Are you fed up with the unwanted insects invading your home? Are you looking for an effective solution to keep them away for good? Good news: bay leaves could well be the answer to your worries!
Preparing your home for summer
To avoid insect invasions, our first reflex is often to use insecticide sprays. Practical, certainly, but at what cost? These aerosols leave a persistent chemical smell throughout the house.
Faced with these inconveniences, some people turn to insect traps. Electric or adhesive, they can also be effective. But they are not always aesthetically pleasing and may require regular maintenance, a chore we could do without.
Others invest in mosquito nets, which must be carefully installed over every opening – a laborious task that does not always guarantee success, especially if a corner remains loose.
Then there is the option of natural repellents, such as lemongrass or lavender essential oils. More environmentally friendly, certainly, but their effect literally evaporates in a few hours.
This is where bay leaves come in. Its leaves, which we use in cooking, have repellent properties against insects. All it takes is a few leaves, placed where needed, to make a difference.
The trick with bay leaves: how do you go about it?
Take one or two bay leaves – the ones you find in your grocery store or even in your garden if you have a laurel tree – and place them strategically behind your front door, where the air circulates the most. You can wedge them in a corner or discreetly fix them with a small piece of tape.
Window sills are also key places, especially if you like to leave your windows open in summer. Place one or two leaves on the frame, or better yet, in a small cloth bag to prevent them from flying away.
In the kitchen, where insects are often attracted to food, place a few leaves near the cupboards or under the sink.
Thanks to the eucalyptol and linalool it contains, bay leaves give off a scent that naturally repels many insects. Especially flies, cockroaches and mosquitoes.
So it’s not compulsory, but if you want to maximize the effect, slightly crumple the leaves before placing them. This releases their essential oils and intensifies their scent.
To maintain their effectiveness, replace the bay leaves every two to three weeks, when they start to lose their scent.
However, it is important to remember that…
For this tip with bay leaves to work, it all starts with a clean house. Insects love crumbs, food scraps or sticky surfaces.
Thorough cleaning of work surfaces, floors and trash cans is essential. Next, remember to check the entry points: a damaged mosquito net or a crack near a window can ruin everything.
Once these basics are in place, all you need is a few bay leaves, placed where necessary, to rid your home of unwanted insects. Simple, economical, and terribly effective.
