9 Clever Ways To Use Bay Leaves Around Your Home That You Didn't Already Know

Although commonly found and used in the kitchen, bay leaves can be more than just an herb you add to a variety of dishes for extra depth and a unique pine and woodsy flavor. Unbeknownst to many people, bay leaves have a wide range of practical uses inside the home: from deterring pests and insects to deodorizing shoes. Obtained from the bay laurel tree (Laurus nobilis), these leaves can be used dried or fresh for different purposes. What's also good about the plant is that it's very manageable to grow at home, even though it can grow quite tall in the wild. In fact, it's one of those herbs you can grow successfully indoors during winter.

If you already have a bay laurel tree at home or you're in the process of growing one, it's high time that you explore its other functions beyond the spice rack. You'll be surprised to know that these leaves have so much more potential outside of cooking and flavor enhancement, such as warding off pests, cleaning surfaces, and eliminating odors. Without further ado, here are 10 clever ways to use bay leaves around your home.

Mixing bay leaves and baking soda can eliminate unpleasant odors inside the house. To do this, crush dried bay leaves and combine with 2 teaspoons of baking soda. The former helps prevent mold and fights off bacteria, while the latter acts as a deodorizer. Get a tablespoon of the mixture and place it in a small cloth bag, then store it in a space that needs some serious odor cleanup. For instance, you can put the bag inside the cupboard or refrigerator to keep it smelling fresh. It's also perfect for bathrooms and closets that tend to smell bad due to limited ventilation.

The bay leaf-baking soda combination is also handy for cleaning surfaces, such as countertops, bathtubs, tabletops, and tiles. The baking soda component is effective against tough stains and grease, while the bay leaves can rid the surfaces of germs and leave them smelling clean and fresh. Sprinkle the dry mixture onto the surface you want to clean, then rub it with a damp cloth in a circular motion. Continue until the grease buildup and grime have loosened or completely removed. Rinse with clean water to check results. Repeat steps if streaks of dirt remain stuck on the surface. Do note, however, that baking soda is not effective against pesky chocolate stains.

Your shoes are a perfect breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. Aside from being damp and dark inside, they collect sweat and dead skin cells from your feet with each use. All of these allow microbes to thrive, causing the footwear to smell bad even when you don't use them as often. You can use perfume and other synthetic chemicals to mask the foul stench, or you can do what other people do and put bay leaves inside your shoes. As mentioned, this herb has antifungal and antibacterial properties. Plus, its unique aroma with hints of eucalyptus, lavender, and pine can naturally deodorize your shoes. Place two to three dried leaves per shoe and leave overnight for best results.

Nowadays, it's easy to keep your home smelling good with the abundance of air freshener options on the market. However, most of these products contain chemicals that irritate the nose and are quite toxic when ingested. If you want something more natural that doesn't cost much to obtain, then you should consider using lemon and bay leaves. Simply leave out a plate of these two ingredients, or you can stick the leaves to your sliced lemon and place it wherever you want their combined aromas to work their magic. Their citrusy and woodsy scents will diffuse throughout the space in no time. Just remember to keep them away from your furniture, as the lemon's acid content might cause staining.

This may sound odd, but some people use bay leaves to whiten their laundry. The natural compounds in the herb purportedly remove the dullness of soiled white garments, leaving them pristine white without the need for bleach. They are also said to restore the original color of fabrics and even prevent fading. Although there's no science to back any of these, anecdotal evidence suggests it's worth a try. The simpler approach to doing this trick is to toss the bay leaves into the washing machine with your clothes. Alternatively, you can put the leaves in a pot, add baking soda, and wait for the mixture to boil. Add your clothes and cook for 30 minutes, stirring from time to time. Once done, wash your clothes as per usual.

Though this is still largely debatable due to the lack of scientific evidence to prove the repelling activity or toxicity of the herb against rodents, there's no harm in using bay leaves to deter mice from your home. Place the leaves in areas where you've seen mice before or those with signs of mice infestation. You can use whole, crushed, or powdered leaves for this hack. To prevent them from being blown away by the wind, put a rock or any tiny weight above them. If you've seen mice in the garden or outside your home, consider planting bay laurel trees around the perimeter of your lawn or entire property.

Stink bugs release a foul-smelling chemical whenever they feel threatened by predators or when they want to attract other similar bugs. Accidentally squishing this insect yields the same result, with the highly pungent and penetrating smell of its fluids enough to cause you to retch in no time. For obvious reasons, it's best to stay away from them. However, if you find your home or garden getting infested by these crawlers, you can rely on bay leaves to ward them off. Stink bugs abhor the scent of the herb. Sprinkle bay leaf oil around your home to stop these bugs from invading your space. Leaving some dried leaves inside your pantry is also a good idea to keep them at bay.

A cockroach infestation is perhaps one of the most unsightly and unhygienic problems you can have at home. Not only are these fast-moving, flat-bodied insects goosebump-inducing, they are also some of the dirtiest critters out there, as they tend to carry disease-causing pathogens. The worst part is that they reproduce in large numbers and at such a rapid rate that seeing one inside your home is enough confirmation that there are thousands more hidden somewhere. Fortunately, you can repel cockroaches naturally with the help of bay leaves. The aromatic properties of the herb are a strong deterrent for cockroaches. Place leaves in bowls or open containers and spread them strategically in areas around your house where the insects may hide and breed.

Just like cockroaches, flies host and transmit a large number of disease-causing microorganisms. They are attracted to organic matter. So, if you have rotting food and garbage lying around the house or if your drains are filled with grime, food particles, and decaying matter, then a fly infestation is quite likely. One way to deal with these winged insects is to clean your home. Another is to come up with a natural fly repellent using bay leaves. To do this, simply place fresh or dried bay leaves near your doors, windows, and trash cans. Put them in a bowl or a mesh sachet. Replenish your natural repellent every few months to ward off flies long-term.