Bed Bug Powders

	Diatomaceous Earth	CimeXa	EcoPCO	Evergreen
Active Ingredient(s)	Silicon Dioxide, Elemental Oxides	Amorphous Silica Gel	Phenethyl Propionate, Pyrethrins	Pyrethrin, Amorphous Silica Gel
Lifetime	2 Weeks	10 Years	8 Months	4 Months
Killing Speed	Slow	Medium	Fast	Medium
Relative Cost	$	$$$	$$	$$
Rating	60 / 100	100 / 100	92 / 100	90 / 100
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• Active Ingredients:
  • Silicon Dioxide (85.0%)
  • Elemental Oxides (10.0%)
• Reapply: Every 2 weeks if undisturbed

Diatomaceous earth (DE) is one of the world’s favorite bed bug powders. It is popular because it is cheap, organic, natural, and because it works.

It’s safe to use around pets, your family and doesn’t harm the environment.

DE is a desiccant, meaning that it works by removing the waxy coating that bed bugs rely on to keep moisture inside. They eventually die by dehydration.

Bugs exposed to DE can still lay eggs during those 10 days. Bugs that hatch from those eggs will walk through DE and shouldn’t make it to egg-laying maturity.

This is why it’s important to properly apply DE on a regular schedule.

DE does degrade over time. It is necessary to reapply it at least every 2 weeks until the infestation is over.

You should apply the powder at least one extra time to catch stragglers and late-hatchers.

If you opt to buy your DE at a hardware store, make sure to avoid non-food-grade and non-freshwater products. They are linked to silicosis and lung cancer through frequent exposure.

Since you’ll be living and sleeping around the powder, it is important to properly apply it. Inhaling too much desiccant is unhealthy.
Several powders we review below include a mixture of DE and other pesticides. Those other pesticides help speed up the drying process so that bed bugs die faster.

Many swear by DE, but the professional and scientific community have begun looking elsewhere.

Amorphous Silica (CimeXa) has proven to be much more effective outside of lab settings.

Pest control professionals today will recommend something like CimeXa. We’ll explain why in the next section.

If it’s the best you can get your hands on, don’t hesitate to try DE.

Consider something with Amorphous Silica like CimeXa, Evergreen, or Drione if you can.

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• Active Ingredient: Amorphous Silica Gel (100.0%)
• Reapply: Every 10 years if undisturbed

CimeXa is the most popular manufacturer of amorphous silica as of this moment. Amorphous silica has caused quite a stir in the bed bug and pest control industry as an all-around upgrade to DE.

CimeXa is safer, more consistent, and much longer-lasting when compared to DE.

As a bonus, CimeXa is also effective against ants, roaches, silverfish, and spiders.

It comes in a light fluffy powder form that sticks to bed bugs with the help of a static charge. Instead of acting as an abrasive, Amorphous Silica acts like a sponge and sucks away the waxes off of bugs.

It is easy to apply and can even be sprayed over large areas using a wet and spray applicator.
CimeXa is effective when bed bugs pass through the powder just once – unlike DE.
Considering that bed bugs naturally avoid powders and dust, this is important.

If you do a good job of applying it, you’ve installed a decade-long bed bug barrier for yourself.

It even competes with powders that have chemicals enhancing them.

It’s a great, affordable option that gives you passive protection even after you’ve gotten rid of bed bugs.

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• Active Ingredients:
  • Phenethyl Propionate (1.0%)
  • Pyrethrins (0.4%)
• Reapply: Every 8 months if undisturbed

EcoPCO D-X uses insecticides found in nature to keep its ingredients all-natural.

Pyrethrins are a common ingredient in bed bug sprays and help give this product its punch. Extracted from chrysanthemum flowers, people have used pyrethrins for centuries against bugs.

Phenethyl propionate is another natural and organic insecticide with minimal risk to people. The compound can be found in the oil of peanuts. It does not include the enzyme that triggers peanut allergies.
The two-pronged pyrethrin-phenethyl and propionate approach has made EcoPCO very effective.
Bed bugs exposed to the dust have their nervous systems broken down. It even spreads to other bugs when a coated bed bug goes home to cluster.

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• Active Ingredient:
  • Pyrethrin (1.0%)
  • Amorphous Silica Gel (15.0%)
• Reapply: Every 4 months if undisturbed

Evergreen is 15 parts desiccant to one part insecticide. It makes use of pyrethrins and amorphous silica to get rid of bed bugs. Amorphous silica actually makes pyrethrins more effective in both spray and powder form!

The formula combines quick-killing pyrethrins and the long-lasting and drying amorphous silica.

Rest well knowing that the silica will take care of any pyrethrin resistant bugs.

Click any product name or picture to go to the corresponding review on this page:

	Tempo	Delta Dust	Drione
Active Ingredient(s)	Cyfluthrin	Deltamethrin	Pyrethrin, Piperonyl Butoxide, Amorphous Silica Gel
Lifetime	8 Months	8 Months	6 Months - 10 Years
Killing Speed	Fastest	Medium	Fast
Relative Cost	$$	$$	$$$
Rating	92 / 100	68 / 100	100 / 100
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Synthetic chemical powders kill faster compared to their natural counterparts.

They also last longer when you take CimeXa out of the equation. You get superior killing powder and a good price from these mostly-natural products.

Chemical powders are safe as long as you apply them properly.

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• Active Ingredient: Cyfluthrin (1.0%)
• Reapply: Every 8 months if undisturbed

Tempo Dust uses a chemical called cyfluthrin. It is one of the fastest-acting powders on the consumer market thanks to cyfluthrin.

That potency is probably also why it’s banned for consumer use in four states. You’re out of luck if you live in California, New York, Southern Carolina, or Connecticut. There are plenty of other great options on this page.

As with all powders, a thin layer will do the job. You don’t want to apply too much of it in any single place as bed bugs will walk around piles of dust.

Keep in mind that, as a pyrethroid, some bed bugs might be resistant to Tempo.

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• Active Ingredient: Deltamethrin (0.05%)
• Reapply: Every 8 months if undisturbed

Delta Dust is notable because it is waterproof. This is a crucial feature for some people. It’s one of the hardiest powders and also has a decent killing speed of 7 days.

It lasts 8 months and is easy to apply over a large area using a wet and spray applicator.

Deltamethrin is a synthetic pyrethroid, meaning that some bed bugs may be resistant to it.

Delta Dust is the right choice for those interested in treating the outside of their homes.

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• Active Ingredient:
  • Pyrethrin (1.0%)
  • Piperonyl Butoxide (10.0%)
  • Amorphous Silica Gel (40%)
• Reapply: Every 6 months if undisturbed, years if used for Amorphous Silica

Drione Dust is the chemical bed bug powder to beat.

Bayer manufacturers both Drione and Delta Dust. The difference between the two is significant.

Delta Dust uses pyrethrins, which some bed bugs are resistant to. Drione uses natural pyrethrins harvested from natural sources that change over the seasons.

Chrysanthemum flowers naturally adapt to immunities that wild bugs develop. This means that fewer bed bugs are resistant to insecticides extracted from them.

Drione’s effectiveness goes further with piperonyl butoxide. This is an organic compound that makes the pyrethrins more potent. You can find piperonyl butoxide in a variety of bed bug powders and sprays.

The inclusion of amorphous silica gel serves as the final nail in the bed bug coffin. As a desiccant, it makes bed bugs more vulnerable to pyrethrins. By removing their waxy coatings, pyrethrins have an easier time getting in.

With amorphous silica in the mix, you can apply Drione Dust once and leave it for years. Pyrethrin and Butoxide will lose potency, but the amorphous silica will keep working.

Every ingredient in Drione Dust helps bring a swift and inevitable end to any bed bug it touches.

That’s a mission we can all get behind.

When applied the right way, a single bottle is more than enough for an entire infestation

Even with the best powders in tow, it is still important to have a plan. Professionals do the same and use an assortment of tools.

Your pest control operator will do a great job and apply their preferred powder where it needs to be. You don’t want to get in the way of their plans.

	JT Eaton	Southern Hardware	Punchau
Multiple Tips	No	No	Yes
Material	Plastic	Metal	Thick Rubber
Warranty	No	No	Lifetime
Relative Cost	$	$	$$
Rating	70 / 100	88 / 100	96 / 100
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A bellow creates air pressure that puts dust in the air. Squeezing it propels the airborne dust, pushing it right into cracks and crevices.

Some come with different tips, while others are as simple as a pump connected to a thin tube. Any duster will be compatible with your powder as long as the nozzle isn’t too thin.

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Some reviewers reported that a rubber piece in the duster seems to fall apart first after heavy use. If you want something to use for years, a more expensive duster may be a better choice.

It’s reportedly a little stiff but works well as long as you fill it about 1/3 full and shake frequently.

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While this duster is about the same price as JT Eaton’s, many prefer it because of its metal construction.

According to reviewers, this model has the same issue as JT Eaton’s with a rubber part degrading first. Engineering rubber that can survive drying substances like DE and CimeXa is tought.

Either duster will do the job. This model is a little easier to compress, usable upside down, and is more durable to boot.

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You get what you pay for. The Punchau is about twice the price of the other two dusters. It is worth the price as it delivers better results for longer.

Made of thick high-quality rubber, this duster gives you more control and durability.

It includes several tips so you have the right tool to reach into any crack or crevice you encounter.

Products that work with wet will include instructions on the manufacturer’s packaging. Follow instructions closely for best results with a sprayer.

	Chapin 1002	SureSpray 1-Gallon	Smith Professional
Capacity	48-ounce	2-gallon	2-gallon
Nozzels	One	One	Five
Wand	None	12-inch	21-inch
Relative Cost	$	$$	$$$
Rating	80 / 100	90 / 100	96 / 100
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Notably, DE and CimeXa can be applied wet.

It is not a good idea to spray an entire room at random. Exposure to even organic powders like DE can irritate the skin and have side-effects.

As always, follow manufacturer instructions to protect yourself.

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Small and handheld, if you plan on treating single rooms, this sprayer will do the trick.

Chapin is a popular producer of sprayers. You can find them in most hardware store garden sections. They also work for our buggy purposes.

Featuring an anti-clog feature, this sprayer is an especially good fit for powders.

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SureSpray offers a great 1-gallon entry-level model. It holds about 3 times as much as the 48oz Chapin. It can treat an entire room without the need to refill with ease.

The wand attachment gets in nooks and crannies with ease. It also comes with an anti-clog feature perfect for applying powders.

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Sprayers are often cheap but come with the quality to match. The Smith Pro model 2-gallon sprayer is not the cheapest sprayer.

It costs more because of its efficient pressure building system requiring fewer pumps. It also features high-quality gasket seals and 5 assorted nozzle attachments. The Smith offers a lot that cheaper models don’t.

The nozzle attachments particularly are useful for getting into those important nooks and crannies along the edge of carpeting.

Built to last, this sprayer is the only one you’ll need.

By covering your brush in your chosen powder, you can apply it by brushing target areas. A brush stops you from applying too much, which is rule number one of powder application.

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A fine brush is better for the job. They leave fewer clumps than regular heavy bristle brushes. We recommend the above soft tip brush because of its size, quality, and price.

Be sure to keep amounts almost invisible for the best results.

Applying powder in the right spots once can give you bed bug killing results for weeks or years to come.

Bed bug powders work for two simple reasons. Bed bugs must feed on your blood and bed bugs cannot fly. We take advantage of these simple facts with both powders and bed bug interceptors.

If you make it impossible to get to your bed without going through powders, bed bugs will get rid of themselves. By targeting the above areas, they will have no choice.

Concentrating on difficult-to-reach spots should be a priority.

Even natural and organic powders are dangerous when inhaled in excess amounts. If you’ll be applying dust indoors, it’s also a good idea to wear eye protection.

Powders are very fine. Dealing with fine powders calls for a respirator or dust mask rated for pesticides.

Simple dust masks can do the job at small scales, but they are only rated for non-toxic products.

Take a look at the chemical and pesticide protection page for our mask, glove, and goggle recommendations.