Ever have those creepy lizards scurrying around your home or yard? Don’t worry; you’re not alone. Lizards can be annoying pests for homes and gardens.
The good news is that there are some great home remedies and natural ways to control them. Below are some tried-and-true tips to get you started.
Here’s how to get rid of lizards naturally:
1. Get a Cat
The easiest way to naturally deter lizards from sticking around is to get a cat. Their predatory instincts will kick in as soon as they see these little creatures scurrying about.
Having an outdoor cat patrol your yard is one of the best ways to scare off lizards. The mere scent of a feline predator will send lizards running in the opposite direction.
If you don’t have a cat, consider borrowing one from a neighbor or friend for a few hours each day.
Even if the cat doesn’t catch any lizards, their presence alone should do the trick. The lizards will run away when they see them.
2. Onions and Garlic
Onions and garlic are natural repellents that lizards hate.
Simply place cut onions and raw garlic cloves around entry points to your home and in your yard. The strong smell will deter lizards and drive them away to find shelter and food sources elsewhere.
3. Remove Standing Water Sources
Some lizards need access to water, so eliminating places where they can drink will make your yard less habitable.
Empty pet bowls, bird baths, gutters holding rainwater, and buckets—any container that collects and holds water. All this effort will help keep lizards away.
4. Eggshells
It is believed that some lizards dislike the smell of eggs.
Therefore, spread some crushed eggshells in areas where you see lizards frequently accessing your home, such as under doors, windows, cracks, and crevices. The unpleasant aroma will encourage these reptiles to move on to another location.
5. Pepper Spray
Pepper spray irritates the lizards’ eyes, mouth, and nose.
Therefore, make a DIY pepper spray for lizards by mixing one tablespoon of cayenne pepper powder with one cup of tap water.
Mix well, then spray the solution in corners around your home. The spicy scent and flavor will encourage the lizards to vacate the area for more pleasant surroundings.
This also works as a great lizard killer spray for wall gecko and common house lizards if sprayed directly in them.
6. Keep Leftover Food Covered
This is a major attractant for lizards looking for an easy meal. Therefore, make sure to securely cover any leftover pet food, trash, compost, or food waste.
Use tight-fitting lids for garbage cans, compost bins, and pet food containers. Also, keep counters and floors clean and free of crumbs.
Cover fruit bowls and seal uneaten pet food right away. Leaving food out will draw lizards in and give them a reason to stick around.
7. Reduce Humidity Indoors
Reducing humidity levels in your home is another way to get a lizard out of the house. Many lizards need warm, humid environments to live in.
Therefore, run a dehumidifier to remove excess moisture from the air in your house. Also, improve ventilation and reduce moisture around foundations and in basements, crawl spaces, sheds, and garages.
Fix any leaky faucets and clear clogged drains to eliminate standing water and the humidity it creates.
8. Peacock Feathers
Peacock feathers are a natural repellent for lizards. The feathers (or even the smell of them) will make them think there is a predator nearby.
You can place peacock feathers at specific locations in your yard or home where you see the lizards. The critters will avoid those areas.
It is a slick way to get rid of lizards without killing them.
9. Seal Cracks or Crevices
Another way to deal with a lizard problem is to seal any cracks or crevices leading into your home. Lizards will crawl up in your home through small openings in foundations, under doors, around pipes, and in attics or basements.
So, use caulk, weatherstripping, door sweeps, or repair damaged screens to seal these access points and block lizards from getting inside. Also, inspect the exterior of your home, including the attic and basement.
Look for any cracks or holes, especially in areas where pipes or wires enter the structure. Seal these to eliminate ways for lizards to sneak inside.
Tightly seal all holes or cracks leading to the attic, basement, or crawlspace. Blocking access to these areas will remove shelter and hiding spots for lizards trying to get in.
10. Eliminate Their Food Sources
Lizards feed on small insects like flies, ants, and moths [1]. Therefore, take steps to keep pests out of your house and garden.
Also, store food in airtight containers and clean up food waste and spills. These steps will make your home less habitable for insects, forcing lizards to look elsewhere for food.
You should also clear yard debris like wood piles and leaf litter where insects and lizards hide. And trim plants, shrubs, and trees away from the house.
11. Repellent Plants
Some plants contain natural oils that lizards dislike and will avoid. Therefore, planting repellent plants around the yard or home is an easy, pet-friendly way to deter lizards.
Some of the best plants for repelling lizards include rosemary, lemongrass, eucalyptus, and peppermint.
12. Keep Your Landscaping Tidy
Keeping your yard tidy and free of debris will make the area less habitable for lizards.
Lizards are attracted to places that provide shelter, food sources, and spots to lay eggs. So by reducing access to these, you’ll make your yard less lizard-friendly.
Clean up any wood piles, brush, or leaf litter around the yard where lizards can hide. Also, trim plants, shrubs, and trees so branches don’t touch exterior walls or rooflines.
13. Essential Oils
Essential oils like eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint, and citronella oil naturally repel lizards.
The strong scent of these oils deters lizards. Therefore, apply a few drops of the essential oil of your choice to cotton balls. Next, place the cotton balls around entry points to your home or in areas where you see lizards frequently.
You can also make a homemade lizard repellent spray with essential oils diluted in water.
For the recipe, combine 15 drops of oil of your choice in a cup of water. Spray it around the perimeter of your home.
With regular application, these oils will naturally repel lizards and protect your living space in a safe, eco-friendly manner.
14. Coffee Grounds and Tobacco Powder
The strong smell of used coffee grounds deters lizards.
So, simply spread fresh or used coffee grounds in areas where you see lizards, such as near doors, in corners of rooms, and on the patio. The lizards will avoid these spots.
However, if you want something deadly, you can make homemade poison for them. Just combine coffee grounds and tobacco powder.
Mix the two and leave the concoction around the house. This is poisonous for lizards. If lizards consume it, they can die.
15. Salt
Another deadly home remedy for lizards is salt. If you apply table salt directly to a lizard’s skin, the result will be dehydration and ultimately death.
16. Step On It
You can kill a house lizard in a variety of ways. But stepping on it is the most common method. The lizard (chipkali) will die immediately as the spine and internal organs are crushed.
Some other methods are to hit it with something heavy like a log, rock, or screwdriver.
17. Vinegar
The acidity of vinegar is such that it can cause irritation and burns if it comes into contact with the skin. High concentrations of vinegar are also deadly.
The thin skin of lizards makes them more susceptible to vinegar’s effects. If inhaled, vinegar can also lead to respiratory issues in lizards.
As such, you can make your own spray that will keep lizards at bay. Just combine equal parts of white vinegar and water. Spritz it around to give them a warning.
18. Baking Soda
There is a frequently asked question: “Will baking soda kill lizards in the house?” The answer is no.
However, you can use it to kill their food sources such as roaches, ants, and other insects they take as food. Getting rid of lizards’ food sources will help keep them out of the house.
Takeaway
Try using some home remedies and natural deterrents near the entrances of your home and yard. Give them time to take effect.
When these critters have overstayed their welcome, you now have some eco-friendly tricks up your sleeve to show them the door.
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