6 Solutions to Prevent Geckos from Entering Your Home

Geckos are harmless creatures that eat insects and rarely cause damage, but that doesn’t mean you want them crawling across your walls, ceilings, or lampshades. For many homeowners, the sudden appearance of a gecko inside the house is unpleasant, surprising, and unwelcome.

The good news?

You don’t need harmful chemicals or professional extermination to keep geckos away.

A few natural, practical, and highly effective strategies can prevent them from entering your home and make your living space less attractive to them.

Here are six proven solutions to stop geckos from entering your home — safely and naturally.

1. Seal All Entry Points — The Most Important Step

Geckos don’t magically appear inside the house — they enter through tiny gaps, cracks, and openings.

The first step to stopping them is securing your home’s entry points.

Where geckos usually enter:

Gaps under doors

Window cracks

Ventilation openings

Loose screens

Wall cracks

Spaces around pipes

Damaged door frames

How to fix these entry points:

Install door sweeps under all exterior doors

Use silicone caulk to seal small cracks

Repair window screens (or install new ones)

Cover ventilation openings with mesh

Fix loose tiles or wall gaps

Why this works:

Geckos are small, flexible, and fast — if there’s even a 1 cm gap, they can squeeze through.

Closing their access is the strongest long-term solution.

2. Use Natural Repellents with Strong Smells

Geckos hate certain smells and will avoid places where these scents are present.

These natural repellents are safe, cheap, and easy to use.

Effective natural repellents:

Garlic cloves

Onion slices

Pepper spray (mild)

Coffee powder + tobacco mix

Lemongrass essential oil

Peppermint oil

How to use them:

Place crushed garlic or onion near entry points

Spray diluted peppermint or lemongrass oil around windows

Sprinkle coffee powder in dark corners

Use repellent cotton balls soaked in essential oils

Why this works:

Strong smells irritate a gecko’s respiratory system, encouraging them to stay away from your home.

3. Reduce Insects — The Gecko’s Primary Food Source

Geckos don’t come into your home for fun — they come for food, and that food is insects.

If your home has mosquitoes, flies, ants, or moths, geckos will follow.

How to reduce insects indoors:

Keep lights low at night (light attracts bugs)

Use window screens to prevent insects from entering

Clean up crumbs and spills immediately

Store food in airtight containers

Take out the trash regularly

Fix leaks that attract insects

Use natural insect repellents or traps

Why this matters:

If there are no insects, geckos have no reason to stay.

Removing their food source is one of the smartest ways to make your home gecko-free.

4. Keep Your Home Clean and Clutter-Free

Geckos love hiding in warm, dark, undisturbed areas — especially behind furniture, inside cupboards, and around clutter.

Decluttering tips:

Move furniture away from walls periodically

Clean behind shelves, cabinets, and appliances

Avoid storing cardboard boxes (geckos love them)

Keep closets and storage areas organized

Dust and sweep corners frequently

Why this works:

A tidy home leaves fewer hiding spots and makes your space less appealing to geckos.

5. Use Eggshells — A Popular Traditional Method

Placing broken eggshells near windows, balconies, or doorways is a well-known trick used in many cultures to keep geckos away.

Why eggshells work:

Geckos mistake eggshells for larger animals and instinctively avoid the area — thinking a predator might be nearby.

How to do it:

Use clean, thoroughly washed eggshells

Place them in corners, near doors, or on windowsills

Replace them every 2–3 weeks

Extra tip:

Never leave eggshells with yolk or residue — this attracts insects, which attracts even more geckos.

6. Reduce Moisture — Geckos Love Damp Places

Moisture attracts insects, and insects attract geckos.

A dry home is less appealing to both.

How to manage moisture:

Fix leaking faucets and pipes

Use exhaust fans in kitchens and bathrooms

Improve ventilation in closed spaces

Dry wet areas immediately

Keep sink areas clean and dry

Use a dehumidifier if needed

Why this helps:

Moisture creates warm, humid environments where insects thrive — eliminating it helps reduce both pests and geckos.