Picture this: You are lounging in your living room after a hard day’s work and see something with revolting eyes and a tail crawling on the walls. It is a LIZARD!Did your skin crawl at that thought? If yes, then like us, you hate having them creepy crawlies in your home. Read on to learn how to get rid of lizards and prevent them from coming in again.
#1: Eggshells
Did you know that lizards can’t stand the smell of eggs? So, the next time you use eggs, don’t throw the shells away. Wipe down the shells and strew them in places frequented by lizards, especially near the doors and windows. A point to keep in mind is to remove the eggshells the next day to maintain hygiene.
#2: Decreased room temperature
Lizards thrive in warmer climates and are rarely found in colder environments. So, turn on that AC or bring down your house’s temperature to 22o C or below. Doing this can drive them away as they are incapable of regulating their body temperature according to the environment.
#3: Garlic and onions
Another thing that lizards despise is the pungent smell of garlic and onion. Keep a few cloves of raw garlic or slices of onion in various corners of your home. Over time, the odour will shoo away the lizards.
If you don’t want to leave pieces of garlic and clove lying around, you can also mix its juice with water and spray it around the house.
#4: Cold water
This option is for those who do not want to use the smelly alternatives mentioned earlier or are against the use of chemicals. As we know, lizards are abundant in warmer places because they are cold-blooded creatures. If you splash ice-cold water on them, it will make them immobile. You can then pick it up and leave it out.
#5: Spices
Another option that attacks a lizard’s senses is the smell of pepper and chillies. Here’s how to get rid of lizards with spices: mix some pepper or chilli powder in water and spray them in the areas frequented by lizards.
If this is not feasible, you can hang dried chillies instead. They work the same as the DIY spray.
#6: Coffee powder
Lizards have an aversion towards the strong aroma of coffee too. Just like the spices, you can mix coffee powder in water and spray it in places you spot them often. You can also sprinkle only the powder. Whichever you choose, it is sure to chase them out of your home.
#7: Naphthalene balls
One of the top suggestions you get when researching how to get rid of lizards is naphthalene balls. Placing these pungent-smelling balls in corners at home will drive out lizards as they dislike chemicals. But you have to be extra careful with this one if you have children or pets at home. While it is a sure-shot way to prevent lizards, we don’t recommend it highly because naphthalene balls are poisonous.
#8: Mosquito repellent
Chemical mosquito repellent sprays have a 2-in-1 benefit — you can get rid of both lizards and mosquitoes. Moreover, the number of lizards in your house will naturally decrease when you get rid of the mosquitoes (and any other insects in your home). This is because lizards come in looking for food, and when you cut their food source, there is no reason for them to stay.
Again, mosquito repellents are chemically loaded and are not recommended for regular use.
How to prevent lizards from entering your house?
So far, we looked at some quick solutions on how to get rid of lizards. But there is more you can do to prevent them from entering your house at all.
#1: Don’t leave food in the open; dispose of the leftovers
Lizards and other kinds of pests come lurking inside our houses for something to feed on. So, it is advised not to keep food out in the open; store all your food in closed containers. If you have any leftover food that you can’t consume, make sure to throw it out.
#2: Air out dark spaces and corners
Lizards like dark places such as inside of cabinets, behind wardrobes and furniture. So, make sure you clean and air out these places regularly.
#3: Magnetic window net
Fixing a window net is a practical long-term solution. With a net, you don’t have to keep your windows closed all the time and let in all that natural light. Pick a white net rather than a coloured one to allow more brightness.
We hope we answered your query on how to get rid of lizards with our tips and tricks. Remember to make regular cleaning your top priority to keep lizards or any kind of pests away.
Want to read more articles on home-keeping? You can start with Tips You Didn’t Know You Need to Tackle Indoor Humidity
Send in your comments & suggestions to editor.sg@livspace.com
