Laurel leaf outside the door: a trick that will eliminate one of the biggest problems in your home

These simple bay leaves, discreetly hidden behind the door, may well put an end to one of the most intrusive problems in your home.

This grandma’s laurel leaf trick will save your summer: goodbye mosquitoes and insects at home!

Ah, the good days are back. But it’s not just sunshine and drinks on the terrace….. Flies, cockroaches and mosquitoes have also appeared. Worst of all, all this merry company comes to your house uninvited. Agreed, it’s not very glamorous. However, there is one simple technique that can really make a difference: bay leaf for insect control. Nothing chemical, nothing complicated. Just a handful of properly spread leaves, and peace of mind will miraculously return to you.

Laurel leaf: a natural insect repellent

We’ve all tried at some point or another to get rid of pests with insecticide sprays. The result? A solvent odor that lingers in the air for hours. It feels like you’ve dropped a toxic bomb in your living room….. and the insects come back like nothing happened. It’s frustrating. Electric traps or sticky tapes are effective, but they’re not particularly aesthetically pleasing. And let’s be honest: who really wants to see a row of insect corpses in the corner of the kitchen?

As a result, we often resort to commercial “natural” solutions with lemongrass or lavender essential oils. It all looks pretty on paper, but we all know the effect is fleeting. After a few hours, everything evaporates and fades away again. Laurel leaf stands out for its stamina and discretion. You probably already have them in your cupboard, between two spice jars. And if you have a bay tree growing in your garden that’s even better.

Just put a few outside your front door, in a window box or under the sink and you’ll see the difference. This is no myth: their natural aroma, rich in eucalyptol and linalool, acts as a ruthless repellent. Flies, cockroaches, mosquitoes … they all prefer to turn around. For a stronger effect, you can crumple the leaves before placing them. It releases the oils and enhances the flavor. What about maintenance? There’s nothing easier than that. Replace them every two to three weeks once their scent starts to fade.

The environment also makes a difference

A great solution is to place bay leaves around the house. But for this to really work, you first need to eliminate whatever is attracting the insects. And there’s no secret to this: cleanliness plays a key role. Forgotten crumbs, poorly packed food scraps, greasy or sticky surfaces…. are a feast for uninvited guests. If you want the bay leaf in your home to fulfill its function, start by doing your own. Clean work surfaces thoroughly. Wipe down appliances with a cloth . Take out the trash on a regular basis.

There are also entry points to pay attention to. A slightly damaged mosquito net, a crack in a window frame, a poorly insulated bottom of a door …. it’s like you’re leaving them a red carpet. There’s no point in placing a bay leaf against insects if they can get in through a crack. Once the environment is cleaned up, it will be impossible to stop this strategy. All that’s left is to place the sheets in the right places: a small cloth bag on the windowsill, one or two sheets taped behind the door, a few in the pantry.

And don’t be afraid to test. Every home is different. There may be insects swarming under the sink or in the laundry room in your home. Monitor. Adjust. And adjust the placement of bay leaves in the house. At least as judged by the corners most frequented by insects. All this with no chemicals, no expensive gadgets, no pungent odors. Just an old-school method, economical, careful… and extremely effective. Laurel leaf insect repellent is not just your grandmother’s idea, it’s a real method that needs to be adopted.