How to Get Rid of Lizards at Home: What Works

Get rid of house lizards safely: cut the insects they feed on, seal entry gaps and avoid risky remedies like mothballs. University-backed tips for Indian homes.

House lizards in Indian homes are usually house geckos (Hemidactylus species). They are drawn indoors by insects and by the lights that attract those insects. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension notes that no pesticides are registered for gecko control, and that management should focus on keeping the lizards out of the building. So the most effective approach is not a spray: it is fewer insects, fewer entry gaps and fewer hiding places.

This guide explains what university sources recommend, which popular home remedies carry real risks, and when to ask for help. It does not describe Herbal Pest Control Service's treatment protocol; ask for that in writing during an inspection.

Why lizards come indoors

Geckos are mostly active at night and gather around lit windows, tube lights and porch lights, where insects collect. UF/IFAS Extension describes them as insect eaters that may live inside or outside a structure. A home with plenty of moths, flies, mosquitoes or cockroaches near the lights offers them a reliable food supply.

They enter through cracks, gaps around doors and windows, and openings around pipes and electrical lines. During the day they shelter in poorly sealed gaps, behind furniture, frames and stored items.

Signs to look for

Small droppings that are elongated and brownish, often with a white tip. Texas A&M notes they can stain curtains, carpets and walls.

Small oval white eggs tucked into crevices or behind stored items.

Lizards that appear on the same wall or near the same light every evening.

Step 1: Reduce the insects they feed on

Because geckos follow their food, controlling indoor insects is the first step.

Switch off lights that are not needed near open windows and balconies in the evening, or keep those windows screened.

Fit mesh screens on windows and ventilators where practical.

Keep kitchens clean and food covered so cockroaches and flies have less to feed on. See our kitchen cockroach prevention tips.

Remove standing water to reduce mosquitoes. Our dengue mosquito control guide explains where water collects.

Step 2: Seal the way in

Texas A&M recommends checking and replacing weather stripping around doors and windows, and sealing cracks around plumbing and electrical openings with sealant, silicone caulk or expanding foam.

Check gaps under main and balcony doors and fit door sweeps where light is visible underneath.

Seal openings around AC pipes, drain pipes and cable entry points.

Repair torn window mesh.

Step 3: Remove daytime hiding places

Reduce clutter behind cupboards, frames, calendars and stacked cartons.

Move stored items away from walls periodically and clean behind them.

Check balconies and utility areas for piles of unused material.

Step 4: Moving a lizard out of a room

Lizards are not aggressive. To move one out, open the nearest door or window, switch off the room light and turn on a light outside. You can also gently guide it into a container with a sheet of card and release it outdoors. Avoid trying to crush or swat it.

UF/IFAS notes that glue boards kill geckos because they cannot be released, so we do not recommend them as a humane option.

What doesn't work, and what can be dangerous

Pesticide sprays for lizards. No pesticide is registered for gecko control, according to both Texas A&M and UF/IFAS. Spraying insecticide on walls to "kill lizards" exposes your family to chemicals without solving the problem.

Mothballs (naphthalene). Mothballs are often placed in corners to repel lizards, but they are a pesticide. The National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) explains that when you smell mothballs you are inhaling the chemical. NPIC also warns that small children and pets may eat them because they look like sweets, and that exposure can cause headaches, nausea and, in some cases, hemolytic anemia. People with an inherited enzyme deficiency (such as G6PD deficiency) are at much greater risk. Do not leave mothballs in open rooms, kitchens or near children's play areas.

Eggshells, onion, garlic, pepper sprays and peacock feathers. These are widely shared remedies, but we did not find university research showing they keep geckos away. Pepper sprays can also irritate eyes and skin. Treat them as unproven.

If someone swallows a mothball or a pest product

Keep the product container or label. Contact a doctor or the nearest hospital emergency department immediately and show them the label. Do not induce vomiting unless a medical professional tells you to.

When to ask for help

Consider professional help if lizards keep appearing after you have sealed obvious gaps and reduced insects, or if you have a large insect problem that is drawing them in. Our lizard control service begins with an inspection. Ask what method is proposed, which areas will be treated and what precautions apply, in writing, before you agree to a quote. If spiders or flies are part of the problem, see spider control and fly control.

Frequently asked questions

Are house lizards dangerous?

House geckos are not aggressive and generally avoid people. They are mainly a nuisance because of their droppings. As with any animal, wash your hands after cleaning droppings and keep food covered.

Will lizards leave on their own?

They may become less common if there are fewer insects to eat and fewer gaps to enter. Sealing and insect reduction work together; neither is usually enough alone.

Do neem or herbal sprays repel lizards?

We did not find university research showing that neem or other herbal sprays repel geckos. Neem has a role in some insect control; our neem oil guide explains what the evidence supports.

Sources

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Insects in the City: House geckos

UF/IFAS Extension Lake County: Managing House Geckos

National Pesticide Information Center (Oregon State University): Naphthalene Fact Sheet

How to Get Rid of Lizards at Home: What Works and What Doesn't