARPET: 1 lb per 200 sq ft, work in with broom, let sit 24-48 hours, vacuum | PERIMETER BARRIERS: 2-4 oz per linear foot for 2-4 inch wide band | BAG ESTIMATES: 1 lb bag = 500-1,000 sq ft light coverage | 5 lb bag = home interior + perimeter | 10 lb bag = property perimeter + coop + garden

DRY CONDITIONS REQUIRED: Apply only when surfaces are completely dry and no rain is expected for 24-48 hours minimum. Morning application after dew has evaporated is ideal. | PEST ACTIVITY TIMING: Apply when target pests are active. For most crawling insects: spring through fall. For indoor pests: year-round. For fleas: late spring through early fall peak season, but can apply any time. | SEASONAL APPLICATIONS: SPRING: Perimeter barriers as insects become active, garden prep before planting, coop deep-clean treatment | SUMMER: Peak insect season — maintain barriers, reapply after rain, treat active infestations | FALL: Barrier treatment before pests seek indoor shelter, coop treatment before winter confinement | WINTER: Indoor applications only — focus on basements, attics, storage areas where pests overwinter | PREVENTIVE VS REACTIVE: For prevention, apply before pest season begins. For active infestations, apply immediately to dry areas and reapply every 3-7 days until controlled. | POULTRY TIMING: Best applied during weekly coop cleanings. Add to fresh bedding. Treat birds during routine handling. Increase frequency during warm/humid months when mites peak. | AVOID: Do not apply to wet surfaces, during rain, in high humidity (>80%), or to surfaces that will get wet within 24 hours.

INDOOR DRY AREAS: Remains effective indefinitely as long as it stays dry and undisturbed. In protected areas (wall voids, behind appliances, inside cabinets), single application can last 6-12+ months. | INDOOR HIGH-TRAFFIC AREAS: Reapply monthly or when visibly depleted. Vacuum first, then reapply fresh DE. | OUTDOOR — DRY CLIMATE: Reapply every 2-4 weeks or after any rain/irrigation. Desert climates may extend to 6-8 weeks. | OUTDOOR — HUMID/WET CLIMATE: Reapply after every rain, heavy dew, or irrigation event. In humid regions, may need weekly application during pest season. | GARDEN: Reapply every 1-2 weeks during growing season, and after any watering or rainfall. | POULTRY COOP: Weekly light application during regular cleaning. Full treatment monthly or after deep cleaning. Dust baths: refresh every 2 weeks or when depleted. | LIVESTOCK AREAS: Reapply to bedding with each stall cleaning or weekly minimum. | ACTIVE INFESTATIONS: Reapply every 3-5 days until pest activity stops, then shift to maintenance schedule. | PERIMETER BARRIERS: After rain: reapply immediately | Dry conditions: every 2-4 weeks | High pest pressure: weekly | RULE OF THUMB: When you can no longer see the fine white dust coating, it's time to reapply.

Application of Product

Where To Apply

INDOOR — LIVING SPACES: Baseboards, behind appliances, under sinks, cabinet cracks, door/window frames, attics, basements, crawl spaces, closets, utility rooms. Safe for use in kitchens and food prep areas (food-grade DE). | INDOOR — PET AREAS: Pet bedding, kennels, crates, carpet (vacuum after 24-48 hours), pet sleeping areas. | POULTRY: Coops (floors, walls, cracks, roosts), nesting boxes, dust bath areas, run areas (dry), directly on birds for mites/lice. | LIVESTOCK: Stalls, barns, bedding, feed storage areas, directly on animals (cattle, goats, horses, sheep, pigs), around troughs and feeders. | GARDENS: Soil surface around plants, raised beds, pathways, cold frames, greenhouses (dry areas), around foundations of garden structures. | PERIMETER/EXTERIOR: Foundation walls, doorway thresholds, window wells, garage floors, storage sheds, wood piles, under decks (dry areas), patio edges, fence lines. | FOOD STORAGE: Pantries, grain bins, feed storage, flour/grain containers (food-grade DE mixed directly into stored products). | VEHICLES/EQUIPMENT: RVs, campers, stored vehicles, tractor cabs, equipment cabs — anywhere dry where pests shelter.

Where Not To Apply

WET SURFACES — CRITICAL: Never apply to wet surfaces, standing water, damp areas, or locations that will get wet within 24 hours. Moisture renders DE completely ineffective. | WINDY CONDITIONS: DE is a fine powder that will drift in wind. Avoid application when wind exceeds 5-10 mph. Creates respiratory irritation if inhaled. | NEAR WATERWAYS: Do not apply directly to ponds, streams, water features, or areas that drain directly to water. DE can harm aquatic invertebrates (crawfish, freshwater shrimp, aquatic insects). | FLOWERING PLANTS DURING BLOOM: Avoid dusting flowers when pollinators are active — DE can harm bees and beneficial insects if they contact it. Apply to soil surface only, not foliage with flowers. | NEAR BEEHIVES: Keep applications 50+ feet from active beehives. | HIGH HUMIDITY AREAS: Effectiveness greatly reduced in consistently humid environments (>80% humidity). In humid climates, focus on protected areas. | HVAC SYSTEMS/AIR INTAKES: Do not apply near air returns or HVAC intakes — powder can be distributed through ventilation and cause respiratory irritation. | AREAS FREQUENTED BY CHILDREN: While non-toxic, avoid application in areas where small children play on the ground to prevent incidental inhalation. Apply when children are away, allow to settle for several hours. | SENSITIVE RESPIRATORY ENVIRONMENTS: People with asthma or respiratory conditions should avoid breathing DE dust — always wear dust mask during application. | ELECTRIC/ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT: Fine dust can damage electronics, outlets, and sensitive equipment. Avoid application near these items.