This everyday kitchen staple can help eliminate unwanted flying guests from your house.
Goodbye to flies at home: How to scare them away with an ingredient available in every kitchen
All across the year, flies come into our homes and make a nuisance of themselves and seem hellbent on landing on our food, whooshing around our heads and landing on the TV.
However, one common item from your home can work wonders in keeping them at bay - and you probably won’t even need to leave the house to go find it.
It turns out that bay leaves, a ubiquitous ingredient in a lot of homemade recipes, are a sure-fire natural way to keep insects away.
Used for centuries across different cultures, their effectiveness comes from essential oils like cineole and eugenol. When released into the air, these compounds produce a strong scent that’s pleasant to people but highly off-putting to insects, forcing them to maintain their distance from our dinner.
Flies depend largely on their sense of smell to navigate, and therefore tend to steer clear of areas where bay leaves are present. As a result, ants, flies, and other insects are repelled from spaces where bay leaves have been placed.
Besides being effective, bay leaves offer a practical, non-intrusive solution and are an increasingly popular alternative to chemical repellant such as chemical sprays.
The way to use bay leaves is simple: just place bay leaves in key spots around your home—behind doors, near windows, or in pantry corners. If ants are following a specific trail, laying a line of bay leaves along their path can help block their progress.
For cockroaches, try placing bay leaves inside cupboards and in darker, hidden areas like corners. To boost the scent’s effectiveness, you can gently crush the dried leaves or boil a few in water, then use the infused liquid as a spray for hard-to-reach spots. The stronger the aroma, the more effective it is at keeping insects away.
Not only do bay leaves work as an insect repellant, but they also give your home a fresh aroma thanks to their ability to mask smells and therefore avoid the use of artificial air fresheners which can be harmful.
However, using bay leaves is not a substitute for cleanliness and hygiene. It shouldn’t take me to tell you this but correct food storage and regular cleaning habits remain the simple and most effective way to keep the critters out of your house.
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
Complete your personal details to comment
Your opinion will be published with first and last names