This bay leaf trick could keep your pantry and closet pest-free |

Bay leaves are not merely a household spice; they act as small home protection assistants, too. In addition to being part of the soup or stew mixture to be simmered later, you can always use them to line drawers, cupboards, or pantries. Dried bay leaves are known to give a pleasant scent when combined with the presence of other home guards like eucalyptol and cineole. This pleasant smell is not for our enjoyment alone; other insects actually find the smell unpleasant. Therefore, they can be used as home guards to shield us against common pantry insects such as moths, cockroaches, and ants that might feast on fabric or dried foods inside the home. Moreover, they can be used together with clothes without the fear of poisoning that comes with using other home guards like moth sprays or moth balls that are unsafe near clothes and food.

Is bay leaf a natural pest repellent

Bay leaves also serve as a pest deterrent due to their strong scent. Bay leaves contain essential oils such as cineole, which have a scent that confounds or irritates pests. When placed inside cabinets or shelves, the scent keeps the pests away. Pantry moths, cockroaches, ants, or any form of pests that commonly infest flour, grains, or any other dried food will stay away once bay leaves are added. Bay leaves can therefore be a simple alternative for eliminating pests without using chemicals, especially if you have children or pets around.

Do bay leaves help keep clothes fresh and protected

Bay leaves have many more domestic applications besides cooking; they also serve as a cloth protector, for instance. Putting dried bay leaves in storage units or cabinets can help keep away cloth-consuming insects such as cloth moths and silverfish. Such insects prefer natural fibres like wool, cotton, or linen, but the pungent smell of bay leaves makes the desirable space less appealing. Bay leaves can also prevent storage areas from stinking, hence reducing the dependence on artificial air fresheners or mothballs.

Simple ways you can keep bay leaves in your drawers and cupboards

For optimal use of bay leaves at home, it is important to keep certain points in mind. Whole, dried bay leaves should be preferred over bay leaf powder because these dried leaves conserve essential oils longer and emit their aroma more slowly. They should be placed carefully, with three to five bay leaves in every drawer and every shelf of the cabinet.The aroma of the bay leaves will reduce with time, and it is necessary to replace them every two to three months, depending on the concentration of the aroma. These methods of storing the bay leaves can be combined with optimal cupboard and drawer cleaning.

Use of bay leaves other than pest control

Bay leaves are more than just cooking pot herbals. Crushed and mixed with baking soda, they can be used as a natural deodoriser. They can be stuffed in cloth sachets, which will help absorb and reduce smells in closets or refrigerators.They can also be used in homemade cleaning mixtures, where their mild scent comes in handy. It helps freshen rooms and surfaces while cleaning. Bay leaves are quite simple and very useful.