Geckos are reptiles that often appear around our homes.
Although they are useful in dealing with harmful insects such as mosquitoes, ants, and cockroaches, they also carry a type of bacteria called salmonella, which can cause illness in humans.

What’s even more troublesome is their droppings. Not only do they make the house dirty, but they can also become a breeding ground for mold, potentially causing disease. That’s why most homemakers want to get rid of them.

When dealing with geckos, you don’t have to harm them. Just using a few simple methods can drive them out of your home.

A Few Simple Ways to Repel Geckos

1. Use Eggshells

This is a cost-free and highly effective folk remedy. When you eat chicken or duck eggs, don’t throw the shells away. Place the eggshells in the corners of your home, in drawers, under the bed, in cabinets, or on kitchen shelves. Geckos are terrified of the smell of eggshells because chickens are their natural predator. So when they detect the “scent of chicken,” they panic and run off.

2. Use Coffee Grounds and Tobacco

Mix damp coffee grounds with a bit of tobacco powder, roll the mixture into small balls, and stick them onto toothpicks. Place them near the geckos’ nests or areas where they often appear, such as outdoor entry points. Geckos will consume part of the ball and die.

This method not only repels geckos but also eliminates them while still being safe for humans. You can easily prepare this mixture at home:

• Prepare some moist coffee grounds and a little powdered tobacco, roll them into small balls, and secure them to the tips of toothpicks.

• Place them where geckos live or appear frequently.

• The smell of coffee and tobacco will drive them away or kill them.

3. Use Garlic and Onions

Garlic and onions are essential kitchen ingredients. Besides enhancing food flavor, they are also effective in repelling geckos.

If you pay close attention, you’ll notice that where garlic is present, geckos rarely show up. Place garlic in areas geckos frequent, and they’ll stay away. You can also blend garlic into a paste, put it into a spray bottle, and spray it onto walls and corners where geckos appear.

Sliced onions are another strong irritant. Peel and chop the onion into small pieces, then place them where geckos usually hide. The pungent smell scares them away.

4. Use Pepper and Chili

Pepper and chili are common spices with a strong, spicy aroma. This scent makes geckos avoid the area. The method is similar to using garlic and onions. Spray the mixture behind the refrigerator, behind sofas, and on walls—warm, narrow spaces where geckos like to live. The fumes from pepper and chili can irritate their eyes and cause burning sensations on their skin when they come into contact with the mixture.

5. Use Lemongrass and Lemon Essential Oil

You can easily buy lemongrass-lemon essential oil at grocery or convenience stores. Dilute a few drops in water and spray it on walls and ceilings. You can also use an essential oil diffuser or hang scented sachets in areas where geckos normally appear. Once they smell it, they will run away and not return.