Buzz
Your home might suddenly be invaded by uninvited guests in the form of small lizards. A clear sign of their presence is their black/brown droppings with white tips. An even more obvious indicator is spotting them crawling on your walls. While they help control insects and spiders, lizards themselves can sometimes be a nuisance. Therefore, you may need to take steps to remove them from your home.
Home Remedies
Lizards can help manage pests, but sometimes, you just want them out of your house. You can use various readily available products to repel lizards:
- If you have eggshells, you can place them around your home to scare lizards away.
- If you have mothballs, you can place them around your home to deter lizards.
- If you have coffee and tobacco, you can create a lizard poison.
- If you have garlic cloves, you can use the smell of garlic to repel lizards.
- If you have onions, slice a few and place them to prevent lizards from entering.
- If you have Cayenne pepper or Tabasco sauce, you can make a homemade spicy spray.
Steps
Removing Lizards from Your Home
Place Eggshells. This is an effective and economical way to scare lizards away. Lizards see eggshells and mistake them for "predators." Place two halves of eggshells around your home, such as near the main entrance or in the kitchen.
- Do not crush the eggshells; keep them as two intact halves.
- Placing two halves at each entry point is sufficient. Lizards will see the shells and flee.
- To keep the eggshells fresh, replace them every 3-4 weeks.
Use Mothballs. Mothballs are versatile products that help eliminate moths, cockroaches, ants, flies, and even lizards. Place a few mothballs under the stove, refrigerator, or sink to repel lizards.
Set Sticky Traps. Many insects that are prey for lizards are attracted to light sources, so lizards often appear in well-lit areas. Place a few flypaper traps near light sources to catch both annoying flies (a food source for lizards) and the lizards themselves.
- A convenient spot to place flypaper is inside lamp covers.
- You can also set mouse glue traps or sticky pads near windows or other entry points.
- If a live lizard gets stuck on the trap, pour vegetable oil on the trap to release it and set it free. This method is a bit messy but humane.
Roll Balls from Coffee Grounds and Tobacco. Use your hands to roll damp coffee grounds and a bit of tobacco powder into small balls, then attach them to toothpicks. Place these balls near lizard nests or areas they frequent, such as entry points. Lizards will consume them and die.
Use Garlic Cloves. The pungent smell of garlic is not only unpleasant for humans but also effective in repelling lizards. Place a garlic clove near entry points to prevent lizards from entering your home.
Slice Some Onions. Sliced onions are another strong-smelling ingredient that can help deter lizards. Cut an onion in half and place it in areas where lizards are known to hide, warm spots where you’ve seen them, or near entry points.
Spray Pepper Powder Around the House. Lizards find pepper spray just as irritating as humans do. Mix some pepper with water, pour it into a spray bottle, and spray the mixture around your home. Focus on areas like under the refrigerator, behind furniture, or on walls—basically any warm spots or places where you’ve spotted lizards.
- You can use Cayenne pepper or chili powder as an alternative.
- Tabasco sauce can also replace homemade pepper spray.
- Warning: Overusing pepper spray might make your home unpleasant for you too, so be mindful of its strong effects.
Catch and Release Lizards. If a stubborn lizard is hiding in your home, you can catch it manually. Place a box near the wall and gently guide the lizard inside. Once caught, release it back into the wild and take additional measures to prevent lizards from returning.
Preventing Lizards from Entering Your Home
Turn Your Home into an Unwelcoming Place for Lizards. Lizards thrive in warm, moist environments with plenty of hiding spots. There are several ways to make your home less appealing to them.
- Keep your home clean by sweeping regularly and avoiding clutter, such as piles of clothes, newspapers, or boxes.
- Position furniture at least 15 cm away from walls and avoid hanging too many pictures: lizards are nocturnal and prefer dark, damp hiding spots during the day.
- Maintain a cooler indoor temperature if possible: lizards are drawn to warmth and humidity, especially when nights are cool.
- Fix any leaking faucets, pipes, or areas with standing water, as lizards are attracted to moist environments.
Make Your Backyard Less Inviting to Lizards. Your backyard can be a gateway for lizards if it provides water, insects, and shelter. Here are some tips to make your yard less attractive to them:
- Remove standing water sources, such as birdbaths, as they attract insects that lizards feed on and provide water for lizards.
- Limit watering your garden, as lizards prefer moist environments and will drink from available water sources.
- Avoid planting succulents: lizards may nibble on them for moisture when water is scarce.
- Trim overgrown bushes, especially those near your home, as lizards love to hide in them.
- Place netting over shrubs to prevent lizards from hiding underneath.
- Minimize outdoor lighting, as it attracts insects that lizards prey on. If lighting is necessary, use sodium vapor or yellow bulbs.
Seal Your Home. Lizards can squeeze through tiny cracks and gaps. Ensure your home is properly sealed by inspecting both the interior and exterior. Use caulk to fill any cracks and ensure windows and vents are fitted with proper screens.
Eliminate Lizard Food Sources
Eliminate Mosquitoes, Gnats, and Flies. These pests thrive in standing water, so it’s essential to remove or cover any water sources.
- Keep trash and recycling bins tightly covered.
- Avoid leaving cups of water unattended for long periods.
- Ensure there’s no standing water in sinks or bathtubs.
Eliminate Ants. You can deter ants using the smell of vinegar. Spray or sprinkle some vinegar around window frames and doorways to prevent ants from marching in.
- Additionally, clean up after meals: dirty napkins, food crumbs, and unwashed dishes all attract ants.
Get Rid of Fruit Flies. Fruit flies are irresistibly drawn to sweet substances. Place a small bowl or cup of white wine to lure them in. The flies will drown in the sweet liquid, ensuring they never return.
Repel Moths. Moths thrive in damp conditions. To create an inhospitable environment in areas where moths are problematic, hang a chalk piece in your wardrobe. This helps keep the area dry and drives moths away.
Eliminate Cockroaches. Cockroaches eat almost anything, but surprisingly, they can’t stand cucumber peels. After peeling a cucumber, save the skins and place them around kitchen counters or bathrooms to keep cockroaches at bay.
- If cucumber peels attract ants, use borax powder: sprinkle it in cockroach-prone areas, and you’ll notice a reduction in their numbers within a month. Contrary to popular belief, borax has low toxicity for humans and pets.
Prevent Spiders. Spiders often appear unexpectedly, and besides eliminating their prey, there are several ways to keep them out. Here are some suggestions:
- Seal gaps leading outside, such as around doors and windows.
- Set sticky traps in trash bins, basements, kitchens, and bathrooms to catch spiders.
- If the spider population is overwhelming, consider using spider repellent sprays or calling a professional.
Reduce the Cricket Population. Crickets are a common food source for lizards, so reducing their numbers both inside and outside your home is an effective way to decrease lizard activity.
- Place shallow dishes of molasses (or beer) mixed with water to kill crickets indoors and outdoors. Crickets will jump right into the mixture.
- Keep your lawn trimmed short, as crickets thrive in tall grass.
Tips
- WD40 spray, though not environmentally friendly, can prevent lizards from entering air conditioners (spray it around the base of outdoor AC units).
- Lizards are nocturnal and hide behind or under furniture and appliances during the day, so you’ll mostly see them at night.
Warnings
- Avoid using mothballs if you have small children or pets, as they are highly toxic.
- Borax powder is harmful to humans and pets, so avoid this method for killing cockroaches if you have kids or animals at home.
What You'll Need
- Eggshells
- Sticky traps
- Onions
- Garlic
- Caulk
- Outdoor netting
