Video Discription |
Lizards are quite a common sight in homes in Southern regions – especially in ground floor units. Many people would rather not share their home with lizards, despite their being harmless. But if you have a real phobia of the little critters, or hate seeing their germ-laden poo everywhere, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Stay tuned for the top tips for getting rid of lizards from your home, the natural way.
1. Clean the cabinets under the sink
Check the cabinets under your sinks regularly, and try to keep them dry. You can do this by using newspapers to line the base and changing them often if you’re dealing with leaks or persistent dampness.
Under sinks is a favourite place for lizards to hang out and lay their eggs. They like it because it’s damp and usually warm. Also, if you have pipes that leak a bit, it provides them with a generous water source.
2. Use mosquito repellent
Okay, this one isn’t completely natural – but chances are, you already have this product in your cupboard. We’re talking about mosquito repellent, of course. And the fewer mozzies are in your house, the fewer lizards you’ll find.
Just spray or apply the liquid to the place where lizards often pass by. Or, if you already know where they’re hiding, spray the liquid there. Why will the lizards run away? Partly because they don’t like the scent of the chemicals. But it’s also because lizards feed on mosquitoes – which is why it’s often the case that the fewer mozzies are in your house, the fewer lizards you’ll find.
3. Lower the room temperature
To make lizards uncomfortable, you’ll need to turn up the air-conditioning, and keep the room chilly; below 22 degrees centigrade at least.
Remember biology lessons at school? Lizards, unlike us mammals, can’t regulate their own body temperature. And while lizards still survive nearly everywhere in the world, they are fewer in cold climates.
Unfortunately, simply using a fan or opening a window won’t cut it. To make lizards uncomfortable, you’ll need to turn up the air-conditioning, and keep the room chilly. This really ramps up your air-conditioning bill though – so if you have to do it, maybe just do it for the night when you’re turning in.
4. Cut garlic
Cutting garlic will let out a scent that most of us can’t get enough of, but lizards really can’t stand. This one is simple – just cut a clove of garlic, and leave it where you don’t want lizards. The smell will drive them away. You can also put it near a small table fan, to blow it across the room.
5. Remove fruits and potted plants
If you leave fruit bowls on the table, you can expect to hear lizards come night-time.
Although there‘s no proven harm in eating a fruit that a lizard has taken a small nibble from, it’s kind of gross, so you’ll probably want to store your fruit safely in the fridge. As for your potted plants, well – maybe now you know why there are little rips and holes in their leaves. In any case, having fewer of these out in the open will draw fewer lizards.
6. Try coffee powder
Just like cockroaches, lizards hate the strong odour of coffee powder. However, if you're looking to do more than just deter them from entering your home, you could actually mix coffee and tobacco powder and leave around the house. Tobacco powder is poisonous to lizards, so this is a slightly meaner remedy. However if you only wish to send lizards away from your home, preferably without harming them, stick with just coffee powder.
7. Use onions
Just like garlic, onions are said to be great for keeping lizards at bay. Just chop them up and leave them lying around for long enough to send lizards in the opposite direction. Don’t leave them out too long, though – nobody likes mouldy onions!
You can also make an onion juice spray by blending an onion, straining it and adding it to a spray bottle, and using it to spray your countertops. It won’t be the best air freshener for you, but it’ll drive the lizards away better than anything else.
8. Keep leftover food out of sight
This tip is more proactive than retroactive because lizards usually enter a home looking for food scraps and leftovers. Fallen crumbs in cabinets and on countertops are a sure-fire way to attract these pests and allow them to stay. Therefore, make sure scraps and spills are cleaned up immediately. Set up a routine to deep clean cabinets so you catch fallen food, and rinse out wet waste dustbins regularly. |