Scented Shields

Natural ways to protect your home this monsoon.

- Pushpa Bhatia

The unhygienic conditions and moisture in the weather are two of the main reasons that increase the breeding of these insects and crawlers, like mosquitoes, ants, cockroaches, and flies.

While most of us rely on store-bought chemical repellents or pesticides to tackle these invaders, surprisingly, the remedy can be found right in your kitchen and can simply keep these pests at bay. Here are these simple remedies—

Bay Leaves

The bitter plant is often used for its fragrance in cooking, but bugs hate the scent. You can use bay leaves to repel various household pests like roaches, flies, ants, moths, and mice due to the strong scent they emit. The leaves contain compounds, including eucalyptol, which are naturally repellent to insects. It doesn’t even matter if you don’t have fresh bay leaves—you can still get the same results.

How to use bay leaves for pest control:

• Place dried bay leaves in containers of dry goods like flours, rice, and pasta to prevent weevils and other pantry pests.

• Scatter bay leaves in areas where pests are a problem, such as on pantry shelves, under the refrigerator, or inside cupboards.

• Simmer bay leaves and cloves in water to create a spray for repelling cockroaches, flies, and mosquitoes.

• Burn onion peels with bay leaves to repel mosquitoes and other insects from a room.

Replace regularly: Dried bay leaves will lose their potency over time, so it’s best to replace them every month or so for continuous protection.

Important considerations: