What if two inexpensive ingredients sitting in your kitchen could help keep certain areas of your home smelling fresher?
Baking soda and bay leaves are commonly used for completely different purposes. One is known for baking and household cleaning, while the other adds a distinctive aroma to soups and stews.
But combining them has become a popular homemade freshening trick.
Some people claim this mixture can eliminate bad odors, repel insects, and even replace expensive cleaning products.
So what really happens when you put a bay leaf into baking soda?
1. Baking Soda Can Help Reduce Certain Odors
Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, can neutralize some acidic odor-causing compounds.
That’s why people often keep an open container of baking soda in areas where unpleasant smells develop.
Adding a bay leaf introduces a mild herbal aroma, although dried bay leaves release relatively little fragrance at room temperature.
The combination may help with minor odors, but it won’t eliminate every smell.
2. Bay Leaves Have a Pleasant Natural Aroma
Bay leaves contain aromatic compounds responsible for their distinctive herbal scent.
When used in cooking, these compounds contribute flavor and fragrance.
In a dry bowl of baking soda, however, the aroma is much subtler.
If you enjoy natural household scents, this simple mixture can be an alternative to heavily perfumed products.
Just don’t expect it to fill an entire room with fragrance.
3. Can It Keep Insects Away?
One popular claim suggests that bay leaves repel cockroaches, ants, and other household pests.
Certain compounds found in bay leaves have demonstrated insect-related effects in laboratory experiments.
However, placing a dried bay leaf in baking soda hasn’t been proven to prevent or eliminate household infestations.
For persistent pests, sealing food containers, removing crumbs, fixing moisture problems, and using appropriate pest-control methods are more effective.
4. A Simple Trick for Small Spaces
You can place a small container of the mixture in a dry, well-ventilated location where minor odors are a concern.
Possible locations include a utility cupboard or an out-of-the-way pantry shelf.
Keep the container away from children and pets, and don’t place it where the powder could spill onto food.
Remember that a homemade odor absorber won’t solve underlying problems such as mold, leaks, spoiled food, or poor ventilation.
5. How to Make the Baking Soda and Bay Leaf Mixture
2 minutes
Household freshener
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons baking soda
- 2–3 dried bay leaves
- 1 small open jar or shallow bowl
Instructions
- Pour the baking soda into a clean, dry container.
- Insert the dried bay leaves into the powder.
- Place the container in a stable location away from children, pets, and food.
- Leave it undisturbed and assess whether it helps with minor odors.
- Replace the mixture if it becomes damp, dirty, or loses its usefulness.
This is a simple household experiment rather than a scientifically validated air-purification method.
6. What This Mixture Cannot Do
Despite dramatic online claims, baking soda and bay leaves cannot:
- Disinfect an entire room.
- Remove dangerous airborne chemicals.
- Eliminate mold growing inside walls.
- Guarantee protection against insects.
- Replace proper household cleaning or ventilation.
Baking soda can help with some odors, but it isn’t a substitute for registered disinfectants when disinfection is necessary.
7. Important Mistakes to Avoid
Don’t scatter loose baking soda and bay leaves around the house, especially where children or animals might reach them.
Avoid placing the mixture directly on delicate furniture or fabrics without testing, since the powder may leave residue.
Never mix baking soda with household cleaning chemicals in an attempt to create a stronger cleaner.
And if a room has a persistent musty smell, investigate possible moisture or mold problems instead of trying to cover them up.
Final Thoughts
Bay leaves and baking soda make an inexpensive combination that may help with minor household odors while adding a subtle herbal touch.
The most useful part of the trick is baking soda’s ability to neutralize certain odor compounds.
It’s not a miracle cleaner or guaranteed insect repellent—but it can be a simple addition to your household routine.
Sometimes the most interesting home tricks aren’t magical at all. They’re just creative ways to use familiar ingredients.
Have you ever tried combining bay leaves and baking soda, or is this the first time you’ve heard of this household trick?
For more surprising everyday discoveries, check out what may happen when you drink beetroot with ginger for seven days and the truth behind the viral two-metal “Earth Filter” water trick. You can also learn how to spot real avocado oil.
