Common house geckos are small, nocturnal reptiles often found near human dwellings seeking warmth and food. While they are beneficial insectivores, their presence inside a home can be unwelcome. Successfully managing these creatures relies on a practical, multi-step approach focused on non-harmful exclusion and deterrence. This guide details methods for modifying the environment, fortifying the structure, and applying localized repellents to encourage geckos to relocate.
Eliminating Environmental Attractions
The presence of geckos is fundamentally linked to the availability of food and shelter. Geckos are drawn by insects, their primary food source, so reducing the local insect population is the most effective long-term strategy. Many common household pests like flies, moths, and beetles are attracted to light sources after dark.
Replacing high-intensity exterior white or blue bulbs with yellow, sodium vapor, or warm LED lighting can significantly reduce insect congregation around the home. These alternatives emit wavelengths of light that are less attractive to most flying insects. Turning off non-essential outdoor lights during the evening hours further breaks the insect-attraction cycle, especially since geckos are most active after sunset.
Geckos seek out dark, sheltered spaces for refuge, warmth, and reproduction. Overgrown vegetation, such as shrubs and vines near the foundation, provides an easy climbing route and an ideal habitat. Trimming plants away from the exterior walls, ideally leaving a gap of several inches, removes these convenient hiding spots. Debris piles like wood stacks, leaf litter, and grass clippings should also be removed, as they offer shelter for both geckos and the insects they consume.
Geckos are attracted to sources of moisture and standing water, which also serve as a breeding ground for insects like mosquitoes. Fixing any plumbing leaks, especially around outdoor faucets, air conditioning units, or decorative fountains, eliminates these unintentional water sources. Maintaining low humidity indoors, particularly in damp areas like basements, kitchens, and bathrooms, can make the environment less hospitable to these moisture-loving reptiles. Removing the incentives of food and shelter will encourage geckos to relocate.
Sealing Entry Points
Geckos are highly adaptable and can squeeze their bodies through incredibly small gaps to access the interior of a structure. A thorough inspection of the building’s exterior and foundation is necessary to identify and seal all potential access points. Sealing these openings with durable materials represents the most direct mechanical exclusion strategy.
Utility penetrations, where pipes, wires, or cables enter the home, are common and often overlooked entry routes. These gaps should be filled using high-quality silicone or acrylic latex caulk to create a continuous, flexible barrier. For larger or irregularly shaped holes in the foundation or walls, copper mesh or steel wool can be packed in tightly before sealing to provide a more robust, impenetrable block.
Doors and windows require specific attention to their seals and screening to prevent access. Damaged window and door screens must be repaired or entirely replaced, as geckos can easily exploit even minor tears and holes. Applying fresh weather stripping under exterior doors and around window frames eliminates the small space between the frame and the moving component.
Deploying Active Deterrents
Localized deterrence methods exploit the gecko’s aversion to certain strong odors or physical textures. Garlic cloves emit sulfur compounds that reptiles find repellent, creating an olfactory barrier when whole cloves are placed near door thresholds or known hiding spots. Similarly, the pungent smell of sliced onions or a mixture of essential oils like peppermint or eucalyptus can deter geckos from lingering.
A unique non-toxic repellent involves using broken eggshells, which geckos perceive as the visual presence of a larger predator. Placing two halves of a hen’s eggshell near entryways or in kitchen corners can psychologically deter the geckos, making them avoid the area. The shells should be replaced every three to four weeks to maintain the visual effect and prevent spoilage.
Another strong-smelling option involves creating a paste of coffee grounds mixed with tobacco, which can be placed in small, concealed balls near gecko paths. The use of naphthalene balls, commonly known as mothballs, is also sometimes suggested due to their intense odor, but these must be used with extreme caution. Mothballs are toxic and should only be placed in areas completely inaccessible to children or pets.
For capturing an indoor gecko, sticky traps placed flat along baseboards or behind appliances can be used as a last resort. These traps require diligent monitoring to ensure a trapped animal can be humanely released outside the home. A final active measure is using a mixture of chili powder and water as a spray, which utilizes the irritant properties of capsaicin.