Once you've taken these steps, it will just be a matter of cleaning up the surrounding environment to reduce the number of hiding places where others may be making their home. By using any of these, youre able to keep your home safe while also benefitting from the many health benefits of essential oils. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Community Q&A Search Add New Question Question How to repel geckos naturally from high ceilings? Dealing with Animals in Your Walls or Attic. Experts are going to have many more tools and techniques at their disposal than the average person, and calling pest control to take care of a lizard problem might be your best bet. How to get rid of geckos in the house? Please consult a pest control professional before applying any tactics from pestpointers.com. Citronella is toxic to pets. Topical application can be used for things like muscle pain, skin conditions, and even headaches. Ultrasonic pest repellers, which emit high-frequency soundwaves that are uncomfortable to rodents and insects, have made significant strides forward in the advancement of killing unwanted species in recent years. As for plants, studies indicate they don't work at all on their own. Made from a mix of herbs, it's an ingredient in many mosquito repellents. Learn more Citronella oil is an essential oil which is made from a variety of Lemon Grass named Cymbopogon. Simply spray your eucalyptus oil solution onto areas youve noticed their presence. What essential oils are effective against snakes and geckos? When I was younger, had a pet Leopard Gecko get loose in my house for eight months and when my mom saw it run across the kitchen floor, she was not happy. There are a few natural alternatives to using essential oils to get rid of snakes and geckos. Strong scents are said to be plants that repel snakes. Fresh lemongrass or lemongrass essential oil is generally more effective in repelling lizards, but a cheaper and more accessible alternative would be to use lemongrass tea leaves. Keep your doors and windows shut. Be sure to check with local laws if you plan to use anything more intense than the recommendations on this list. Most of these methods are based on natural smells and use non-poisonous ingredients that are environmentally friendly. You can rub the oil on the plant skin and deter the flies from the surroundings. If you are thinking about using essential oils, be sure to do your research and talk to your doctor first. Try scattering loose feathers and eggshell fragments around your property to make geckos think the area is unsafe. While these methods are usually effective, they are most effective in combination with other methods of deterring lizards, such as eliminating their food source or closing gaps. With thousands of articles covering everything from do-it-yourself repairs to tips on parenting, Arew has something for everyone. Lemongrass and citronella are two similar plants with a kind of lemony scent and are popular for keeping insects away. Some of the most common reasons that lizards may infest an area are because it provides shelter, sources of food, and warmthtaking away these benefits for lizards or making it more difficult for them to access in combination with scents that they hate will be more effective than only using one or the other. 7. It does not work in this way. Also, reduce their areas to breed. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 41,432 times. The Best Ways to Get Rid of Silverfish Once and for All, The Best Ways to Get Rid of Cockroaches in Your Home, Do You Have Animals in Your Walls? Are there any health benefits attached to peppermint oil use? So, you only need to target lizard-infested areas of your home for application. The oils evaporate quickly. Citronella is probably most famously known as a mosquito repellant, and both are equally effective at keeping lizards away. Testing toxicants and baits to control small invasive lizards. Some plants that are used for their scents in essential oils and other solutions also are great to plant in and around the house to further repel lizards. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. The first option is to mix the oils in a little bit of salt first, and then dissolve the salt in 2oz. So, as long as theyre around, you are likely to contact such a disease. A bug zapper or set of sticky traps can also be useful for warding off insects near your porch or patio. Use a DEET-based insect repellent on your clothing, and wear long sleeves and long pants to provide a barrier against bites and irritation. Not only in the kitchen but in other areas of the house where they can cause issues. -Internal consumption: This is when the oil is taken internally, either by swallowing it or by using it in recipes. Use a broom or a rolled paper to run them out of the house; 2. Therefore, it is important to speak to a doctor before using essential oils. These oils contain the plants essence, or its most important characteristics. Pour the water with the essential oils into the mason jars. There are a number of essential oils that can help to keep snakes and geckos away. The main purpose for using citronella is to discourage insects. In general, lizards pose the risk of spreading salmonella through their skin, urine, or feces. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Lizards have a strong sense of smell, and like a snake use their tongue to smell their surroundings. Wearable mosquito control is no exception. This may be a task too big for the average homeowner as well, and calling a professional will provide a complete solution to lizard-proofing your home. Essential oils are basically just concentrated oils that have been extracted from different plants. While this product is designed and marketed toward insect control, it will also work well for any reptiles. Required fields are marked *. Peppermint and anything else minty is caused by the chemical menthol- a powerful scent most pests cannot stand. When Im not out roaming around 50+ acres of pastures, woods, and a freshwater bass pond, Im at my computer writing on Pest Pointers. This should be enough to drive out the reptiles. This article has been viewed 26,786 times. Lizards are small and able to sneak into places they do not belong. Hot pepper extracts can bother your airways if accidentally inhaled. Birds are the natural predators of most lizards. 9 Simple Reasons Bees Are Flying Around Your Roof, Hot Pepper: Heres How To Use It To Repel Raccoons. That doesn't mean Citrosa plants are worthless. The oil this plant produces is an essential ingredient used to repel a host of pesky bugs. Eliminating anything that offers a secure hiding spot for a lizard will discourage them from staying in that area and moving on to another safe place to be. Citronella is actually an essential oil derived from two grass varieties. Eucalyptus oil simply needs to be diluted in a spray bottle by adding a few drops to water. Lemon Eucalyptus. Stick some of them on the wall and wait for some lizards trapped in the adhesive. Citronella oil is a naturally occurring oil on a perennial plant called citronella grass. [4] 2 Use citronella torches in the garden. Onion & Garlic. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Using cloves of raw garlic placed near cracks and in corners of your home can be a great way to keep lizards away. Herpetophobia is the fear of reptiles and is one of the most common phobias in the world, and for good reason. References. Garlic and onion scents are overwhelming for a lizards powerful sense of smell and naturally, they will choose to avoid them. -Topical application: This is when the oil is applied directly to the skin. However, since were discussing lizard control, well mention only those that can get the job done. Visit our Terms and Conditions for more information. Their natural habitat is anywhere tropical or sub-tropical. Citronella is a by-product of lemongrass, which repels mosquitoes as well. Theyre harmless to humans, and can be very helpful for controlling insect populations, especially objectionable pests like mosquitoes and cockroaches. With kitchens being a warm and humid area in the house, it is not unlikely that lizards find their way into food and cooking supplies. And the Environmental Protection Agency does say that it is a minimum risk . In fact, citronella can be toxic to pets. Exclusion is one of the best methods for dealing with a lizard problem, as its more or less permanent and doesnt require you to disperse toxic chemicals around your home. The lemon scent of citronella is used as a natural insect repellent in the form of candles, oil burners (citronella torches), sprays, lotions and soaps. When outdoors, citronella. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. That doesn't mean you're totally wasting your time if you use those citronella candles or torches, though. Vinegar has such a pungent smell that it is no surprise that it is effective at keeping lizards away. By using our site, you agree to our. Citronella candles can be used in homes and porch areas to repel insects and mosquitoes. Essential oils have been successfully used for a variety of lizard control issues. If you have small children or pets, be careful not to let them get near the traps you've set. Thankfully, lizards are typically harmless, especially the ones that usually find themselves close to where people live. However, its pleasing scent affects lizards differently. However, harmless or not, most people do not want lizards surprising them in the morning when getting dressed and making coffee, or finding them crawling on food or hiding under the fridge. Lower The Temperature In Your House This technique may be especially effective when the temperatures outside start dropping and lizards search for warm places to hide. This is necessary until lizards are eliminated. Plant marigolds as edging, borders, in containers or intermingled with your other garden plants. Citronella is the extract from just your average lemongrass plant. What are the benefits of using essential oils? We use cookies to make wikiHow great. How to Make the Citronella Solution. The standing water may attract insects, which will in turn draw geckos. What are the side effects of using essential oils? This mineral buildup can block the showerhead's water flow, preventing it from Can you cook mince 1 day out of date? So, while dealing with your lizard problems, all sorts of pests are also driven off. Even in nature, you wont find lizards climbing in eucalyptus trees and we can take advantage of these properties as a great lizard repellant. The result is an invincible barrier that keeps these reptiles at bay. Not as well as we'd like. Rubbing the crushed leaves on your skin may repel mosquitoes like any citronella-based repellent for the skin. Benefits of using citronella essential oils include serving as an air freshener, being an antidepressant, stabilizing your nervous system, helps with the elimination of anxiety, and enhance sleep and relaxation. New Phytologist, 220(3), 692-702. So what essential oil can get rid of lizards? You dont need to know where they live. hanging out in your lawn or garden, think twice before driving them away. Natural scents lizards hate include strong spices, lemongrass, citronella, garlic, onion, eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender, lemon, and man-made options such as vinegar and Pine-Sol. By the way, I also recommend taking a look at our guide the reasons why lizards are in your yard in order to better understand where you should use these scents! Like most essential oils, this is a non-toxic natural product that can be used for lizard control. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. However, it is also found to be useful in deterring insects like: Flies Ticks Ants Gnats But you may be wondering,, Read More Can Woodchucks (Groundhogs) Actually Chuck Wood?Continue, As the weather shifts from freezing your toes off cold to roasting your skin hot, insects come out of hibernation to bug us all. Just dilute the hot sauce or pepper with water and spray it along the edges of your patio. If you keep geckos as pets, you can even use chlorhexidine in a spray bottle to clean and disinfect their cage. Learn more Geckos may look unassuming (or even kind of cute), but in large numbers they can be a real pest. It is found in many familiar insect repellent products: candles, lotions, gels, sprays and towelette wipes. Management Of Biological Invasions, 11(3), 461-475. Many of the scents above serve double duty in preventing insects and make a great start to controlling bug populations. Organization run by Oregon State University providing objective, science-based information about pests and pesticides, How to Use Citronella As an Insect Repellent, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citronella_oil, http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2016/01/30/464740275/whats-the-best-way-to-keep-mosquitoes-from-biting, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8827606, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18437832, http://npic.orst.edu/ingred/citronella.html, http://jinsectscience.oxfordjournals.org/content/15/1/140. Look no further than essential oils! If you typically rely on. These could be destructive or simply annoying. Tammy Slater is the founder of arew.org, a home and garden blog that provides inspiration and resources for homeowners and renters alike. What you can try is to be patient and wait for geckos to come down and cover it with a towel and release it outside. [11] A bug zapper or set of sticky traps can also be useful for warding off insects near your porch or patio. Plus, you get to enjoy its many health benefits. Apart from essential oil treatments, there are other ways to rid your home of lizard presence. wikiHow is a wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. These oils can be used in a diffuser or added to a spray bottle of water and sprayed around the perimeter of your home. Mosquito Plant. Unlike most of these aromatic plants, it's the flowers that produce the scent rather than the leaves. Like many essential oils, it dissipates and loses potency after a few hours. This can include black pepper, chili powder, cayenne, and even plain ol hot sauce. We do not condone any individuals putting themselves or their homes at risk by taking any extreme measures towards keeping lizards away. Last Updated: February 17, 2023 . Just to add when you shop using links from Pest Pointers, we may earn affiliate commissions if you make a purchase. So you do need to care for your plant well enough that it will bloom indoors for you. Generally they won't be effective in areas with free flowing air since the scent is dispersed too quickly and won't be strong enough to repel insects; the range of effectiveness is small. Why do plants produce so many terpenoid compounds?. Flypaper - Sticky flypapers are as good as trapping lizards as they are at trapping flies. Apart from being used for aromatherapy treatments, these oils are also useful as pest repellents. While the scents listed above work great for repelling lizards, they are not always 100% effective and a plan of attack from multiple angles may be necessary to keep the lizards away. 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