The common house lizard (otherwise known as the cicak) is known for the problems they bring to your home. Lizard eggs and droppings not only make your home dirty, but it also carries diseases such as Salmonella. Ugh, how disgusting! Not only do lizards make your house smell, but they can also affect the health of your family and children. Nothing could be worse than opening a cupboard, only to find an unpleasant sight of lizards.
Not only it’s horrifying but also unhygienic. These creepy, yet determined, reptiles tend to come inside when the temperature rises, and they can be a nightmare to get rid of. Before attempting any natural or chemical remedy for your lizard problem, know that you can take preventive measures to eliminate the root cause.
Remove Lizards from Your Home and Kitchen
1. Do not leave food uncovered
Exposed food is a favourite of lizards and helps them breed in your home. Never leave leftover food lying around. Always clean your pots and pans after cooking. Wipe your dinner table clean and keep the lids on your rubbish bins closed. Leftover food attracts flies and ants, which indirectly attracts lizards, as well as lizards, eat insects. So, before eliminating lizards, check that your home is free of other pests.
2. Seal every crack on doors, windows and walls
Lizards usually appear through cracks or crevices in windows, doors and walls. These cracks in themselves do not pose a problem, but they can serve as easy entry points for lizards. The cracks also serve as hideouts.
Seal off any existing cracks or crevices using silicone or urethane. You can seal the top and bottom of doors using weather stripping. This method also keeps other insects from entering the house. On top of that, you can install screens on parts of the house where air flows. Not only will this close off all potential entrance points for lizards, but it will also make your home neat.
3. Keep cats
Not only are cats the cutest creatures in the world, but they are also hunters by instinct. This can work in your favour to reduce the lizard population in your home. However, lizards carry parasites that are harmful to your cats known as liver flukes. These parasites can cause inflammation of the liver and potentially, death.
Instead of leaving the work of eliminating lizards to your cats, there are few natural methods you can employ using materials that are readily available around you. Most of which you already have in your kitchen.
4. Eggshells
Eggshells are a natural lizard repellent. Place these eggshells in locations around the house where lizards are often seen. Although it seems weird, there is a good reason why eggshells can be used for pest control. Eggshells contain sulphur that causes a burning sensation to the lizard’s abdomen. In addition, the smell of sulphur in eggshells is reminiscent of a bird’s beak, the lizard’s natural predator. This discourages lizards from entering an area with eggshells. Replace the eggshells every three weeks or so. You can also use quail eggs.
5. Shallots
Shallots are an eco-friendly natural lizard repellent. Cut or grind some shallots and place them in locations where lizards have been sighted around the house. Like eggshells, the sulphur content and smell in shallots will repel lizards. An alternative would be garlic.
6. Lemongrass
If you have difficulty finding citronella spray, try actual lemongrass stalks. Research has proven lemongrass’ effectiveness as a mosquito repellent. Lizards love to eat mosquitoes, so by reducing the mosquito population, lizards will have difficulty breeding as you’ve gotten rid of their food source. Take a few stalks of lemongrass, shred them and place them around your house. Alternatively, you can use lemongrass essential oil for the same results. source
