How Do I Keep Lizards Out Of My Home?

If you live in a warm climate with brief or non-existent winters, then there’s a strong possibility you have lizards in your yard. Whether they are speedy desert lizards or translucent geckos, all lizard species are best admired outdoors rather than inside the home. If you’ve seen one or more lizards scurrying across a countertop or find yourself wiping up their droppings, then it’s time to find ways to keep these reptiles outside where they belong.

Some of the best ways to keep lizards out of your home for good include sealing all cracks and holes in your home’s exterior, installing door sweeps, and adding or improving window screens. Use smells like garlic, chilli pepper, or the sulfur of eggshells to send these reptiles packing. Keep insects at bay, keep countertops clean, and remove unnecessary clutter and hiding spots from your home.

Many lizards are cute and fun to look at, but lizards in your dwelling are a different story. These reptiles leave a mess in your house, and where one enters, more will follow. As soon as you notice any lizard inside, you should take action immediately. Below is a list of all the ways you can help keep lizards from entering your home for good.

13 Ways To Help Keep Lizards Out Of Your Home

1. Keep Surfaces Clean 

The cleaner your home is, the less enticing it is to lizards. If you’ve noticed a lizard or its dropping inside, then you must be extra diligent to keep surfaces free of crumbs and spills. Not only will clean surfaces help keep lizards away, but it will also keep insects away, which happens to be a lizard’s favorite food. And, if you have lizard droppings, you should wipe them up promptly to avoid staining and smells.

2. Minimize Insects In The Home

Lizards are far more likely to remain in a house with lots of insects. These reptiles eat all sorts of bugs that live in the home, from cockroaches to flies, and everything in between. Keep your home clean, and keep the trash emptied. Quickly wipe up spills, rinse drains, and ensure there is no stagnant water indoors. Taking these steps will go a long way in making your home less appealing to lizards.

3. Seal Cracks And Holes

The best way to keep lizards out of your home is to make it impossible for them to enter your dwelling in the first place. Many of these sneaky reptiles enter your home through small cracks and holes in the walls. Take the time to inspect your property for these vulnerabilities. Areas around window treatments and exterior doors are most likely where you'll find cracks, but cracks and holes can occur anywhere, so be diligent in your search. When you notice an opening, promptly seal it with caulk. This will help keep your home free of lizards, insects, and rodents.

4. Install Or Upgrade Window Screens

Another way lizards and other wild creatures make their way into the home is through open windows. If you don’t have window screens, you leave your home vulnerable to pests like insects, rodents, and lizards. Install window screens if you plan on opening your windows. If you already have window screens, inspect them seasonally. Patch up any small holes you notice in any of the screens. Remember to replace your window screens periodically, as they degrade over time.

5. Keep Your Home Cool

Lizards are cold-blooded animals, which means they thrive in warmer temperatures and avoid cold at all costs. If you’ve seen an influx of reptiles entering your home lately, consider keeping your home cooler. While this might cost a few extra dollars on your energy bill, a cooler home is an effective way to drive lizards out of the house, especially in tandem with other methods on this list. Once you no longer see signs of these reptiles, you can return your thermostat to its standard settings.

6. Install Door Sweeps

Some lizards are tiny, which means they can enter your home through small gaps between a door and the floor. Install door sweeps on all entrance doors, and consider adding them to any doors on your screened-in porch or balcony as well. Door sweeps will keep lizards outside and help keep cold drafts and insects out of your home.

7. Remove Clutter And Hiding Places

Lizards don’t live out in the open. They will find hiding places out of view and hunt for insects along windowsills and countertops when the coast is clear. It’s easier for reptiles to go unnoticed when you have a lot of clutter hanging around. Get rid of unnecessary clutter in the home, especially on countertops, and in areas of the house where you’ve seen lizard droppings. Keep your home as tidy as possible, as it will give lizards fewer places to hide.

8. Use A Dehumidifier

Many lizards, especially geckos and other tropical lizards, prefer a humid environment. If you live in a wet climate and notice lizards in your home, then it might be time to invest in a dehumidifier. A dehumidifier has many benefits, including helping your home feel cooler and keeping your dwelling free of mold and mildew. Reduced humidity can also make your home far less appealing to many lizard species. 

9. Let Your Cats And Small Dogs Roam Freely

Lizards are very afraid of cats and several dog species, and with good reason. If you have a cat or small dog (especially a terrier), then allow it to roam freely through your home once you notice lizards inside. Cats and some dogs are excellent hunters and will locate and kill, or at least scare off, all the reptiles living in your home. The key is to let your animals roam free in your home to find all the hiding reptiles, even if only temporarily. 

10. Place Garlic In Problem Areas 

Several aromas repel many lizard species. Garlic is a smell that many lizards hate, especially the lizard species that make their way into your home. Use fresh garlic as a natural lizard repellent by placing fresh cloves throughout the home. Choose locations where you have spotted lizards or notice their droppings. Lizards are less likely to hang around in places where they smell this pungent allium.

11. Cover Bathroom Vents When They Aren’t In Use

Exhaust vents are great at removing excess moisture from the home, but if you leave them open, lizards can find their way inside. If you suspect lizards are using your bathroom or kitchen vents to enter the home, find a way to keep them sealed when they aren’t in use. Most exhaust vents have sealing features, so ensure yours is functioning correctly or find a DIY to keep them sealed.

12. Use Chilli Pepper As A Repellent 

Spicy chilli pepper is one of the best natural deterrents against all sorts of pests, from deer to rats to even lizards. The spicy, pungent smell of this spice is enough to keep lizards far away. Create a lizard deterrent spray using chili pepper and water, or even a diluted hot sauce. Spray this concoction on windowsills, entryways, and any areas where you’ve cleaned up lizard droppings.

13. Dried Eggshells

After you’ve cracked eggs for your breakfast, consider saving the shells. Dried eggshells are not only effective at getting rid of ants in the home, they can also help deter lizards from staying in your home. While the sharp edges of these shells keep insects out of the home, it’s the sulfur smell that is thought to repel lizards. Don’t wash the shells or crush them too finely. Stage them near windows and other locations where lizards may visit, and the sulfur smell may encourage them to leave the area.

Wrapping Up All The Ways To Keep Lizards Out Of The Home

Lizards are fascinating creatures, but they aren’t animals you want roaming freely throughout your home. These tiny reptiles can multiply and quickly start leaving excrement on all your home's surfaces, potentially ruining linens and clothing. To keep lizards outside, ensure your home is sealed by caulking any cracks and holes, adding window screens, and installing door sweeps. Use smells like chilli pepper, garlic, and eggshells to repel lizards. You can also make your home drier and colder, making the climate less enjoyable for these tropical and cold-blooded creatures.

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