Bay leaf against domestic insects and pests in the summer cottage

Cockroaches lived alongside people long before the chemical industry became part of our reality. Then they fought with what nature provided.

Today we call this folk remedies , and we understand perfectly well that they will not save you from cockroaches the way that dichlorvos will do for a short time. Nevertheless, interest in folk remedies does not subside. Bay leaf is one of these, cheap and available.

In this article we will tell you whether bay leaves actually work against cockroaches, as well as in what cases and how they should be used.

What is bay leaf

Bay leaf (Folium lauri) is a leaf of the bay laurel (Laurus nobilis), an evergreen subtropical shrub native to regions with a coastal climate. In the CIS, it grows in the Krasnodar Territory and Transcaucasia.

In everyday life, the leaf is often used as a spice for culinary purposes, less often as a means of traditional medicine. Laurel leaves and twigs have long been a symbol of victory. Despite the fact that in the context of fighting insects they are far from a symbol of victory over cockroaches, we will still look at its advantages.

Chemical composition of bay leaves

Bay oil, tannins, resins - all this gives the leaves a typical aromatic smell and spicy bitterness. The content of essential oil reaches its maximum in the leaves - 3.0 - 5.5%.

The composition of the essential oil of laurel nobilis includes: pinene , cineole , myrcene, limonene, camphor , linalool, various organic acids and other components.
Fatty oil consists of glycerols, lauric and palmitic acids.

Characteristics and composition of laurel

Laurel is an evergreen tree that grows in the subtropics and tropics. It is especially common in Mediterranean countries. Laurel flowers are small, white, collected in umbrella inflorescences. The main value is its leaves. They are dense, have an elongated shape, and are dark green in color.

The god of love Eros was angry with Apollo and decided to punish him for his arrogance. He shot an arrow at him that evoked love, and at the nymph Daphne an arrow that evoked disgust. Apollo suffered from love for Daphne and pursued her everywhere. Daphne asked the gods for protection, and Zeus turned her into a laurel tree. Apollo made the laurel evergreen. Since then, the Greeks have revered this tree as sacred.

Laurel wreaths are still a symbol of victory. The word laureate, which refers to the winners of competitions or competitions, is translated as “crowned with laurels.”

Bay leaves contain vitamins and microelements:

• ascorbic acid;
• vitamin A;
• B vitamins;
• fatty acid;
• iron;
• potassium;
• magnesium;
• sodium;
• manganese;
• zinc.

100 grams of product contain 48 grams of carbohydrates, 8 grams of proteins, 7 grams of fat. Calorie content of 100 grams of spice is 313 kcal. The seasoning contains an essential oil - cineole. It has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effects.

In nature, there are several plants similar to laurel and also used in cooking:

1. Malabar cinnamon, Indian bay leaf, tey pat. This tree grows in the southern Himalayas. Its leaves smell like cinnamon and cloves. The seasoning is popular in North India.
2. Salam, Indonesian bay leaf. Grows in Indonesia, Malaysia. It has small leaves with a sour taste.
3. West Indian bay leaf. These are actually allspice leaves, popular in the Caribbean.
4. Boldo is a Chilean spice. It has a bitter taste and rich aroma.

Real bay leaves have a spicy, slightly sweet aroma. The taste is woody, with tart resinous notes. Previously, the aromatic plant was added to water for washing hands. It has been used as a seasoning since the Middle Ages. Now the main suppliers of spices are Greece and Türkiye. In Russia, laurel grows in the south.

To watch a program about the secrets of spices:

Why are cockroaches afraid of bay leaves and how effective is it against them?

To understand the degree of effectiveness of a particular product, you need to understand in detail its mechanism of action.
Cockroaches are afraid of cineole , which is what affects their respiratory system. Other substances, such as camphor and pinene, can be lethal to Prussians, but only in certain dosages. As you can guess, the amount contained in a bay leaf is clearly not enough to kill the insect.

With such a diverse composition, “laurel” (as these leaves are simply called) can deter cockroaches to a certain extent, repelling them.

Bay leaves do not kill cockroaches, but they do produce an odor that cockroaches least like and even find repulsive. This may force them to seek permanent shelter elsewhere.

Bay leaf generally acts as a repellent , and, it is worth noting, a very reliable repellent.

However, reducing the number of cockroaches with its help is possible only at the initial stages of settlement, and even then is not guaranteed. A bay leaf will work provided that its scent is able to overcome the pheromones that other cockroaches use to mark their territory.

Please note that if there are too many red spots and marks on the wallpaper and kitchen furniture, then it is too late to get the bay leaf, and you need to seriously think about the chemical method of control.

Is it worth using bay leaves for cockroaches?

Arguments for"

• Due to its natural origin and relatively low (for humans and animals) percentage of essential oils and tannins, there are no contraindications for use
• Easy to use
• Very cheap
• Does not cause resistance
• No too strong unpleasant odor

Arguments against"

• Cannot be used if you have allergies
• Useless when the room is massively populated by cockroaches
• Short-term effect
• Doesn't kill, just scares away
• Requires repeated use, and the effect occurs only after a few days/weeks

If you still decide to arm yourself with a bay leaf in the fight against cockroaches (like our ancestors), we recommend that you approach the choice of leaves consciously and consider the most effective ways to use them.

Which bay leaf has the best effect on cockroaches?

As we know from life practice, fresh leaves and fruits have a more persistent aroma. Same with bay leaf. When choosing, you should give preference to fresh leaves - they have a more bitter aroma and are saturated with essential oils and other chemical compounds by an order of magnitude.

The bay leaf will be effective if it is: dark green in color, stored in a hermetically sealed container or package, and its harvest period ranges up to 1 year (optimally 2-3 months).

If you have an ongoing problem with cockroaches, it is best to grow bay laurel (Laurus nobilis) indoors. This is quite possible by placing pots with this plant on your windowsill.

Preparing the premises

Here's what you need to do:

• eliminate cracks in the walls, caulk through holes.
• Use fine grates or mesh to cover all ventilation shafts.
• Check the plumbing for leaks, and if any are found, replace unsuitable equipment.
• Get rid of expired and unused products.
• Pack dry food in airtight containers with a tight lid.
• Wipe cabinets inside and out, clean equipment from grease and dust.
• If possible, make sure that there are no clusters of cockroaches behind the baseboards.
• Get rid of unused items both in the kitchen and in other areas of the apartment.
• Replace an open food waste bin with a container with a lid.

In addition to preparatory measures, preventive measures are also provided that are relevant after using laurel:

• regular cleaning of the kitchen, absence of crumbs, daily trash removal.
• Lack of water on open surfaces (pet bowls, flower trays, etc.). Clean dishes should be wiped dry before putting them away on shelves.
• Daily ventilation of premises.
• Packing dry food products in sealed containers with a lid.

If there are a large number of insects, bay leaves can be used as a preventive measure, after pre-treating the room with a chemical insecticide.

To create unacceptable conditions for cockroaches, laurel alone is not enough. Before scaring, prepare the room:

• do wet cleaning;
• Fill cracks in baseboards and cracks in walls with sealant;
• repair leaking taps;
• sort through the products and get rid of old stocks;
• purchase a bucket with a tight lid for food waste;
• Wash food cabinets, stove, area under the sink;
• Cover the ventilation hole with a fine mesh.

If numerous nests are found during cleaning, combine the use of bay leaves and insecticides to eliminate the colony.

“Bay” treatment for cockroaches: how to prepare an apartment

The smells of food and sewage that are not promptly removed to trash cans, as well as the accumulation of water due to leaking pipes or sewers, are perceived by cockroaches as an invitation to visit your home and settle there for a long time.

So first of all, stop sending them such encouraging signals:

• Clean kitchen counters promptly after preparing meals and snacks.
• Regularly sweep the floor not only in the kitchen, but also in other rooms if you eat there
• After preparing food and subsequent meals, wash dirty dishes immediately
• Eliminate water on counters, sinks and under them
• Store bulk foods in containers with tight-fitting lids
• At least once a week (and more often if possible), wet clean the entire apartment, do not forget to use a vacuum cleaner
• Check your food supplies at least once every six months.

Use in an apartment

For the result to be as positive as possible, it is not enough to simply spread out the aromatic spice and wait for the “uninvited guests” to leave the home.

You will need to make every effort:

• Inspect the entire room for cracks and fill them with putty.
• The ventilation holes must be closed, since they cannot be hermetically sealed, use a fine mesh.
• Look at all the holes in the apartment from which the pipes come out; they must be completely filled with putty, since cockroaches run through them from one apartment to another.
• These insects live where there is access to water; they simply cannot survive without it. If there are leaks, be sure to fix them. Also, do not allow water to stand in containers under home flowerpots.
• If there is a regular trash can in your apartment, replace it with one that closes hermetically.
• Each of us has food supplies in our closets; we should sort through them and get rid of the old ones.
• Absolutely all products must be in sealed packages and containers.
• Go through all the cabinets, remove unusable appliances, wash all drawers and shelves, and avoid crumbs and food residues.
• Move the furniture away from the walls, check the baseboards, this is where cockroaches most often make nests.
• Wash the backs of cabinets and appliances.

It should be said that if there are a large number of Prussians in the apartment, then it is correct to use an insecticide that will kill everyone, and use laurel as a preventive measure.

Your actions after the room has been cleared of insects are no less important.

Required:

• After each meal, wash dishes and clear tables and work surfaces.
• Take out the trash every day, wash the trash can and wipe it dry.
• Wipe sinks, washbasins, bathtubs dry, do not leave water in flower trays.
• Hide food products and do not leave them open in the kitchen.
• Constantly check the apartment for “uninvited guests.”

If you notice insects, then follow where they run when the light turns on; most often they run away to their nests.

How to enhance the effect of bay leaves against cockroaches

To enhance the effect of the above methods, you can combine bay leaf with other plants that contain essential oils and persistent chemical compounds (mint, anise, wormwood, etc.). Alternatively, use or alternate with bay leaf Catnip (Népeta catária ). According to research by scientists from the University of Alabama, this is another repellent for cockroaches. Catnip can be used if there are no cats in your apartment. It consists of essential oil (up to 3%), the main component of which is nepetalactone (~77%). Mint also contains ascorbic acid, tannins and bitter substances, glycosides, and saponins. Nepetalactone, which has a faint lemon odor, acts as the main active ingredient - a natural repellent. It is this that has a detrimental effect on cockroaches.

How to use catnip for cockroaches

1. Place a small amount of fresh catnip leaves where you see cockroaches most often. Leaves must be changed every 3-4 days.
2. You can use a decoction of the leaves: boil 9-10 catnip leaves in two glasses of water over low heat for 5 minutes. Allow the solution to cool, and you can spray it with a spray bottle in those places where you see cockroaches.
3. A modern city dweller is unlikely to collect leaves and prepare a decoction. Therefore, the easiest option is to purchase a spray of “Catnip Extract” at a pet store and spray it on the baseboards and the places where you have already laid out the bay leaves (excluding grocery shelves).

In conclusion, it is worth noting that all these popular tips will be effective only if the required sanitary conditions in the apartment are strictly observed.

Don't expect a destructive effect from bay leaves! Use it only as an auxiliary, preventive means against the further resettlement of Prussians.

If cockroaches appear in your home, do not self-medicate. Timely contact with specialists is the key to effectively solving any problems with cockroaches. Call us, we will help you!

Methods of application

A small population of pests can be easily repelled by a specific smell. Place sheets of paper in all rooms. Don't forget to leave the laurel:

• behind the refrigerator and stove;
• under the battery;
• inside kitchen cabinets;
• in the ventilation hole;
• under carpets;
• in every corner of the room.

Once every 2 weeks, remove old leaves and add fresh spices. Cleanliness in the kitchen, absence of food waste, puddles of water in the bathroom and a strong smell are a reliable guarantee that cockroaches will avoid your home.

Decoction and essential oil

It is useful to combine laying out the leaves with the use of a decoction.

• Buy a pack of spices weighing 50 g in the store.
• Pour the contents into an enamel pan and fill with half a liter of water.
• Place on the fire, bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes over low heat.
• Pass the cooled broth through a sieve and pour into a spray bottle.
• Once a day, spray the liquid around the perimeter of the rooms, in the corners, behind the radiators.

For wet cleaning, dilute 250 ml of decoction in 2 liters of hot water, add 5 drops of anise or mint essential oil. Clean the floor regularly with strong-smelling water. Treat door jambs and baseboards.

Bay essential oil, sold in pharmacies, provides good results. Add 5 drops to water for washing kitchen surfaces. Apply drops pointwise behind the stove, under the sink, behind the radiator.

Take white paper. Pour half a teaspoon of essential oil onto it and place it in a vent, under the kitchen counter, or other pest-prone areas.

Ignition and alcohol tincture

When laurel is burned, the essential oil is released, creating smoke that irritates the spiracles of cockroaches. To fumigate an apartment:

• close doors and windows tightly;
• place 5 leaves in a metal container;
• place away from flammable objects;
• Light it and watch the spice smolder slowly.

Fumigate the rooms for an hour every day for a week.

An alcohol tincture is made from fresh leaves to repel pests. Place 100 g of green laurel in a glass jar. Pour 250 ml of alcohol, seal and place in a cupboard for 2 weeks. Strain the finished tincture. Add 2 tbsp. l. per 200 ml of water and use for daily spraying of the room.