If you want to stay away from ants and other insects, then bay leaves are an ideal choice. Bay leaves are very effective in repelling different pests from their surroundings. The active ingredients present in bay leaves help to destroy the pests or stop them from approaching within a range of several feet.
Does Bay Leaves Keep Ants Away? Bay leaves are used extensively in Indian and Asian cuisines. They lend a pungent aroma to many dishes, especially vegetarian ones. You can use bay leaves to flavor your cooking or you can even cook them at the same time as your dish without affecting its taste. Taking bay leaves into the home has long been used as a natural remedy to keep ants away. This seemed logical because of the strong odor of bay leaves which might discourage them from coming into your home. Bay leaves and mulch are two natural products that can help keep ants away. Bay leaves have a strong scent that deters insects, larvae, and other pests from coming near the plant. Adding mulch around your plants will also keep harmful insects away from them.
Bay leaves are made up of many compounds that make them an excellent choice for keeping ants away from your home. These compounds include tannins and oils that act as insect repellents. The tannins in a bay leaf act as a deterrent, while the oils repel insects by making them less attractive to them. The volatile oils also help to repel mosquitoes and other biting insects.
How Do Bay Leaves Get Rid of Ants?
Bay leaves can be used in many different ways to keep ants away from your home: you can place them around the perimeter of your yard or garden, or you can place them inside any cracks or crevices where ants are hiding. When you place bay leaves into these areas, they will not only keep ants away but also attract beneficial insects like ladybugs which eat aphids, mites, and other pests that would otherwise be able to enter your home undetected by their bodies’ natural scent receptors.
Are Bay Leaves Good to Get Rid Of Ants?
Bay leaves are good to get rid of ants. Ants are attracted to the smell of bay leaves. They will pick up the scent and follow it back to the source. Ants are also repelled by the smell of cinnamon, so you can use both together for maximum effect.
Bay leaves are a common ingredient in many recipes, but did you know that they’re also a natural insect repellant? Everyone from beetles to weevils, moths, cockroaches, ants, and flies is said to hate the herb’s fragrance. The leaves can be placed in containers of flour, rice, and other dry goods, or taped inside cupboards and shelves.
The scent comes from eugenol and methyl chavicol, which are found in the essential oil of the bay leaf. While these chemicals can be toxic to insects at high concentrations, they don’t pose much of a threat when found in small amounts in foods like the ones listed above, and even less so when they’re used as an insect repellent by placing them around your home.
Do Bay Leaves Keep Sugar Ants Away?
Bay leaves are a great way to keep sugar ants away from your sugar and other kitchen items. Sugar ants can be a real pain, so it’s nice to know there are natural ways to get rid of them.
Sugar ants are attracted by the sweet scent of sugar and will eat it in order to metabolize it. When they do this, they release a pheromone that attracts more ants. This is why you often see large groups of sugar ants on your countertops or in your cabinets.
But if you have some bay leaves laying around the house, you can use them as an effective deterrent against these pesky insects. To get rid of sugar ants using bay leaves, all you have to do is crush up some leaves into small pieces and place them near where the ants are entering your home. The smell will repel them from coming back.
How to Use Bay Leaves for Cockroaches
Encourage cockroaches to leave your home by using bay leaves. Bay leaves are often used in cooking, but did you know they can also be effective at getting rid of unwanted roaches? Cockroaches are repelled by the smell of bay leaves, so if you place them strategically around your home, they will be less likely to stay.
The best place to put bay leaves is in corners and along wall edges. Place them near areas where cockroaches may gather, such as underneath sinks or near garbage cans. If you have a kitchen window that stays open all day long, the scent from the bay leaf will linger on the outside and repel roaches from coming onto your property.
If you have pets or small children who might accidentally ingest a bay leaf, make sure you remove them from the area once they’ve served their purpose.
How to Use Bay Leaves to Repel Insects
You can use bay leaves to repel insects, but you’ll need to keep in mind that it’s not a long-term solution. They won’t solve your problem forever, but they will help you avoid having to use chemicals on your plants. Bay leaves are safe for use around pets and children, so they’re a good option if you don’t want to use chemicals or pesticides around the house.
To use bay leaves as an insect repellent, place them in the soil around your plants before planting them. The smell will repel bugs from eating your plants or harming them in any way. You can also crush up some leaves and sprinkle them over your garden beds if you want to get rid of existing bugs without waiting for them to die naturally on their own terms.
List of Products That Repel Ants
Ants are a common pest in homes. They can cause damage to wood and furniture, and they can also be a nuisance to humans. Ants are attracted to sweet foods and greasy food scraps, so it’s important to keep your kitchen clean.
Here are some products that repel ants:

EcoVenger by EcoRaider Ant Killer & Crawling Insect Killer (Citrus Scent) 16oz, Kills Fast, Also Kills Spiders, Centipedes & More, Repels with Residual, Natural & Non-Toxic, Children & Pets Safe
Price: $11.19 ($0.70 / Fl Oz)
Features :
- Dual-Function Kills & Repels: EcoVenger (Formerly as EcoRaider) Ant Killer kills 100% of house ants in 1 minute and fire ants in 6 minutes. It disrupts ants’ pheromone trails and breaks down their foraging activity, preventing re-entry for 4 weeks. Also kills crickets, dermestids, earwigs, fleas, midges, millipedes, and spiders. Ready to spray for both indoor/outdoor use.
- One Spray to Rid of Ants: Spray on active ants to kill them instantly, and spray ants at entry points (around doors, windows, or wall crevices) along the trailing route for lasting deterrence. Spray around the kitchen, trash cans, plumbing, doors, and windows for preventative measures. No more messy ant bait which may end up seeing more ants, EcoVenger wipes out all immediately!
- Proven by Published University Studies: EcoVenger (Formerly EcoRaider) is rated #1 the most effective among many other natural products, as stated in a leading university study published by the Journal of Economic Entomology. More studies have demonstrated that its efficacy is comparable to or higher than most popular chemical pesticides (Deltamethrin, Cyfluthrin, and Chlorfenapyr).
- Plant-Based & Non-Toxic but Highly Efficacious: Contains no pyrethroids or pyrethrum. Its active ingredients are organically extracted from essential oils. The formula is only lethal to insects by blocking their neuron transmitter but does not affect humans, animals, fish, or birds.
- Your Safety is Our Priority: Tested by an EPA-authorized lab to ensure no toxicity in dermal, oral, eye, or inhalation. The product can be safely used around children and the elderly. It is also pet, bird, and fish friendly. No staining on most surfaces. Fast dissipating pleasant scent.

TERRO T300B Liquid Ant Killer, 12 Bait Stations
Price: $13.76
Features :
- Attracts & Kills – Kills common household ants including acrobat, crazy, ghost, little black, odorous house, pavement, and other sweet-eating ants
- Kills the Ants You See & the Ones You Don’t – As worker ants discover the bait, they share it with the rest of the colony to eliminate them all
- Works Fast – You should see a significant decrease in the number of ants visiting the bait stations within just a few days
- Ready to Use – Place the bait stations, watch them attract ants, and eliminate the entire colony
- Use Throughout Your Home – Place stations near areas where you’ve seen ant activity including along baseboards, in corners, on counters, and more

Mighty Mint – 16oz Insect and Pest Control Peppermint Oil – Natural Spray for Spiders, Ants, and More
Price: $18.98 ($1.19 / Fl Oz)
Features :
- Safe
- Extra Concentrated for Long-Lasting Protection
- Natural Ingredients Proven Effective in the Real World
- Large 16oz Bottle
- Powerful Essential Oil

Mighty Mint – 16oz Ant Killer and Repellent Spray – Natural Peppermint Oil Control – Indoor/Outdoor Safe
Price : $18.98 ($1.19 / Fl Oz)
Features :
- Safe around People and Pets
- Natural Ingredients
- Highly Effective Contact Kill and Repellent
- Powerful Fresh Mint Scent
- Works for All Types of Ants

Sapphire Labs Nectar Fortress Natural Ant Repellent; Multi-Purpose Clear Gel Ant Guard for Hummingbird Feeders (Twin)
Price : $13.90
Features :
- CREATED FOR HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS: Stop ants fast and keep them away from the bird feeder altogether. Use it on poles or hooks and create a barrier with scent ants hate.
- Useful with ant moats or eliminate the moat entirely.
- OTHER USES: Protecting dog and cat bowls, birdhouses, beehives, hanging plants, outdoor tables and chairs, party and picnic treats, outdoor wedding buffets, camping hammocks and tents, classrooms science experiments, and tailgating events.
- BIRD SAFE AND KID SAFE: Made entirely from food-based material that birds naturally secrete to preen and condition their feathers. It is designed to be inherently safe and compatible with bird physiology.
- EASY TO USE: Draw a line and you’re done.
In Conclusion,
The best way to get rid of ants is to prevent them from getting into your house in the first place. You can do this by keeping food covered and putting things like sugar and flour in airtight containers. You should also keep your trash cans sealed tightly.
If you have already spotted ants in your home, you can use bay leaves to repel them. Just place them in areas where you think the ants are coming from or near their trails.