How to Get Rid of Lizards: All You Need to Know

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If you live in some parts of the country, you may be very familiar with the trouble and damage that lizards can cause around your home. There are a lot of different guides on how to get rid of lizards. We offer you today a handful of useful tips, but first, let’s look at some of the signs that lizards might be in or very close to your home.

How Do You Know Lizards Invaded Your Property?

As it is the case with geckos, before you learn how to get rid of lizards, you need to make sure it is a lizard problem you have. Here are some signs that they are tresspassing.

You Think You Saw Something

Lizards are very fast and can quickly dart behind something or blend into their surroundings.

• If you keep thinking you just missed seeing something, then you might have a lizard or two lurking about. It is simply amazing how fast and camouflaged a lizard can be!

Squeaking Sounds and Night Movement

It can be very disturbing to hear something running around your home at night.

• While many people’s first thoughts turn to rodents, it is possible that it is one or more lizards.
• Squeaking and scurrying mean you need to watch out and see what you are dealing with before taking any major action.

How to Get Rid of Lizards Outside

Getting rid of lizards is not that hard if you follow the next tips and tricks!

1. Scooting a Lizard off a Wall

The walls of a home are easy for a lizard to crawl up.

• If you have a lizard on your wall you can use a rolled up magazine, newspaper, used paper towel roll, or broom, to gently scoot the lizard towards the nearest exit.
• Be gentle doing this. Lizards can be a lot more delicate in their constitution then you might expect.
• There is little reason to hurt them when all that is needed is for them to go out a window or door.

2. Make Sure to Put Away Pets

If you are trying to get a lizard from around your home without risking injury to the lizard, then it is best to put away your dogs, cats, etc. while you remove the lizard.

• While your beloved pets may mean well, they can easily kill or injure a lizard.
• You certainly don’t want them eating one as some lizards may be toxic to your pets.

How to Get Rid of Lizards in the House

1. Use Ice Water and a Spray Bottle

Squirting very cold water at a lizard will make it move along post haste in a lot of cases.

• Of course, this means you are squirting water around your house, but this probably isn’t much of a problem if you wipe it down quickly.
• This is a very humane and easy solution that works well for the occasional lizard.

2. Catch the Lizard

Anything domed such as a pot for a plant, large glass, etc., can be used to capture a lizard.

• The point is to get the dome over the lizard and then slide a piece of sturdy cardboard or other solid flat object under the lizard making sure not to lift the dome too much.
• You can then carry the lizard out and release it outside.

3. Peacock Feathers

© philippilosian / Fotolia

For some reason, lizards are afraid of peacock feathers.

• Most people concur that this is due to the appearance of an “eye” on the top of the feather.
• Regardless of the reason, if it works for you, then it is a very easy and attractive way to keep lizards at bay.
• Peacock feathers are easy to order, and you can work them into your decor in a multitude of ways.

4. Cats

If you don’t care about keeping lizards alive, you can utilize your cat. As stated before, you don’t necessarily want your cat eating lizards but in reality, very few cats will. There is just something about lizards that is not very palatable to your precious kitty.

• Cats at the very least keep lizards away from your home and the surrounding area.
• Lizards may be small, but they will quickly learn that a cat is patrolling the area and keep their distance or stay a lot more hidden from view.

How to Get Rid of Lizards on Porch, Outside, or In the House

1. Glue Traps

If you dislike lizards you can use glue board traps but this is often a death sentence for them.

• They are not recommended generally because lizards are truly not as bad of a problem as a lot of people might think they are.
• If you don’t remember to check them often, they can also cause a lot of suffering before death.
• And you may have the smell of decomposing lizards to deal with over time.

2. Pepper Spray

The same type of spray that can prevent voles and insects will also discourage lizards.

• You can spray homemade pepper spray in the corners of your home or anywhere that you want to discourage lizards from hanging out.
• You can make it from Tabasco sauce and water or something similar.
• Be careful spraying any pepper spray because it can burn your eyes or skin if exposed.

3. Electrical Diversions

You can purchase an ultrasonic device that emits a sound that lizards can hear but you cannot.

• This sound helps keep them away and is usually pretty effective.
• You may need more than one for good control if you have a larger home or space you are trying to keep lizard free.
• This method also has the benefit of being very humane compared to many others.

4. Egg Shells

© Marek / Fotolia

Many housekeepers swear by egg shells as a natural lizard prevention system.

• Most people hang empty egg shells and claim it is the smell that keeps lizards from climbing their walls or roaming on the porch all the time.
• If you don’t want to hang them up then putting them in something on a top shelf or similar can have the same effect on lizards.
• Just be sure to warn others in your house, so they are not surprised to find a bunch of old egg shells in a corner.

5. Other Home Remedies

When it comes to getting rid of lizards in the house, on the porch, or outside the house, some people use a handful of home remedies. Some of them work best than others, so make sure you try them a few times and see what best fits your needs:

• Coffee and tobacco mix: placed in the corners of rooms or around the property deter or even kill lizards;
• Mothballs: their smell deter plenty of pests, lizards included;
• Flypaper: an obvious method to get rid of flies, the sticky paper also captures lizards that you can take outside your property.
• Onion and garlic: these pungent smells deter lizards and keep them away from your home.
• Phenyl tablets also keep lizards at bay from entering your home.

How to Prevent Lizards From Invading Your Property

Now that we saw how to get rid of lizards, it is time to learn a few methods to prevent them from trespassing.

1. Avoid Leaving Your Door Open

Lizards can rush into your home when your door is left open.

• Lizards seek out food sources and warmth, and your home is an inviting opportunity for them.
• Try to get everyone in your family into good habits when it comes to keeping doors shut.

2. Keep Food and Water Contained

Food left out is tempting for lizards. Sweets and other high-calorie food sources are especially tantalizing.

• Lizards may try to come in searching for water if it is scarce outside.
• If you are having a lizard problem, you may be better off putting some water out that is far away from your home.
• If you have a naturally wet spot or similar, then you might make that section more hospitable, so they don’t cause trouble around your whole house.

3. Keep Your House Tidier

We all get tired, and the truth is that most people just don’t like housework. When it comes to lizard control, it is important to keep your home tidy. Food crumbs and liquids attract insects and lizards love to eat insects.

• If you have a more than healthy insect population, don’t be surprised if you see a lizard pop its head up once in awhile.
• It may be easier to get everyone on board with keeping the house tidy if they realize that they won’t have to be startled by lizards.
• If someone in your home is not contributing enough to chores then now is the time to raise the subject with them.

4. Get Rid of the Clutter

Lizards like spaces where they have a lot of room to hide. Wide open spaces are not comfortable for lizards.

• If you have too much stuff in a space, then there is going to be a lot of room for lizards to hide.
• Getting rid of things you own can be hard but many people find it very liberating. 
• It also helps you to keep your home cleaner overall.
• If you haven’t used it in a few years, and it doesn’t have a lot of sentimental value, then donating usable items to Goodwill or another charity is tax deductible and helps make the world a better place.

5. Check Your Home for Holes, Cracks, and Other Methods of Entry

Older homes are more likely to have lizard problems because they are not sealed as well. Over time, gaps and cracks can get worse as well.

• Caulk is a thick liquid that goes around windows and seals gaps and cracks.
• Spray foam insulation can also be used to seal larger cracks.
• Sealing and insulating your home has the added benefit of making it much more energy efficient.
• You will likely see a reduction in your monthly utility bills and have a positive influence on the environment.

6. Check Screens for Holes

Lizards can get into damaged or torn screens. The cost of replacing a screen is very low. A lot of home improvement stores will cut screen to fit your frame and put it in for you for very little. Lizards can get in through a very small opening.

Screens also keep insects out of your home, so they do not draw in lizards seeking an easy and delicious meal. The reality is that screens are one of your first lines of defense against pests.

Do You Want to Get Rid of Lizards?

A lot of people are not aware of the benefits of having lizards around the home. Before you go on a rampage trying to get rid of them, you should assess the situation you are in and determine if it is worth it. Lizards can be beneficial:

• Lizards can help keep insect populations under control.
• Gnats, flies, spiders, and other insects that cause trouble around your home will have a lot harder time if you have a healthy level of lizards around your property.
• Sure, they may occasionally startle you or run in the house, but they may be a lot less trouble than being infested with insects.
• If you get rid of a lot of your lizard population, then you need to plan on being more vigilant when it comes to insect control.
• You may find that you wish you had a few lizards back when you see what happens to insect levels around your home and garden.

Living with Lizards

Keeping some sugar outside where you don’t mind lizards living gives them a food source.

• With this, they are far less likely to find their way into your home.
• Sugar also attracts bugs, so lizards have a “baited area”  that gives them good access to food.
• Adding some water nearby will also encourage them to stay in their space.

The Truth About Lizard Tails

You might have heard that if some lizards tail’s get pulled, they come off. It is a fact. This is one reason not to try to catch one by the tail.

This is a very important defense mechanism that lizards have adapted to be as evasive as possible when putting in harms way.

Getting over Fears

There are very few lizards that are poisonous or cause for concern.

• Lizards naturally run from people and animals larger than them.
• This evasiveness is good reason to let go of misconceptions and fears regarding lizards.
• Unless you live where there are Gila’s or something, then you have nothing to fear.
• Lizards are sneaky, so it is little wonder that they give a lot of people a start when they first see them.

Just remember not over to react if you find a few lizards around your home.

How to Get Rid of Lizards: Conclusion and FAQs

Lizards can be beneficial companions around the house. However, if you don’t like them around, it is better to use the prevention methods we described. We certainly do not encourage anyone to kill lizards, but “persuade” them to stay away from your yard, porch, and home. Learn how to get rid of lizards humanely and you and them will have a peaceful life. Now, let’s see some questions requiring an answer!