How to Kill Lizards

X

wikiHow is a “wiki” site, which means that many of the articles here are written by multiple authors. To create this article, 21 people, some of whom are anonymous, have edited and improved the article over time.

There are 7 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.

This article has been viewed 126,683 times.

In your house suddenly appear uninvited guests are small lizards. The mark of the lizards appearing is their black/brown discharge with a white head. A more obvious sign is seeing lizards crawling on the wall with your own eyes. Although they help kill insects and spiders, the lizards themselves can be pests. So sometimes you need to take steps to keep lizards out of your home. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Table of Contents

Solution at home

Lizards can help control pests, but sometimes, you just want to keep them out of the house. You can use a variety of products that are available to repel lizards:

If you have eggshells , you can place eggshells around the house to scare the lizards away.
If you have mothballs , you can place mothballs around the house to keep the lizards away.
If you have coffee and cigarettes , you can make a poison to kill the lizard.
If you have garlic cloves , you can use the smell of garlic to repel lizards.
If onions are available, cut a few to prevent lizards from entering the house.
If you have Cayenne pepper or Tabasco sauce , you can make a pepper spray at home.

Get rid of lizards from the house

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/d/d2/Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-1-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px- Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-1-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/d/d2/Get-Rid- of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-1-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-1-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Place egg shells. This is an effective and economical way to scare away lizards. The lizard saw the eggshell and thought it was a “predator”. Place the egg halves around the house, for example by the front door or in the kitchen. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Do not crush the eggshell, but leave the halves whole.
Putting two eggshell halves at each entrance is enough. The lizard just sees the eggshell and runs away.
To keep eggshells fresh, you should replace them with new ones every 3-4 weeks. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/b/b8/Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-2-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px- Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-2-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/b/b8/Get-Rid- of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-2-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-2-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Use mothballs. Mothballs are a versatile product that kills moths, cockroaches, ants, flies and even lizards. Place a few mothballs under the stove, refrigerator, or sink to keep the lizards away. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/3/3c/Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-3-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px- Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-3-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/3/3c/Get-Rid- of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-3-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-3-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Set sticky traps. Many insects that are prey of lizards are often attracted to light sources, so lizards often appear in places where there is light. Placing a few pieces of flytrap paper near a light source not only helps to catch the pesky flies (a food source for lizards) but also the lizards. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

A good place to place fly paper is inside the lampshade.
You can also place mouse traps or sticky pads near windows or other entrances.
If you see a live lizard stuck to the glue trap, you can pour vegetable oil over the trap to remove the lizard and set it free. This way is a bit dirty but humane.

READ More: How to Remove Ingrown Hairs

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/d/d4/Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-4-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px- Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-4-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/d/d4/Get-Rid- of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-4-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-4-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Pellets from coffee grounds and tobacco. Use your hands to knead the damp coffee grounds and some tobacco powder into small balls and attach them to the tip of a toothpick. Place them near a place where lizards nest or where they can easily find them, such as an entrance. Lizards will eat them and die. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/c/c9/Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-5-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px- Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-5-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/c/c9/Get-Rid- of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-5-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-5-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Use garlic cloves. The strong smell of garlic is not only obnoxious to humans but also used to fight lizards. Place a clove of garlic around the entrance to prevent lizards from entering the house. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/3/38/Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-6-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px- Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-6-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/3/38/Get-Rid- of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-6-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-6-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Cut a few slices of onion. Sliced onions are another stimulant that repels lizards. Cut an onion in half and place it somewhere where you know lizards hide, in a warm place where you’ve seen lizards, or near an entrance. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/5/50/Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-7.jpg/v4-728px-Get-Rid- of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-7.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/5/50/Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos- Step-7.jpg/v4-728px-Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-7.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Spray pepper powder all over the house. Lizards also feel uncomfortable when sprayed with pepper powder just like humans. Mix some pepper with water, put it in a spray bottle and spray the mixture around the house. Spray in places like under the refrigerator, behind the couch or on the wall, basically any warm place or where you’ve seen a lizard. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Cayenne pepper or chili powder can be used instead of pepper. ^{[10] X Research Source}
Tabasco sauce can be used instead of the home-made pepper mixture. ^{[11] X Research Source}
Warning: Spraying too much pepper can make “you” not want to enter the house, so it is important to pay attention to the unpleasant effects of pepper.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/c/c9/Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-8.jpg/v4-728px-Get-Rid- of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-8.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/c/c9/Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos- Step-8.jpg/v4-728px-Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-8.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Catch the lizard and let it go. If the lizard is still stubborn and hiding in the house, you can catch the lizard by hand. Place a box near the wall and then “attract” the lizard into it. After that, you can release the lizard into the wild and apply a few more measures to prevent the lizard from entering the house. ^{[12] X Research Source}

Prevent lizards from entering the house

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/4/47/Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-9.jpg/v4-728px-Get-Rid- of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-9.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/4/47/Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos- Step-9.jpg/v4-728px-Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-9.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Make the house a place that lizards don’t like. Lizards like warm places, water and shelter. There are many ways that you can turn your home into a place that doesn’t provide these elements.

Keep the house clean by sweeping and do not stack or throw things around, such as clothes, newspapers, boxes, etc. ^{[13] X Research Source}
Place furniture 15cm away from the wall and don’t hang lots of pictures: lizards are nocturnal and prefer to hide in dark, damp places throughout the day. ^{[14] X Research Source}
Keep the indoor temperature as low as you can bear: lizards love the warmth and humidity of the house when it’s cool at night. ^{[15] X Research Source}
If you have a leaky faucet or pipe, or any other area that often collects water in a humid environment, you should repair and clean up the water as lizards like a lot of water. ^{[16] X Research Source}

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/5/53/Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-10.jpg/v4-728px-Get-Rid- of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-10.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/5/53/Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos- Step-10.jpg/v4-728px-Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-10.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Make your backyard a place that lizards don’t like. The backyard can be a place for lizards to enter the house if there are amenity elements: water, insects, and shelter. Here are some guidelines to help you make your backyard a less attractive place for lizards:

Clean up areas where water can collect, such as birdbaths, as this is a breeding ground for the lizard’s bait insects and also a source of water for the lizard. ^{[17] X Research Source}
Limit watering the garden because the lizard likes a humid environment and will drink water to provide water for the body. ^{[18] X Research Sources}
Do not plant succulents: when a source of water cannot be found, the lizard will gnaw on succulent plants to survive. ^{[19] X Research Source}
Prune back any bushes, especially those near your house, because lizards like to hide here. ^{[20] X Research Source}
Placing nets on shrubs will help prevent lizards from hiding under trees. ^{[21] X Research Source}
Limit outdoor lights because the light attracts insects that prey on lizards. If you have to turn on outside lights, use a sodium vapor or yellow bulb. ^{[22] X Research Source}

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/8/86/Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-11.jpg/v4-728px-Get-Rid- of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-11.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/8/86/Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos- Step-11.jpg/v4-728px-Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-11.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Seal housing. Lizards can thread their tiny, collapsible bodies through small cracks and holes. So you need to make sure the housing is sealed. Go around the house (inside and out) and use grout to seal any cracks. Make sure windows and ventilation ducts are properly fitted with screens. ^{[23] X Research Sources}

Handling the lizard’s food source

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/6/66/Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-12.jpg/v4-728px-Get-Rid- of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-12.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/6/66/Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos- Step-12.jpg/v4-728px-Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-12.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Kill mosquitoes, gnats and flies. These pests like standing water because they can thrive in it. You need to clear or cover objects or places with standing water. ^{[24] X Research Source}

Cover waste containers and recycling bins.
Do not leave the water cup in one place for a long time.
Make sure there is no standing water in the sink or tub.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/f/f1/Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-13.jpg/v4-728px-Get-Rid- of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-13.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/f/f1/Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos- Step-13.jpg/v4-728px-Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-13.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Destroy ants. Ants can be prevented by the smell of vinegar. Spray or sprinkle a little vinegar around window frames, door frames to prevent ants from leading in. ^{[25] X Research Sources}

Also, try to clean up after eating: dirty napkins, food crumbs, and unwashed dishes all attract ants.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/b/b3/Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-14.jpg/v4-728px-Get-Rid- of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-14.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/b/b3/Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos- Step-14.jpg/v4-728px-Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-14.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Eliminate fruit flies. Fruit flies love and can’t resist sweets. So you can place a small bowl or cup of white wine to attract fruit flies. Fruit flies bask in the sweet taste, die and never return. ^{[26] X Research Sources}

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/e/ed/Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-15.jpg/v4-728px-Get-Rid- of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-15.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/e/ed/Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos- Step-15.jpg/v4-728px-Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-15.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Chase moths. Moths thrive in wet conditions. ^{[27] X Research Source} To create an unfriendly environment where moths are a frequent pest, you can hang a piece of chalk in your closet. This will help keep your closet dry and keep moths away. ^{[28] X Research Sources}

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/4/46/Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-16.jpg/v4-728px-Get-Rid- of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-16.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/4/46/Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos- Step-16.jpg/v4-728px-Get-Rid-of-Common-House-Geckos-Step-16.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Kill cockroaches. Cockroaches love to eat many things, but surprisingly one thing they absolutely cannot tolerate is cucumber peel. The next time you peel a cucumber, keep it and place it around the kitchen counter or bathtub to prevent cockroaches from finding their way into your home. ^{[29] X Research Sources}

If cucumber peels attract ants, you can use fenugreek powder: sprinkle a little powder where cockroaches are common and you should see a reduction in cockroach populations within a month. Contrary to popular belief, borax powder is only mildly toxic to humans and pets.

Advice

Although WD40 spray product is not environmentally friendly, it will help prevent lizards from entering the air conditioner (spray the product around the base of the air conditioner outside the house).
Lizards are nocturnal and hide behind/under furniture during the day. So you will often see lizards mostly at night.

Warning

Absolutely do not use mothballs when there are small children or pets in the house because mothballs are very toxic.
The powder is toxic to humans and pets. Therefore, do not use this method to kill cockroaches if there are small children or pets in the house.

Things you need

Eggshell
Sticky Trap
Onion
Garlic
Mortar
Outdoor nets