How to Get Rid of Lizards at Home: Natural Methods and Two Proven Remedies That Actually Work
Lizards, though harmless, often invoke discomfort and fear when spotted on walls, ceilings, or near kitchen lights. Their sudden appearances can be unsettling, especially during the summer and monsoon seasons when they are most active. Fortunately, there are several safe and natural methods to repel lizards from your home without using harmful chemicals.
Towards the end of this comprehensive guide, we also include effective remedies shared by Yoga Guru Kailash Vishnoi that cost as little as ₹2.
Keep Your Home Clean
The foundation of a lizard-free home lies in maintaining cleanliness. Lizards are primarily attracted to insects, which thrive in cluttered or dirty environments. Here’s how you can prevent them:
- Sweep and mop floors daily
- Wipe kitchen counters after cooking
- Avoid leaving dirty dishes overnight
- Store leftover food properly
- Take out trash regularly
Eliminating insects will automatically reduce the presence of lizards.
Seal All Possible Entry Points
Lizards are agile and can easily squeeze through tiny cracks and crevices. Carefully inspect your house for:
- Cracks in walls
- Gaps around windows and doors
- Open vents or exhaust fans
Seal them using caulk, weatherstripping, or mesh. Installing window and vent screens will also prevent entry.
Remove Their Food Source
Lizards thrive on a diet of ants, flies, mosquitoes, and other small insects. You can cut off their food supply by:
- Using insect repellents
- Installing flytraps
- Eliminating stagnant water sources
- Keeping garbage bins tightly closed
No food, no lizards.
Eggshell Trick
An old home remedy involves placing eggshell halves in corners, near doors, or on windowsills. The scent supposedly signals the presence of predators to lizards, keeping them away. Replace the eggshells every few days for hygiene and effectiveness.
Coffee and Tobacco Balls
Prepare natural lizard repellents by mixing equal amounts of coffee powder and tobacco leaves into small balls. Place these in areas frequently visited by lizards, such as behind cupboards, under sinks, or near windows. The smell deters lizards. Caution: These balls can be harmful if ingested by children or pets.
Pepper Spray
Make a homemade lizard repellent spray:
- Mix 1 tablespoon of black pepper or red chili powder in a spray bottle with water
- Shake well and spray it around lizard-prone areas like walls, cabinets, and windows
The spicy aroma irritates lizards and drives them away.
Garlic and Onion
Both garlic and onion have strong odors that lizards despise. Hang garlic cloves or place onion slices in corners and under cabinets. This is a safe and chemical-free solution.
Cold Water Spray
Lizards are cold-blooded animals and their movement slows in cold temperatures. Spraying cold water directly on them can make them sluggish, allowing you to gently guide them out of the house using a broom or stick.
Two Proven Home Remedies by Yoga Guru Kailash Vishnoi
Yoga Guru Kailash Vishnoi recently shared two simple, low-cost remedies that have gone viral on social media. These can be made easily using household items:
Remedy 1: Camphor-Dettol Spray (Cost: ₹2)
Ingredients:
- 4 camphor tablets (crushed into powder)
- 10–15 ml Dettol
- 150 ml water
- 1 spray bottle
How to Use:
Mix all the ingredients thoroughly and pour into a spray bottle. Spray this solution wherever you frequently spot lizards—corners, cupboards, under sinks, etc. The strong aroma of camphor combined with Dettol’s antiseptic properties is highly effective.
Remedy 2: Onion-Garlic Juice Spray
Ingredients:
- 1 onion (cut into large pieces)
- 5–6 garlic cloves (peeled)
- 150 ml water
How to Use:
Grind the onion and garlic into a paste and extract the juice. Mix with water and spray it in corners, window edges, doors, and any visible cracks. The intense smell, especially the sulfur compounds in garlic, repels lizards effectively.
How These Remedies Work
- Camphor emits a pungent smell lizards find intolerable
- Dettol adds a sharp scent and antimicrobial action
- Garlic contains sulfur, which lizards avoid
- Onion enhances the pungent effect
These are chemical-free, cost-effective, and safe for most households when used responsibly.
While lizards play a valuable ecological role by consuming insects, keeping them out of your living space is understandable. By combining good hygiene, preventive measures, and these natural remedies—including expert-backed hacks—you can maintain a clean, peaceful, and lizard-free home.
The remedies mentioned are based on home practices and expert opinions shared online. Results may vary. Use caution, especially around children and pets.

