For people, seeing a lizard run across a wall is enough to make them leave the room in a hurry. Even though most lizards that live in homes, like geckos, are not dangerous and can even help control bugs, that doesn’t make them any less scary for someone who’s really afraid of them. The good news is that experts who study pests have looked into lizard behavior enough to find some science-based ways to stop them from coming into your house.Take away their foodLizards don’t come into houses without a reason. They come looking for food, and that food is usually bugs. Studies about pests that live in homes show that houses with bugs, like moths, mosquitoes, and roaches, have more lizards than houses with fewer bugs. Scientists have found that getting rid of food that is left out, fixing leaks that bring in bugs, and using screens on windows can really reduce the number of bugs that bring lizards inside.Use Naphthalene balls or pepper spraySome natural things that keep pests away have been proven to work. Naphthalene, the stuff in mothballs, makes a smell that lizards don’t like. Putting a ball near places where lizards might come in, like doors, windows, and cracks, has been shown to stop them from coming inside. Also, research on capsaicin, the thing that makes chili peppers hot, shows that it makes lizards uncomfortable. A simple spray made with chili powder or black pepper mixed with water and sprayed around the places lizards might enter has been shown to work in studies.Use eggshells to keep lizards awayScientists who study pests have noticed that lizards are careful around broken eggshells. This might be because the smell makes them think a predator is nearby since birds often leave shells after eating eggs. Even though there isn’t a lot of science to back this method up it is still a popular chemical-free choice that people have used for a long time.Fix the gaps in the houseThis might be the way to stop lizards from coming in. Studies about how pests get into homes show that lizards can go through small spaces sometimes as small as a few millimeters because their bodies are flexible. Experts say that using caulk or weather stripping to close cracks around doors, windows, and pipes is a way to stop lizards from coming in. This also helps stop the bugs that bring lizards in.Keep the house clean and brightLizards like quiet places where they feel safe. Studies about how lizards act in cities show that bright areas and places that are busy have lizards. This is because light and movement make it harder for lizards to hide. Keeping your house clean in corners behind furniture and in storage areas removes the places lizards like to hide. Even though lizards are not usually dangerous knowing what brings them in and what keeps them out makes it easier to keep your house free of lizards. This can be done using methods that are proven to work not guesses.
