You've got a "GEICO lizard" problem, huh? Well, don't worry, you're not alone! While the actual GEICO gecko is a CGI character (based on a Madagascar Day Gecko), real geckos, often common house geckos (Hemidactylus frenatus), can certainly make themselves at home in your house. They're often seen as harmless, even beneficial for eating insects, but their droppings and sometimes their sheer numbers can become a nuisance.
So, if you're ready to reclaim your living space from these little wall-climbers, let's get started with a comprehensive, step-by-step guide on how to get rid of geckos!
How to Get Rid of Geckos: A Comprehensive Guide
The key to effective gecko control is a multi-pronged approach that tackles their food source, entry points, and preferred habitats. We'll explore both natural and more direct methods.
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| How To Get Rid Of Geico Lizard |
Step 1: Engage Your Inner Detective and Identify the Culprit!
Before you start any gecko eradication mission, take a moment to understand who you're dealing with. Are they small, brown, and translucent, often found near lights at night? These are likely common house geckos. While the GEICO gecko is a specific type of Day Gecko, the real-life "pests" are usually Hemidactylus frenatus. Knowing your enemy helps you understand their habits!
QuickTip: Use the post as a quick reference later.
- Observe their habits: Where do you see them most often? Are they clustered around outdoor lights? Do they scurry across your kitchen counter? Noticing their preferred hangout spots will inform your strategy.
- Check for droppings: Gecko droppings look like small, dark pellets, often with a white tip (uric acid). Finding these indicates active gecko presence.
Step 2: Eliminate Their All-You-Can-Eat Buffet: Pest Control is Key
Geckos come indoors primarily for one reason: food. They feast on insects like mosquitoes, flies, spiders, and even cockroaches. If you get rid of their food source, they'll be much less inclined to stick around. This is arguably the most important step.
Sub-heading: Fortify Your Defenses Against Other Pests
- Keep your home impeccably clean: Crumbs, spills, and uncovered food are an open invitation for insects, and thus, geckos. Regularly sweep, vacuum, and wipe down surfaces. Don't leave pet food out overnight.
- Address plumbing leaks: Geckos love damp, humid environments. Leaky pipes or faucets create ideal breeding grounds for insects and offer appealing moisture for geckos. Fix them promptly!
- Manage outdoor vegetation: Dense bushes, overgrown shrubs, and piles of leaves or firewood near your house provide excellent hiding spots and breeding grounds for insects. Trim vegetation back from your house, and store firewood at least a foot off the ground.
- Reduce outdoor lighting: Bright outdoor lights attract a myriad of insects, which in turn attracts geckos. Consider using yellow "bug lights" or motion-sensor lights, or simply reduce the amount of time your outdoor lights are on.
- Consider targeted insecticide application (with caution):
- Granular insecticides: Products like Valar Plus Bifenthrin Granules can be applied around the perimeter of your house to significantly reduce outdoor insect populations for up to 90 days. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions and wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Liquid insecticides: Insecticide concentrates like Supreme IT can be sprayed as a barrier treatment around doors, windows, and cracks. For indoor application, focus on cracks and crevices where insects might hide. Remember, these are not directly for geckos, but for their food source.
Step 3: Seal the Fortress: Block Their Entry Points
Geckos are surprisingly adept at squeezing through tiny openings. Even a small crack can be an invitation. This step is about making your home inhospitable from the outside in.
Sub-heading: Become a Master of Exclusion
- Inspect and seal all cracks and crevices: Thoroughly examine your home's exterior for any gaps, holes, or cracks in walls, foundations, and around utility pipes. Use caulk for smaller gaps and concrete patch or expanding foam for larger ones.
- Repair or install screens: Ensure all windows and doors have well-fitting, intact screens. Repair any tears or holes immediately.
- Check weather stripping: Replace any missing or damaged weather stripping around doors and windows. This not only keeps out geckos but also improves energy efficiency.
- Seal gaps around pipes and vents: Use mesh (like copper mesh or steel wool, which geckos won't chew through) to block openings around pipes that enter your house, dryer vents, and attic vents.
Step 4: Natural Deterrents: Make Your Home Unpleasant for Geckos
While not as immediately effective as removing their food source or blocking entry, natural deterrents can make your home less appealing to geckos.
Tip: Reread slowly for better memory.
Sub-heading: Scents and Substances Geckos Dislike
- Eggshells: Geckos are apparently intimidated by the scent of sulfur in eggshells, which they associate with birds, a natural predator. Place crushed eggshells in areas where you've seen geckos. Replace them every few weeks.
- Garlic and Onions: The strong, pungent odor of garlic and onions is a deterrent. Place slices of garlic cloves or cut onions in corners or near entry points. You can also make a spray by mixing garlic or onion juice with water.
- Coffee and Tobacco: This is a more aggressive natural method. Mix coffee powder with loose tobacco and form small balls. Stick these on toothpicks and place them in areas where geckos are active. The tobacco is poisonous to them.
- Naphthalene balls (Mothballs): The strong smell of mothballs can repel geckos. Place them in corners or areas where geckos are frequently seen. Use with caution, as mothballs can be toxic to pets and children if ingested and the fumes can be irritating.
- Pepper spray (DIY): Mix black pepper and chili powder with vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Shake well and spray on surfaces where geckos are present. The irritation to their skin, eyes, and nose can deter them.
- Essential Oils: Certain essential oils like peppermint, citronella, and eucalyptus have strong scents that geckos dislike. Dilute a few drops of these oils in water and spray around entry points and frequented areas.
- Lemongrass: Similar to citronella, lemongrass has a strong scent that repels insects (and thus, their predators like geckos). You can place shredded lemongrass stalks around your house or use lemongrass essential oil.
Step 5: Direct Removal: Traps and Physical Eviction
If you have a persistent gecko or one trapped indoors, direct removal might be necessary.
Sub-heading: Catching and Releasing (or Disposing)
- Glue Traps: These sticky traps are effective for catching geckos that have made their way indoors. Place them along walls, near entryways, or in areas where you've seen geckos. Be aware that caught geckos will be stuck and you'll need to dispose of them or, if you prefer, carefully release them (this can be tricky without harming them).
- DIY Humane Traps:
- Shoebox Trap: Cut small holes in a shoebox, line it with warm, wet paper towels (geckos are drawn to humidity), and place it against a wall in a quiet area. Check it frequently.
- Pitfall Trap (Outdoor): Dig a hole the depth of a bucket, place the bucket in it flush with the ground, and add a wet sponge and some insect bait (like watermelon or crickets). Cover with a net or mesh that allows entry but prevents escape.
- Funnel Traps: Create a cylinder from mesh hardware cloth with funnel-shaped openings at each end. Place a wet sponge inside and some insect bait.
- Net or Hands (Carefully!): For a visible gecko, you can try to gently scoop it up with a long net or even cupped hands (wearing gloves if you're squeamish or if it's a larger species that might nip). Always release geckos outdoors away from your home if possible.
Step 6: Long-Term Prevention: Maintain a Gecko-Free Environment
Getting rid of geckos is one thing; keeping them away is another. Consistency is key for long-term success.
Sub-heading: Sustaining Your Efforts
- Regular Inspections: Periodically check your home's exterior and interior for new cracks, gaps, or signs of insect activity.
- Maintain Cleanliness: Continue with diligent cleaning habits to deny insects a food source.
- Monitor Pest Activity: If you notice a resurgence of insects, address it quickly to prevent geckos from returning.
- Review and Adjust: If a particular method isn't working, don't be afraid to try a different one or combine several strategies.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to identify a common house gecko?
Common house geckos are typically small (3-6 inches), slender, with large, lidless eyes, and a coloration ranging from light brown to grey. They often have bumpy skin and are nocturnal, frequently seen near lights feeding on insects.
Tip: Don’t skim past key examples.
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How to get rid of geckos naturally?
Natural methods include using deterrents like eggshells, garlic, onions, coffee with tobacco balls, essential oil sprays (peppermint, citronella), and maintaining a clean, insect-free environment.
How to make a DIY gecko repellent spray?
Mix equal parts water and white vinegar, then add a few drops of peppermint or citronella essential oil, or blend in some garlic or onion juice. Shake well and spray on surfaces.
How to humanely trap a gecko indoors?
You can use a shoebox trap lined with wet paper towels and placed against a wall, or a simple glue trap if you're prepared to carefully release the gecko using vegetable oil to dissolve the adhesive.
QuickTip: Don’t ignore the small print.
How to prevent geckos from entering my house?
Seal all cracks and crevices in your home's exterior, repair or install screens on windows and doors, and ensure weather stripping is intact.
How to reduce insects that attract geckos?
Maintain excellent hygiene by cleaning up food spills, fixing leaks, trimming outdoor vegetation away from your house, and reducing excessive outdoor lighting. Targeted insecticide application can also help control insect populations.
How to clean gecko droppings?
Gecko droppings can be cleaned with a regular household cleaner and a paper towel. For hard surfaces, a disinfectant can be used to ensure thorough cleaning.
How to know if I have a gecko infestation?
Signs of an infestation include frequent sightings of geckos indoors, an abundance of gecko droppings, and possibly chirping sounds at night (some gecko species are vocal).
How to make my garden less appealing to geckos?
Keep your garden tidy by trimming bushes, removing leaf piles and debris, and storing firewood off the ground. This reduces hiding spots and insect populations that geckos feed on.
How to distinguish geckos from other lizards?
Geckos often have soft bodies, typically lack eyelids (they lick their eyes to clean them), and many species have specialized toe pads that allow them to climb smooth, vertical surfaces. Other lizards might have scales, eyelids, and lack such climbing abilities.
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