A Safer Alternative to Toxic Pesticides: My Honest Review of Eco Absolute

I used to think that getting rid of unwanted insects in my home meant using toxic pesticides that could harm people and pets too. I'd have to work in a gas mask and then evacuate the house for a day or two to avoid poisoning myself along with the pests.

Thankfully, people have come up with completely safe and non-toxic insecticides that are perfect for humans and their furry friends.

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PAST EXPERIENCE

I've already shared the story of how we first thought we had basement mosquitoes, then an allergy, and finally found out we had bed bugs in my review of Hector powder. I won't repeat it all here, but basically, we thought it was a minor issue until I found bloodstains on our bed sheets.

Bed bug stains on our bed sheetsVery similar to pen ink or a black gel pen, these are the bed bug feces.

Bed bug stains on our bed sheetsOur first treatment was with Acrin Super insecticide,

Acrin Superfollowed by Hector, which I sprayed after consulting with the Klop-Stop team.

Hector Bug PowderI was surprised to find out that using an insecticide killed only a small fraction of the problem...

For a full rundown of the first few days of battling these critters and the process of getting rid of them completely, check out my review of Hector. This stuff really works.

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The mechanism of action of powder-based products (like Hector and Eco Absolute) differs from chemical pesticides. They work mechanically, not chemically, and don't cause resistance. And the best part is, you don't have to leave the treated area: the powder is safe, and the bugs (not just bed bugs) will eventually die from dehydration if you let them wander around on it.

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Here's an example of a dead bed bug at the end of its life, having wandered around on Hector:

Bed bug tracks on Hector powderWhat was going on under the bed is visible in the photo below. This is what bed bug tracks look like on Hector!

Bed bug tracks on Hector powderSo, when I ran out of my third bottle of Hector, I decided to try and save some cash and bought Eco Absolute bug powder instead.

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ECO ABSOLUTE Powder Dry Concentrate Against Cockroaches

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Cockroach Powder ECO AbsoluteI was blown away by how much cheaper it was - 350 rubles for ECO Absolute compared to 570 rubles for Hector. Plus, the bottle of the new product was twice as heavy. You can buy the product in specialized stores in the city or order it on WB or Ozon.

General Characteristics: Insecticidal Powder

Cockroach Powder ECO AbsoluteECO ABSOLUTE - Area of Application

For the destruction of cockroaches, ants, fleas, bed bugs, ticks, scorpions, spiders, mosquitoes, two-winged flies, and other crawling insects in indoor and outdoor areas.

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ECO ABSOLUTE Composition:

Diatomite 95%Pyrethrum 5ECO ABSOLUTE Powder consists of 2 natural components:

diatomite - a powder of fossilized shells of ancient mollusks, processed using a special technology to give it the property of absorbing moisturefinely ground flowers of dolmatian chamomile (pyrethrum) - a highly effective plant insecticidePrinciple of Action of ECO ABSOLUTE Powder:

The active ingredients in this powder really pack a punch when it comes to killing insects. When it comes into contact with an insect, the diatomite causes damage to its exoskeleton and, thanks to its hydrophilic properties, gradually dehydrates it. The pyrethrum, on the other hand, has a nerve-paralytic effect, and when it comes into contact with the diatomite-damaged exoskeleton, it speeds up the diatomite's effect, ultimately leading to paralysis and death of the insect within 1-2 hours, depending on the amount of powder that comes into contact with it. The pyrethrum's effect is what allows for the rapid death of a large portion of the insect population within a few days of application, while the diatomite remains intact and continues to provide its protective effects for up to 3 years.

This powder is ready to use, has no smell, and is safe for people, animals, and plants.

It's not just for killing insects - Eco Absolute powder can also be used to combat mold and high humidity in cellars, warehouses, greenhouses, and as a fertilizer for indoor and outdoor plants.

Eco Absolute Powder for Killing CockroachesHow to Use

Simply sprinkle the powder over areas where insects are present, breeding, or moving, using 5 grams of powder per 1 square meter.

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IMPORTANT NOTES / TIPS

Make sure to apply the powder to DRY surfaces.xa0

After it gets wet, the powder loses its effectiveness. Hector claims it's irreversible, while Eco Absolut says it's temporary, and the properties are restored once it dries!

Make sure to treat the areas where bed bugs (or other pests) love to hide. Check the label (there's a guide) and I also recommend checking out the Geradez YouTube channel. Those guys from the pest control service share tons of real-life videos, experiments, and tips on how to deal with infestations.

It's essential to treat the sleeping areas (the beds and the floor underneath) and nearby furniture.

Be patient, bed bugs won't disappear overnight. If you want to get rid of them safely, be prepared for a few weeks of battling. This is due to the life cycle of the pests – new bugs will emerge from eggs over time.

If you're considering radical measures (strong chemicals), I'd recommend calling in the pros. However, before you do that (even if you're doing it yourself), make sure to thoroughly prepare your home. Geradez has a great video on prep work.

Learn as much as you can about the problem you're facing (bed bug behavior, feeding habits, reproduction). This will help you understand what works best and how to tackle the issue in your specific situation (type of dwelling, occupants, clutter, etc.).

My Experience Using It

I have to admit, after reading the previous review, I was initially excited to try out Hector's powder for bed bugs. As I mentioned, I applied the powder to my couch after every change of sheets, sprinkling a new dose on the upholstery, along the edges of the sheets, and under the bed. When I realized I'd need to buy more bottles (since I'd only bought three initially), I wanted to save some money and that's when I decided to give Eco Absolute a shot.

But when I started applying Eco Absolute to my couch, I was taken aback – it was a dark brown color!

Eco Absolute Powder for Bed BugsOn my light gray upholstery, it really stood out and looked terrible. I was worried that I'd be left with stubborn stains, so I decided not to use it on my bed and instead bought another bottle of Hector's powder.

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So, for me, the first major con of using Eco Absolute was that it wasn't a white powder! Later on, I realized that this could actually be a plus in certain situations, but that's a story for another time. For now, I had to use a different product to treat my bed.Aside from the bed, I needed to sprinkle the powder or apply it in other areas – closets, along baseboards, under the bed, and behind closets. It was here that Eco Absolute showed another con in terms of usage. Over time, I started to see this as a minor issue, but initially, it was just frustrating and annoying:

I was really disappointed with the Eco Absolute's design for dispensing the powder. It doesn't spray, it just spills out of the nozzle in clumps. You end up having to redistribute those clumps by hand or with a piece of paper. The powder doesn't come out evenly, and after a few seconds, it just stops coming out altogether. You have to keep shaking the bottle and banging it to get any more out. Getting a smooth line of powder out of Eco Absolute is a real challenge! Let alone trying to fill up a large area with it, like under a bed or couch.I tried pouring some of the powder into an empty Hector bottle to see if that would make a difference (I thought maybe the design of the nozzle would be better), but it didn't work. The powder just clogged the nozzle.When I got frustrated and decided to just pour the powder out of the bottle without the lid, I ended up with a big mess. Eventually, I got the hang of it and was able to pour the powder out of the bottle without the lid for one of the shelves. For the other shelves, I used a modified Hector bottle - I cut the nozzle down low, which made a bigger hole. I had to shake the bottle pretty vigorously to get the powder out. I could have done the same thing with the Eco Absolute bottle, but I had a bunch of empty Hector bottles lying around, so I experimented with those instead. I poured the powder out of the bottle from a ladder to make it easier to get to the shelves.So, my first impression of Eco Absolute was not great from a usability standpoint. To be honest, it really put me off!

I didn't get to see how Eco Absolute affects cockroaches firsthand, since Hector was the one who handled all the direct encounters with the blood-suckers, and I couldn't use Eco Absolute in those areas.

And honestly, if I'd bought Eco Absolute first, I would've been thoroughly disappointed with powder-based cockroach killers.

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But that was my first introduction to Eco Absolute, and I did find one plus point:

Eco Absolute generates much less dust when applying it.And then more positive aspects came to light:

I realized that the brown color isn't a bad thing - when you sprinkle the powder along the baseboards around the room, it blends in less than the white Hector. It doesn't match the floor, of course, but it doesn't stand out either. And it generates less dust when the air moves. Since the kids are always running around the apartment like helicopters, this property of Eco Absolute is a big plus.

Eco Absolute (brown) and Hector (white) on the floorApplying Eco Absolute from a step stool behind the wardrobes is less convenient than spraying Hector, but it's also much less dusty. I even managed to use it without a respirator.xa0

As a result, I was also able to use Eco Absolute. I applied it where the brown color was suitable, where I didn't need to cover large areas, and where I didn't want to waste Hector - behind the wardrobes, along the edges of the wardrobe shelves, in the dresser, along the baseboards, and inside some beds.

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Eco Absolute and ants

I did manage to test whether the powder kills insects.

I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical about Eco Absolute's effectiveness, especially since it was lying around the house in various spots. I couldn't tell if it was doing anything to the bed bugs or if Hector was the one doing all the work. I hardly ever found any trails of Eco Absolute, except for the occasional faint line that looked like a bug had crawled through.

But then I discovered that it wasn't even a bed bug trail - it was a skin beetle track! And guess what? Those skin beetles disappeared along with the bed bugs. We didn't even bother trying to get rid of them, they weren't really bothering us, but they went down fighting alongside the bloodsuckers.

So when the bed bugs finally left us (good riddance!), there was still some Eco Absolute left over. We took it with us to the dacha, where my mom is battling a group of ants that are trying to take over the greenhouse. You don't want to use harsh chemicals near your veggies and herbs, so Eco Absolute is a safer bet.

My mom sprinkled the powder where the ants were marching, and they went absolutely crazy (kind of like the bed bugs after they encountered Hector!). The next day, the ant trail was completely empty.

To put Eco Absolute's effectiveness to the test, I decided to conduct a little experiment. I caught a few ants and put them in a jar with some of the powder, while keeping a few others in a separate jar without any powder. The ants in the jar with the powder started running around like they'd been scalded at first, then they just kind of flopped around and stopped moving after about 15-20 minutes. By that time, they were all covered in powder.

The next morning, the ants had turned into dry little crumbles.

I'm glad to report that the ants in the other bottle were still alive, which means it's unlikely that the first ones died from suffocation. So, the product really works, and the insect stays alive for a few hours after coming into contact with Eco Absolute. Since a bed bug is also an insect, I'm confident that both products helped eliminate them in our apartment.

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THE VERDICT

The product is not only effective but also safe for humans and pets.xa0

Its application isn't limited to bed bugs - Eco Absolute can be used to kill any crawling insect, as long as you create the right conditions for it to come into contact with the powder.xa0

One notable downside is the awkward dispenser, which makes it difficult to apply the powder evenly over large areas, like under the bed.xa0

It would be great if the manufacturer included a note on the bottle about the powder's light brown color. I'm sure that would be an important detail for many people.xa0

I'm giving it 4 out of 5 stars for the inconvenience of applying the product and the difficulty of distributing it evenly over large areas.

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If you're interested in learning more about Hector, you can read my review HERE