It’s bad enough when the tricky corners of your house are teeming with all kinds of gnarly bugs and insects, but an outbreak of slithery, disgusting lizards is something that would collectively have us all go, “Nope. Can’t do it”. And it’s that much harder to get rid of lizards when you’re terrified to even get a few feet near them while they watch you with their beady eyes. Not everyone can chase them out of the house. It gets trickier when you’re not a big fan of the chemicals loaded in the lizard repellents available in stores. We feel you! So, here are some natural yet effective ways to get rid of lizards.

1. Bird Feathers

Ever heard about people who decorate their homes with peacock feathers? Well, it’s not just about home decor. Lizards are absolutely frightened of birds, given birds’ predatory nature. So, keep a couple of bird’s feathers around your place and rest assured that lizards will keep away. Who’s the boss now? And it doesn’t hurt that bird feathers look gorgeous. Match a few different kinds and you’ll get lizard-repelling home decor.

2. Egg Shells

Come summer, and you might spot random eggshells lying on window sills or entryways. This is a method as old as time itself to get rid of lizards. And you’ve probably heard of your grandmothers using eggshells to keep the lizards out of their homes as lizards happen to be repelled by eggs. It sounds too simple to be true, but that’s how it works. Just place them around your house, near windows, doors and behind cupboards, and you can replace the old shells with new ones once in a while. All you need to do is preserve the eggshells from breakfast.

3. Garlic

While garlic can do magic when incorporated into your cooking, lizards can’t stand the smell of it. So, just hang a couple of garlic pieces around the house, especially near the door frames and window sills to keep the lizards out. If you’re facing a particularly bad infestation, you can also prepare a homemade mixture of garlic juice and water and spray it around the house. Use an old bottle with a spray nozzle to do the trick. PS: Did you know the many other benefits of garlic? From getting rid of acne to several other long-term health benefits, garlic is a godsend!

4. Homemade Pepper Spray

Pepper sprays have been popular as a weapon against sexual harassment for a long time now. They can be handy if you need to get out of a dangerous situation quickly. But, did you know that pepper sprays also do a very good job against indoor pests like lizards? Thanks to their overwhelming spicy odour, lizards run far away from them. You can even make your own pepper spray at home using ground black pepper, chilli powder and water. Load the mixture into an empty spray bottle and spray the spicy water around the house. But please be very careful while doing this, and cover your mouth and nose. Ensure there are no children around when you’re using this method.

5. Tabasco/Hot Sauce

Tabasco tastes delicious when drizzled over your spaghetti but its spicy properties also work against lizards that are immediately put off by the smell. Similar to pepper spray, make a mixture of Tabasco sauce and water, and spray the solution around the house to keep the reptiles away.

6. Onions

Just like garlic, lizards hate onions, thanks to their pungent smell. Hang them near doors or windows or simply place them in potential hiding corners. You can also make a spray out of water and onion juice to keep them out if the problem escalates. This is an easy alternative to chemical-based repellents and works effectively to get rid of lizards.

7. Naphthalene Balls

While naphthalene balls do a good job at keeping small bugs and insects away from our homes, they also work wonders against bigger pests like lizards. Just keep them in cupboards and shelves to ensure lizards stay away from your home as far as possible. This way, you also avoid any nasty shocks when you open a cupboard.

8. Coffee Powder

This might involve getting your hands a little dirty, but using coffee powder is a very effective way to get rid of lizards. All you have to do is prepare your own lizard-killing balls made of a combination of coffee powder and tobacco powder. Stick these balls on toothpicks, and leave them in the corners of your shelves and cupboards. Once those horrible creatures consume these balls and die, get rid of their bodies. This also works for getting rid of ants.

So, here you go. These should do the trick nice and easy and help keep your homes safe and lizard-free.

Do you have any remedies for this problem that we haven’t mentioned? Share them with us in the comments.