How to Get Rid of Lizards In the Garage
If you are experiencing any sort of pests in your garage, it can be frustrating to deal with– of course, they are unwelcome guests and you want to get them out of your garage and back outdoors where they belong. Lizards, while they may be cute, are fast and often hide in dark corners. This makes them hard to get rid of or chase away. Luckily, there are plenty of ways that you can get rid of the lizards in your garage without having to trap or kill them. Read on for some of the best ways that you can deter lizards from your space.
Key Take Aways
Here are three main key takeaways to get a lizard out of your garage:
- Provide an Escape Route: Open the garage door to give the lizard a clear path to exit. Often, they will leave on their own when they find an escape route.
- Guide and Relocate: Gently guide the lizard toward the exit using a long stick or broom. If necessary, carefully trap the lizard using a container and release it outside.
- Prevent Future Entry: After ensuring the lizard has left, take preventative measures like sealing gaps, reducing nighttime lighting, and maintaining a clean garage to minimize insect attraction and subsequent lizard visits.
Once the lizard is out, you want to KEEP it out, here are some products that can help with that.
Seal Cracks or Gaps
One of the most important things that you should do when dealing with pests is to ensure that you eliminate the way that the pests are getting in in the first place. This is something that you should consider, regardless of the species of pest that you are dealing with.
Pests like lizards are usually able to squeeze in through small cracks or gaps in the foundation. They can also fit under that gap at the bottom of your garage door, so be sure to use a sealer.
Take a full lap of the space (around your garage) and assess any potential entrances. Then, you can also seal them with chicken wire, putty, or plaster. There are a few different ways that you can do this, so choose whichever works best for your space and the cracks or gaps.
Another thing that you should do is be sure that the windows and doors are not posing as potential entrances for pests. A way that this could be happening is if the windows or doors have been left open. If the weatherstripping is damaged, it can also create gaps around the door or windows where lizards can enter– in this case, you will want to be sure to replace the weatherstripping.
Also Read – How to get rid of rats in your Garage
Get Rid of Clutter
Clutter is also something that attracts lizards and other pests, or it can contribute to them remaining in the garage space. This is because it can help to provide dark spots where lizards can hide or lay their eggs. This is because lizards, as a rule, typically like dark and quiet spaces. Clutter– especially things such as boxes or stacks of cardboard or wood– can provide a very appealing shelter that lizards would not want to leave.
The garage is also out of the elements, so it is generally safer and more protected than any spot that a lizard would find outside. If you get rid of the clutter in the space, though, the lizards will not have as many options for shelter and the garage will not be as appealing.
This will also help keep flying insects out of your garage, and flying insects are something that will attract lizards.
Also Read – How to Organize Your Tools
Plant some Outdoor Plants
Go ahead and plant outdoor plants.
Outdoor plants play a pivotal role in deterring lizards from making their way into your garage. By establishing a natural habitat, you offer lizards an environment that’s both appealing and practical for their needs.
Sunlit spaces with plants provide ideal hiding spots, shielding them from predators. Moreover, these plants attract insects, ensuring lizards have a steady food source available right outside. This combination of shelter and food in the immediate vicinity reduces their motivation to venture into the darker, less hospitable confines of a garage.
Additionally, certain aromatic plants like lavender, rosemary, and marigold can act as natural insect repellents, thereby indirectly reducing lizard attraction. Dense plantings near garage walls serve a dual purpose: they form physical barriers, making it harder for lizards to access potential entry points, and regulate micro-environmental temperatures, offering lizards comfortable shaded areas during hot days. Pairing this green strategy with other preventive measures, such as sealing garage gaps and reducing attractive lights at night, ensures a holistic approach to keeping lizards at bay.
Eliminate Moisture and Dampness
Lizards also do well in moist and damp areas, so if your garage has a lot of moisture or humidity, it will be more conducive to the lizards. One of the ways that you can combat this is to do your best to eliminate the moisture or dampness. An easy way to do this is to install a powerful dehumidifier in the garage. This helps to make the space less hospitable for the lizards, which can drive them back outside.
Use Smells
Smells are another powerful way for people to deal with pests of many species– and lizards are no exception. Lizards do not like smells like hot sauce, cayenne, or pepper. Luckily, these are also ingredients that most people have in their cabinets! All that you have to do is create a mixture with one of these ingredients and water, and you can then spray the space with the mixture to deter the lizards. Be sure to concentrate especially on dark corners and areas where you have noticed lizards. Other smells that lizards do not like are coffee grounds and Pine Sol, so you can utilize these as well.
Further Reading – How to get rid of snakes in your garage?
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get lizards out of my garage?
There are a few ways that you can discourage lizards from entering your garage without using traps or trying to kill them because if you don’t have to kill lizards you shouldn’t. One of the ways that you can do this is to utilize smells. Scents such as hot sauce, cayenne, and pepper are ones that lizards dislike. You can make a mixture with the pepper of your choosing and warm water, and then spray it around the perimeter of the garage or in the corners and other areas that the lizards tend to frequent.
How do you keep lizards away?
One of the most important ways to keep lizards out of your garage is to make sure that they cannot get into the space in the first place. Seal any cracks or holes that the lizards are coming in through. Then, you can use different methods to discourage lizards from wanting to be in the garage– you can do this by using strong smells like pepper or hot sauce. You can also set traps in your home to get rid of the lizards if you prefer.
What smell do lizards hate?
Lizards do not like many strong smells, so these can be a great way to deter them from your garage or your home. Some examples of strong smells that lizards really do not like are cayenne, pepper, hot sauce, or coffee. You can make a mixture of these smells and water and spray the space to keep the lizards away. Naphthalene balls are another way that you can deter lizards– be sure to place them throughout the garage so that they are evenly interspersed. Otherwise, the lizards may just avoid them and congregate in areas that do not have naphthalene balls.
How do you get rid of house lizards fast?
Pepper water irritates lizards, so spraying your space can be a great and easy way to get rid of house lizards quickly. If you do not want your space to smell like pepper, though, you can also use coffee grounds or naphthalene balls to scare off lizards through scent. Pine Sol is said to keep lizards away, too, and this can be a much more pleasant scent for you and your family to put up with!
What is the best home repellent for lizards?
To repel lizards from your home, various methods can be employed:
Home remedies can be effective in repelling lizards. Here are some popular home remedies that many people have found success with:
- Garlic or Onion: The strong odor of garlic and onions repels lizards. Place garlic cloves or onion slices in areas where lizards frequent. Alternatively, you can make a spray by blending garlic cloves or onions with water and spray it around your home.
- Pepper Spray: Lizards dislike the pungent smell of pepper. Create a mixture using crushed black pepper and water, then spray it around the house, especially near entry points.
- Eggshells: Some believe that lizards mistake eggshells for other lizards’ eggs and avoid the area. Placing broken eggshells in corners, windowsills, and near entry points might deter lizards.
- Lemon and Water: The strong citrus smell of lemon is said to repel lizards. Mix lemon juice with water and spray around the house. You can also place lemon peels near entry points.
- Coffee and Tobacco: Mix coffee grounds with tobacco and make small tobacco and coffee balls. Place these in corners and areas frequented by lizards. The smell is unappealing to them.
- Cold Water: Spraying cold water on lizards can make them immobile temporarily, making it easier to remove them. This doesn’t repel them per se, but it can be a quick remedy if you spot one inside.
- Keep your Home Clean: A clean home is less attractive to pests, including lizards. Make sure there’s no food residue, especially from fruits, as they can attract insects which in turn can attract lizards.
- Limit Indoor Plants: Some plants and the insects they attract can be inviting for lizards. By minimizing the number of indoor plants or ensuring they don’t harbor insects, you can make your home less appealing to lizards.
Always remember to handle lizards with care if you come into contact with them. They are generally harmless and beneficial in controlling insect populations. The goal should be to repel them gently without causing harm.
What are Some Other Ways?
- Electronic Pest Repelling Devices: These devices emit ultrasonic waves that are bothersome to lizards and other pests. Using electronic pest repelling devices can deter lizards from entering and staying in your home. Getting rid of bugs will help get rid of lizards.
- Lizard Trap: While the main aim is to repel lizards, sometimes trapping them is necessary, especially if there’s a persistent intruder. Lizard traps can be set up in areas that typically attract lizards. Once trapped, they can be released safely away from the home.
Remember, it’s essential to identify and remove elements that attract lizards, such as food sources or hiding spots, to make your repellent strategies more effective.
