If cockroaches appear at home, do not panic. There are many effective methods on how to remove annoying insects from your home - it’s just a matter of perseverance and accuracy of the owners.
Food, warmth and moisture are the main things that attract cockroaches to human homes. Large black cockroaches are becoming less and less common - the original inhabitants of wooden village houses are being replaced by red “Prussians”.
Insects look for warm and moist places in apartments near food - in kitchen cabinets, table drawers, near the trash can, on the back of household appliances.
Cockroaches make their way into new habitat areas through ventilation grilles, garbage chutes, sewer drains and cracks in walls. Place a bay leaf in these places, the smell of which will repel cockroaches.
Effect of bay leaf on cockroaches
The spice affects the sense of smell of insects.
Parasites have long whiskers on their heads. They allow you to find food by detecting its smell at a great distance. Prussians are highly sensitive, which is why they do not like strong odors. Bay leaf helps against cockroaches because it has a pronounced aroma, which causes pests to flee from the home. The reason is the chemical effect of cineole microparticles on the respiratory organs of insects.
Bay leaf against cockroaches helps achieve the following effects:
- irritates the olfactory organs;
- disrupts the breathing process;
- changes the sense of smell - against the background of the smell of spice, insects have difficulty sensing other aromas, which prevents them from looking for food.
These insects are very afraid of the smell of a plant, they can’t stand it, and they run away from the place where they smell it. Thus, this seasoning repels insects rather than kills them.
How to properly use bay leaf against cockroaches
In order for the methods described above to certainly help, take into account the following nuances of application. In particular, remember where to make layouts or spray with tincture. This is done in cabinets, in the cracks between them, in dark corners, under the baseboard - it is a must. Scatter the leaves into the closed cracks without sparing them, and treat the open surfaces with the tincture.
Bay leaves only help against cockroaches if you choose the right material.
To know for sure whether bay leaf helps against cockroaches, when choosing bay leaf to repel these pests, pay attention to:
- date of production - the fresher it is, the more essential oils there are in the bay leaf, which means the smell will be more noticeable (if the leaves are more than a year old, the purchase makes no sense);
- integrity - it is better to buy a whole branch than a “scrap” of dry leaves.
Also remember that such a “repellent” needs to be updated periodically - replacing the old seasoning with a new one. And if you are used to ventilating your apartment every day, for now reduce the amount - 1-2 times a week, no more often.
Mechanism of action
Every housewife has a seasoning like bay leaf in her kitchen. Most first and second courses cannot do without this aromatic leaf. In addition, due to the content of a large number of microelements and vitamins, it is indispensable in medicine. It is an antiseptic, which significantly increases its already widespread use. The main advantage of this magnificent leaf is the presence of essential oils.
The composition of the essential oil is very rich in various substances, which provide a repellent effect on cockroaches. The most powerful effect is produced by a substance such as cineole; it affects the olfactory organs, irritating them. In addition, camphor and penene, which are in the composition, are also dangerous for insects. A high concentration of these components can act as an insecticide.
Active substances in bay leaves that fight cockroaches
Bay leaves were used to kill insects - cockroaches - back in the old days, but over the last 10-15 years it has become not particularly relevant, since modern chemical insecticides for various types of domestic insects have appeared. However, today people are starting to use laurel again, because it is natural and safe for the health of people living in an infested house. Unfortunately, laurel is not capable of killing Prussians, but it is capable of scaring them away, having in its composition the following active substances:
- Linalool.
- Bay essential oil.
- Camphor.
- Bitterness.
- Cineole.
- Myrcene.
- Pinen.
It is the bay leaf that is considered the most powerful insect repeller, because they feel the substances contained in it, even from a distance. For example, cockroaches are very afraid of the substance cineole. It has a pungent odor and affects the respiratory system of parasites, as a result of which insects avoid contact with it. Cineole is also useful for combating pathogenic microflora, fungi, and bacteria, which makes the atmosphere uncomfortable for Prussians to live in.
Other substances, such as camphor and penen in large quantities, are destructive to parasites. However, food laurel does not have such an amount of substances that destroy cockroaches, so laurel is most effective at the initial stage of infestation of living space with insects and, as a preventive measure against them.
Benefits of using bay leaf against cockroaches
- Due to the natural origin of bay leaves, there are no contraindications to its use.
- It is convenient and effective to use.
- It is cheap.
- Safe for apartment residents: people, pets.
- Provides natural disinfection of living space.
- It removes not only Prussians, but also bedbugs, ants, etc.
- It is not addictive, which is why it can be used regularly.
Bay leaf is useless as an independent insecticide in case of massive infestation of a house, so it is recommended to start using it even before the parasites penetrate inside the home. Massive accumulations of cockroaches, ants and bedbugs can only be destroyed with strong chemicals.
Here you will find out.
Effect on cockroaches
There are industries where it is simply impossible to use chemical insecticides. For example, agriculture, food warehouses. Therefore, scientists turn to old proven folk remedies for help, which, when used, are not capable of harming food and humans.
Tests were conducted where cereals were stored with bay leaves in crushed form. And such experiments showed the safety of grain, almost the entire stock. We can say that these are excellent results, because not professional products were used, but a very simple and old folk method.
Laurel acts on cockroaches as a repellent, since they have a highly developed sense of smell, they sense odors well, in this case, essential oils irritate the receptors, and they perceive it as a threat. Regardless of whether the herb is used fresh or dry, it emits a strong odor. The aroma may not be audible to humans, but the insect senses it very well and does not enter the area where it is present.
This method of fighting cockroaches is only repellent; it does not kill insects. Therefore, if the room is heavily infested and there is a large concentration of individuals, then this method will be ineffective, you will need to use strong insecticides, and use laurel as a preventive measure.
Reviews
Bay leaves for cockroaches are a fairly effective method, as evidenced by reviews from people who actually encountered this problem.
Our neighbors had cockroaches, so we began to notice these arthropods in our apartment. At first they didn’t know how to get them out, but then my grandmother advised me to put dry bay leaves in places where cockroaches accumulated. Indeed, the insects disappeared from the apartment, but for the effect it is necessary to change the laurel once a week.
Ksenia, Moscow
They could not understand where the cockroaches came from. In the end they found out - they were sneaking through the channel in the ventilation. The wife took dry leaves and set them on fire; after the smoke spread, the insects did not come.
Victor, 35 years old, Voronezh
In the fight against cockroaches, we decided to try bay leaf oil. I applied it precisely to the places where it was noticed, and I also added the product to the water for washing the floors. The cockroaches disappeared after a couple of days.
Vika, 28 years old
Cockroaches are pests that cause discomfort to people. To destroy them, you can use bay leaves, which contain substances that are harmful to arthropods. Depending on the situation, a convenient method of pest control is selected.
How to choose laurel
Of course, to cope with the Prussians you will need laurel, which has the strongest smell, in other words, contains the largest amount of essential oil. This unpleasant substance for cockroaches contains bay laurel in the greatest quantity.
It is quite possible to purchase fresh leaves, but you don’t always have time to look for them. Therefore, it is completely acceptable to use dry seasoning. You can buy it in any store packaged in bags of different sizes. You can also buy it at the market, where it is sold in the form of a bunch of whole branches with leaves.
One very important point is the expiration date. The fact is that over time, essential oils erode and lose their properties. Fresh leaves contain the strongest aroma; they are suitable for use for 1 year, after which they will be ineffective.
Examine the leaves; they should be free of mold and dark green in color. The structure should be dense and elastic, the sheet should not crumble. A bright strong aroma serves as proof of the freshness of the product.
Any changes in appearance, for example, inclusions on the leaves, changes in color, mold on the surface, loss of elasticity, etc., indicate that this seasoning is unsuitable for use, not only as a deterrent, but also for any other purposes.
It is also necessary to properly store the laurel. To do this, choose glass containers that are hermetically sealed; you can use vacuum packaging. If the storage rules have been violated, it develops a bitter odor, which means that it has become unsuitable for use.
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.
Folk remedies for cockroaches in the apartment: top popular options
Peretrum powder is scattered in those places where cockroaches are most likely to appear.
You can create poison for the Prussians from ingredients that are always at hand. In particular, they work well:
Pyrethrum is a fine powder made from ground chamomile flowers. It is convenient because it does not need to be mixed with other substances; it is enough to scatter the powder in places where insects are most likely to accumulate; bay leaf is a folk remedy for cockroaches, the use of which is similar to pyrethrum; you can place elderberry flowers and branches in problem areas; cedar and eucalyptus oil. They are used to wipe the places where traces of cockroaches have been found. Some experts recommend wiping surfaces with undiluted essential oil.
However, keep in mind that these compounds have an intense, pronounced odor, which can transfer to poorly sealed products, and then the fight against cockroaches in the apartment with folk remedies will turn into a fight against household members; plant geraniums in flowerpots in your house - its smell will make the Prussians forget the way to your apartment for a long time; gypsum and alabaster mixed with flour, egg yolk or powdered sugar will certainly attract the attention of uninvited settlers. Hardening in the stomach of the insect, they cause its death, so this method can be called quite effective
Probably few people know that bay leaves can also be used in the fight against cockroaches.
Cockroach traps also work well, even if they are not purchased in a store, but made with your own hands. They can be divided into two categories:
- “food”: a container with a wide neck is used - a jar, a cut-off plastic bottle, inside which honey, sunflower oil and other viscous products, beer or thick sweet wine are placed;
- adhesive: double-sided tape is glued onto a cardboard or wooden base or the surface is covered with slowly drying glue, to which a dozen or so individuals are sure to stick.
Such folk remedies for cockroaches at home are cheap and help reduce the number of cockroaches in the apartment, but it is almost impossible to completely get rid of them using traps.
Although traps are effective, they only catch cockroaches.
It should also be mentioned about freezing: at temperatures below -5 degrees, pests die within 20-30 minutes. Therefore, sometimes it is enough to leave the apartment windows open for several hours so that all the structures cool down and the temperature in the room drops to the required level. However, this product only works in winter, in severe frost, and in order to heat the apartment after such extreme ventilation, you will need more than one hour.
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Are cockroaches really afraid of bay leaves?
The search for substances that would replace chemical means of killing insects in food supplies and in agriculture forces scientists to test the effectiveness of old folk remedies that were used to remove cockroaches and insects at the beginning of the last century.
Experiments conducted by food specialists recorded the almost complete safety of grains stored together with crushed bay leaves.
Essential oils and lauric acid in the spice tend to repel cockroaches without killing them. The smell of a fresh or dry leaf, almost imperceptible to humans, forces insects not to enter the protected area.
He cannot force cockroaches to leave inhabited and long-developed territories; for this it is necessary to use more effective synthetic means of instant destruction.
Bay leaf for flies.
Flies are extremely annoying insects, which, among other things, are carriers of various infections, and their excrement in the form of black dots does not add attractiveness to light-colored furniture, wallpaper, windows and things. To repel flies, you can lay out laurel leaves on kitchen shelves, put them in table drawers, cabinets, on window sills, and tables. Having smelled the aroma of bay leaves, the flies will immediately fly away and never return. Fresh spice has a stronger effect, but dried bay leaves are also quite suitable for fighting house flies. Also an effective way to repel flying pests is a strongly brewed tincture of bay leaf. Making a tincture of laurel is very simple - place 10-15 leaves of the spice in a container, pour a glass of boiling water and leave for a while. You can use the tincture after it has cooled; the resulting liquid must be moistened generously on the window frames.
Preparing to eliminate cockroaches
Undoubtedly, laurel leaves will repel pests, but if the apartment is dirty, there are crumbs on the floor, and dirty dishes in the sink, it will not be difficult for cockroaches to return. Therefore, before starting disinfestation measures, you should prepare the house and continue to keep it clean:
- Wash the floors
- Place food in jars or tight bags
- If possible, store some foods only in the refrigerator
- Wash the sinks, do not put dirty dishes there
- After eating, wash the dishes immediately, wipe them dry, and put them back in their proper place.
- Repair faucets so that water does not drip from them
- Do not leave water in glasses on the table
- Wipe sinks dry after washing hands or dishes
There should be no dishes in the sink, and the sink itself should be wiped dry at night so that cockroaches do not have the opportunity to drink water.
- Seal the cracks in the floor, screw the baseboards tighter, glue the wallpaper
- Wipe the floor behind cabinets and other furniture
If the apartment has been treated with insecticides, a bay leaf is also suitable to prevent the reappearance of pests - it should be placed in secluded corners in the kitchen and always kept clean.
How to avoid cockroaches: prevention methods
In fact, avoiding insects is not that difficult. To do this you need to adhere to the following rules:
- Purity. It must be supported everywhere. Not only in the kitchen and restroom, but also everywhere where meals were possible.
- Throw out garbage on time. This is a favorite place of the Prussians. Therefore, you cannot leave the bucket full overnight.
- Clean surfaces. Due to the fact that fats rise to the top during cooking and settle on the surfaces of cabinets and shelves, they must always be maintained in proper form. By the way, this is where, first of all, you need to lay out the bay leaves.
- Check all cracks. Insects can crawl from neighbors, from the entrance or from the street. And even with perfect cleanliness, they can become a problem. Therefore, you need to check all possible moves for them. Particular attention should be paid to ventilation ducts, doors and windows, as well as baseboards. Cleaning and filling these areas won't take much time, but will save you a lot of stress.
Methods of application
After the kitchen is in order, you can begin to lay out the leaves and use preparations from it. In order for maximum effectiveness, you need to correctly combine the dry leaf, tinctures and decoctions from it.
Method number 1: laying out the sheet
Fresh or dried laurel leaves should be placed in areas where cockroaches may appear or have previously lived:
- ventilation ducts;
- cracks and baseboards;
- under furniture in the kitchen and rooms;
- on top of furniture
- in cans and boxes of cereals
- in kitchen drawers.
From time to time (once a month), old leaves need to be replaced with new ones for full effectiveness. It is advisable to use whole leaves; if it is possible to use branches, they should be preserved without tearing off the leaves.
In cabinets, on shelves or on the top lid, you can lay out bundles of laurel branches and aromatic herbs - mint stems, wormwood branches, gauze bags with anise seeds, dried or fresh lavender, Dalmatian (fragrant) chamomile.
Anna, 24 years old:
New neighbors moved into our house along with cockroaches, and cockroaches began to appear in our previously clean apartment. My grandmother recommended the bay leaf method. True, the sheets need to be changed monthly, but cockroaches avoid our apartment.
Vasily, 42 years old:
Cockroaches were constantly found in the toilet; it took a long time to find where they were crawling from. We figured it out - through the ventilation hole. The wife placed bay leaves tied in a gauze bag in front of the ventilation grill. Sometimes we burn the leaves to make the smell stronger.
Method number 2: ignition
In order to fumigate a room with smoke from bay leaves, you need to place several pieces in a metal plate near hard-to-reach places where cockroaches can hide. It is advisable to close the windows and doors in the room; the leaves should be set on fire so that they smolder.
You need to fumigate the room several times a day for 5-6 days. During this period, a larger number of hidden individuals can be removed from the premises.
Olga 30 years old:
At home, small children poisoned cockroaches (there were only a few) with chalk. A neighbor suggested recipes for laurel; first they laid them out and then set the leaves on fire. There are no cockroaches in sight yet.
Maxim, 32 years old:
We bought an apartment without knowing that there were cockroaches in it. A little, really. We started looking for a natural recipe so as not to breathe in the poison. We found recipes on the Internet; at first, fumigating with a bay leaf seemed funny, but we tried it and it helped.
Method number 3: essential oil
Laurel laurel essential oil can be an excellent substitute for plant materials. It can be purchased at pharmacies or natural cosmetics stores. Oil can be added to water to wash the surfaces of furniture and household appliances, floors, place paper moistened with laurel oil in places where cockroaches may appear, or apply drops of the product behind baseboards and under sinks, near the trash can.
You can mix laurel oil with lavender oil, peppermint oil, anise oil and eucalyptus oil. The effect of this application will be stronger.
A necessary condition is that there should be no residents in the house who are allergic to these substances.
Nikolay, 44 years old:
We have been fighting cockroaches for a long time, we tried everything we could, we learned about bay leaves from the Internet. After they brought all their people out, the neighbors began to crawl. We add laurel oil to the water for washing in the kitchen, and put cotton pads soaked in a mixture of lavender and laurel oils in all the cracks. We are happy, it seems like there are no parasites crawling around.
Maria, 26 years old:
I like the smell of laurel, and when I found out that it helps against cockroaches, I use it all the time. There are no insects in the apartment, but the neighbors have a whole zoo of different colors and sizes. After I started washing my apartment with water with the addition of laurel and mint oil, I stopped being afraid that they would infest me too.
Recipe 4: Fumigation
Only dry leaves should be used in this recipe. To do this, you need to take small metal containers, put a few leaves in them and set them on fire. Only they should smolder. These containers with aromatic smoke are placed in places where insects are likely to live. This procedure must be carried out several times daily during the week.
Method number 5: decoction
In order to create an atmosphere in the house that is unfriendly to cockroaches, you need to periodically spray corners and places where cockroaches are likely to accumulate. To prepare the decoction you need:
- Place a store-bought pack of bay leaves in a saucepan;
- pour 500 grams of cold water into the pan;
- bring to a boil and cook for 10 minutes over low heat;
- close the lid and let it brew.
You can prepare an infusion using the same recipe, but the raw materials must be poured into a thermos and filled with boiling water. You need to insist for at least 6 hours. When spraying corners and places where insects accumulate, you can add a little essential oil of mint, laurel or anise to the broth.
Julia, 25 years old:
Several years ago, my husband and I rented a room in a communal apartment. There were an innumerable number of cockroaches, you turn on the light - they are like a rug on the floor on the walls. My husband's mother advised him to try it with bay leaves. They sprayed the infusion and burned the leaf. It seemed like there were fewer people, but we didn’t live there for long—we moved out, otherwise they probably would have taken us out.
Anastasia, 32 years old:
I've heard that it helps, but I don't believe it. More than once I shook out huge cockroaches from a pack of bay leaves, both alive and dead. I didn’t bother with them for a long time - I poisoned them with an aerosol, and haven’t had them since.
Method number 6: alcohol tincture
If you brought fresh laurel branches from vacation, you can prepare a tincture that can completely replace a purchased repellent. For this you need:
- glass bottle with a wide neck;
- Place 100 grams of leaves and a glass of vodka in a bottle;
- Close tightly and refrigerate for 3 weeks.
To repel insects, pour 2 tablespoons of the tincture with 200 grams of water and spray the areas where cockroaches may appear daily.
Olga, 27 years old:
Several years ago, my grandmother removed cockroaches from my parents that had crawled in from their neighbors. She laid out a bay leaf and sprayed everything with a tincture from it. It’s been a long time since we remember what cockroaches are.
Konstantin, 32 years old:
My parents moved to a new apartment, which they exchanged with heavy-drinking tenants; cockroaches walked around. Nothing helped. And they sprinkled laurel infusion, and laid out boric acid, it became less, but then it increased again. Then my father, when he was gluing the wallpaper, added poison to the glue.
Use Cases
There are several options for using bay leaves; depending on the situation, you need to choose the most convenient one. Every recipe will be effective.
Fresh branches with leaves
You need to place them in the house, mainly in those places where insects have been noticed, or in areas potentially attractive to them:
- kitchen cabinets;
- baseboards;
- ventilation outlets;
- space under the sink;
- near the hob;
- next to the trash can.
The twigs should be regularly replaced with fresh ones when they lose their aroma. And to make the effect last longer, it is recommended to place a bouquet of branches in a container with water, for example, in a vase or a regular jar.
Dried leaves
The principle of their use is the same as that of fresh ones. You just need to remember that after 1 year, dried laurel leaves lose their properties, which is why when purchasing you need to pay attention to the production date of the spice - the fresher the better.
In addition, whole leaves retain their aroma longer than crushed ones, and leaves dried on branches smell stronger and longer than those separated from the branches. But crushed and mashed they give a more pronounced and faster result, starting to act powerfully and immediately. Shredded leaves need to be replaced with a new portion every 2 days, and whole leaves – once every 1-2 weeks.
Decoction or infusion
To prepare a decoction, 10-15 leaves per glass of water are enough. The broth must be brought to the point just before boiling and immediately removed from the heat.
An aqueous infusion is prepared by pouring boiling water over the crushed leaves, followed by infusion (preferably in a thermos) for 3-4 hours. The proportions are the same as when preparing a decoction.
You can also prepare an infusion with vodka. To do this, a handful of leaves is placed in a vessel with 200 ml of vodka, closed tightly and infused for 14 days in a dark place. Alcohol will work instead of vodka. The advantage of this tincture is its long shelf life - several months. And infusions and decoctions should be used within several days from the moment of preparation.
A decoction or infusion should be used to wipe shelves, window frames, ventilation outlets and baseboards, and it is also useful to add them to water for washing floors. To treat hard-to-reach places, it is more convenient to use a spray bottle.
Fumigation of a room with smoke
This method is effective even if the premises are significantly infested with cockroaches. Dried bay leaves should be set on fire and extinguished after a few seconds so that they smolder rather than burn. When smoldering, substances that are caustic and harmful to insects will begin to be actively released, penetrating into all the cracks in the house. The insects will probably leave. When using this method, it is necessary to tightly close the doors and windows for several hours, or better yet, for 1-2 days. Of course, you cannot stay in the house during this period.
Bay oil
You can replace the bay leaf with laurel essential oil (sold in pharmacies and natural cosmetics departments). Oil should be applied pointwise in places where insects accumulate, as well as around the perimeter of all rooms in the room, or added to water for washing floors. The effect will be no less than from using leaves.
Combination with other means
To enhance the effect, this remedy can be used together:
- with chamomile (it contains pyrethrum - a strong insecticide);
- with lavender (this combination repels all insects, including food moths);
- with mint, tansy, wormwood - they all have an unpleasant odor for insects.
- with eucalyptus - it also contains cineole, so the effect on insects increases significantly.
- with anise - insects cannot tolerate it due to its irritating effect on the respiratory system.
From all these plants you can make combined aromatic sachets, ikebana (dried) or form small bouquets, placing them in vases with water (fresh).
Mechanism of action
To use a herbal repellent against insects, you must first understand the mechanism of its action.
The main role in getting rid of insects is played by cineole, one of the components of bay leaves.
The substance gives the seasoning a specific odor that many pests cannot tolerate.:
- cockroaches.
- Mol.
- Mosquitoes.
- Flies.
Cineole has a repellent effect on cockroaches, which forces them to leave their favorite places.
You can achieve the best result by combining agents with different effects (poisonous and repellent). For example, use laurel as a preventive measure after an insecticide.
curly geranium
Among the many odors that cockroaches cannot tolerate, the smell of curly geranium occupies a special place. If, upon noticing the longhorned beetles, the apartment owner places a pot of this beautiful plant on the windowsill, the pests will leave the home without additional human effort. It's all about the specific smell that is released by both the flowers and the leaves of the plant. Cockroaches and many other insects cannot stand this smell. There will never be flies on windows decorated with pots of geraniums. Ants will not crawl here, and cockroaches will avoid such an apartment.
Such methods of fighting cockroaches in an apartment are very effective, but it is important to observe the main condition - the apartment must be clean! It is necessary to ensure that there is no food for cockroaches, regularly carry out wet cleaning with the addition of strong-smelling substances, and use long-term ventilation in winter. After all, cockroaches are mortally afraid of the cold
But the first condition to effectively deal with them is cleanliness.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=UTtb3lVVLH8%3Frel%3D0
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
- Place a small amount of fresh catnip leaves where you see cockroaches most often. Leaves must be changed every 3-4 days.
- 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.
- 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.
How to use bay leaves in the house against bedbugs: folk recipe, reviews
If bedbugs appear in a house, they completely ruin a person’s life. To a greater extent, the behavior of these insects is similar to fleas: they live on the floor, in cracks and carpets, love humidity and semi-darkness, and are able to jump to a height of 30-40 cm.
As in the case of fleas, bedbugs should be fought actively and “sparing no effort.” Of course, bay leaf, as a folk remedy, can really help you only if your problem is not large-scale and does not last for a very long time. Otherwise, it is best to use specialized chemical aerosols.
Other recommendations for getting rid of bedbugs in the house using bay leaves:
- All carpets in the house (even those from rooms where you have not felt the presence of insects) should be taken outside.
- Carpets should be hung so that they receive plenty of direct sunlight.
- You should also get rid of bedbugs mechanically by beating the carpets every day.
- Treat carpets with a decoction or tincture of laurel, allowing the product to dry completely in the open air.
- At home, all floors, surfaces and furniture legs should be treated with tincture or concentrated decoction of laurel once or twice a day for 7-10 days.
A decoction of bay leaves to get rid of bedbugs in the house
Advantages and disadvantages
The use of bay leaves is justified by many advantages:
- safety, no harmful fumes, no unpleasant “chemical” odor.
- Significantly low cost, especially in comparison with industrial insecticides.
- Lack of habituation in insects.
- Ease of use.
However, some cases require the use of a different repellent, due to the following factors:
- the effectiveness of the product decreases in proportion to the increase in the number of insects.
- No immediate effect. Usually the first improvements in the situation can be observed after 4-5 days.
In order for bay leaves to better help fight cockroaches, it is recommended to use it in combination with other repellents of plant origin.
Advantages of using laurel against pests
The advantages of expelling cockroaches using dried laurel leaves are undeniable:
- Completely natural - there are no chemicals in the composition of this natural repellent.
- Low cost - this product can be purchased at, perhaps, the lowest possible price.
- Efficiency - laurel oil, infusions, decoctions with it, and even ordinary dried leaves in their pure form can repel pests (in the dried form the plant retains all its beneficial properties).
- Easy to use - anyone can easily use this insect repellent.
- Safety - the laurel will not harm either the apartment or the residents themselves.
Attention: Natural laurel essential oil is the easiest to use against pests, therefore, if possible, you can buy this product.
Advantages and disadvantages
In order to be able to draw correct conclusions regarding the use of this folk method, we will consider its advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages:
- Absolutely safe for the health of people and animals, unlike modern chemical insecticides.
- Low price and availability.
- Easy and convenient to use at home.
Flaws:
- Ineffective against large numbers of cockroaches.
- The result is noticeable within a few days.
Like all folk methods, melon method does not have an immediate effect. It will take patience and maintaining perfect cleanliness.
In addition, you can always increase efficiency by:
- Ammonia, which is dripped onto a piece of cloth or cotton wool and left as an additional repeller.
- You can carry out wet cleaning using a vinegar solution.
- Use a variety of essential oils.
- Get geraniums that cockroaches hate
Benefits of using bay leaves
- a natural remedy with virtually no contraindications;
- low cost;
- convenience and ease of use;
- aesthetics;
- safety for children and pets;
- efficiency;
- natural disinfection in the apartment;
- cockroaches do not develop an addiction to it, unlike most chemical insecticides;
- helps remove other crawling and flying insects, including ants, flies, mosquitoes, and moths.
Bay leaf against cockroaches as the only (independent) remedy will not help if the room is heavily infested with these insects. In such cases, it is necessary to use stronger and faster-acting drugs against them, and use laurel as an adjuvant.
Combination with other means
To increase the effectiveness of the spice in the fight against Prussians, it can be combined with the following plants:
- chamomile – contains pyrethrum, which is a strong insecticide;
- lavender - this combination repels any insects, including moths;
- mint, wormwood, tansy - plants have an unpleasant aroma for pests;
- eucalyptus - the plant also includes cineole, so the combination of herbs has a stronger effect;
- anise - has an irritating effect on the respiratory organs of pests.
Why bay leaves are unpleasant for insects
The spice has a rich spicy aroma. It is associated with a number of active components that help deal with Prussians. These include the following:
- essential oil;
- myrcene;
- cineole;
- bitterness;
- camphor;
- pinene;
- limonene;
- linalool.
Cineole is especially dangerous for cockroaches. This ingredient irritates their respiratory organs. The substance is a powerful natural antiseptic.
It's all about the essential oils found in this plant - they give that aroma and taste to the prepared dishes. It is these oils that are unpleasant for parasites; they diligently avoid them
Analogs
Some other folk remedies are also called effective. It is recommended to periodically change control methods to obtain a faster effect.
- Ammonia. Soak the cotton wool and leave it in the saucer overnight.
- Vinegar. Prepare a concentrated solution, wash the floors, wipe down the furniture.
- Essential oils. Drop onto a candle, light it, and leave it overnight. Soak the cotton wool.
- Geranium. Grow on a windowsill.
Folk remedies with a repellent effect are more suitable for preventing infection of a room than for active control.
Precautions
If you are allergic to strong aromas, the spice should be used very carefully. The pronounced odor of the plant can cause adverse reactions in pregnant women and young children. This also applies to small pets and birds.
When fumigating a room with smoke, the windows must be closed. Therefore, after the procedure you should leave the apartment.
According to reviews, some products can quickly absorb the aroma of spices and even acquire a bitter taste. This feature should be taken into account when placing spices in food cabinets.
Bay leaf for cockroaches is an effective remedy that helps cope with harmful insects. To achieve good results, you need to choose the right method of using the product and follow safety precautions.
Sources
- https://agronom.guru/lavrovyy-list-ot-tarakanov
- https://KlopVred.ru/tarakany/lavrovyj-list-ot-tarakanov/
- https://beztarakana.ru/tarakany/narodnye-sposoby/5-sposobov-ispolzovaniya-lavrovogo-lista-ot-tarakanov-otzyvy
- https://GdeKlop.ru/insecticide/tarakany/lavrovyj-list-ot-tarakanov/
- https://kursi-floristiki.ru/tarakany/lavrovyj-list-protiv-tarakanov.html
- https://parazitdoma.ru/tarakany/lavrovyy-list-ot-tarakanov
- https://geradez.ru/lavrovyj-list-ot-tarakanov-ru
- https://felisov.ru/tarakany/lavrovyj-list-ot-tarakanov-otzyvy.html
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Bay leaf for moths.
The glutton moth, which is always ready to happily feast on a new fur coat or snack on the carpet in the room, really does not like the aroma of bay leaves. Therefore, to get rid of the voracious intruder, you can also use dried or fresh leaves of this spice. For greater effectiveness, bay leaves should be placed in places where moths are likely to be located - in closets with outerwear, placed in upholstered furniture, for example, inside a sofa and under the carpet. To get rid of food moths, you need to put sprigs of spices in kitchen cabinets where food is stored. If you place one bay leaf in each container with cereals and flour, you can be sure that food moths will not reach them.
Bay leaf is a powerful and effective folk remedy against insect pests and has certain advantages over chemicals.
Pros of using bay leaf:
Please note that this website is for informational purposes only.
When using bay leaves, you should consult a specialist (doctor).
There are contraindications for the use of bay leaves: pregnancy and lactation in women, acute forms of kidney, liver and heart disease, gastric and duodenal ulcers, an allergic reaction to bay leaves, severe diabetes mellitus, etc.
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