Some essential oils are thought to have snake-repelling properties, and they may be effective at keeping geckos away as well. Many of the scents above serve double duty in preventing insects and make a great start to controlling bug populations. Rosemary. Some of the most commonly used oils include peppermint, citrus, and eucalyptus. Wasps are unfortunately, no joke. However, it is also found to be useful in deterring insects like: Flies Ticks Ants Gnats By using our site, you agree to our. wikiHow is a wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Not only in the kitchen but in other areas of the house where they can cause issues. Root-knot nematodes. This one is also easy to know when to reapply the scent- when the oil diffuser stops, you can refill it easily. Onions and garlic are very useful garden plants for repelling snakes. People who live in tropical areas, such as Hawaii, Asia and Australia, live with geckos in the house pretty much as a fact of life. In essence, your home is left pest-free by simply using this natural remedy. Some people also find them to be irritating to the skin. It is certainly very difficult to get rid of geckos from high ceilings. If you're simply after a fresh aroma, use pine, eucalyptus, cedar or any woodsy essential oils. At best, products with a citronella base may keep pests at bay, and may reduce bites by about half, but only for a couple of hours at most. Instead of planting citronella to repel mosquitoes, try dog-friendly mosquito repellent plants that won't harm dogs, like basil, lemon balm, rosemary, and catnip. You can also use lemongrass oil as a repellent for mosquitoes, flies, and thrips just to mention a few. Walk on eggshells. Topical application can be used for things like muscle pain, skin conditions, and even headaches. So theres no doubt you dont want a family of wasps living in your house. Lemongrass and citronella are two plants that typically grow well in climates where lizards thrive and can serve as an attractive and natural option. While eucalyptus may be a scent that lizards hate, this is a great essential oil to keep around to serve multiple purposes with relaxing and medicinal properties for people and is used worldwide. This may cause it to be even more stress relieving by getting rid of those pesky critters! Reptiles also strike fear in many people no matter how big or small they are, and the constant fear that they might crawl on you at night is enough to give anyone the heebie-jeebies. What are the benefits of using essential oils? The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Rubbing the crushed leaves on your skin may repel mosquitoes like any citronella-based repellent for the skin. They grow up to 3 feet tall and bloom from summer through frost, and help repel mosquitoes as well as: Aphids. Products that contain natural repellent ingredients like essential oils are only worth a try if they contain Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, since this is the most effective natural alternative . Otherwise, theyll soon begin to smell and may become a health hazard. Once you've taken these steps, it will just be a matter of cleaning up the surrounding environment to reduce the number of hiding places where others may be making their home. However, research has shown that this mosquito repellent plant is actually ineffective. It helps to remove clutter around the exterior of your home, like fallen brush and debris, since this eliminates their hiding places. Mothballs may discourage geckos from finding their way into tighter spaces like closets and cupboards. Essential oils are a natural and effective way to keep these pesky critters away. This may be a task too big for the average homeowner as well, and calling a professional will provide a complete solution to lizard-proofing your home. There are a number of essential oils that can help to keep snakes and geckos away. Most of these methods are based on natural smells and use non-poisonous ingredients that are environmentally friendly. A bug zapper or set of sticky traps can also be useful for warding off insects near your porch or patio. Tammy Slater is the founder of arew.org, a home and garden blog that provides inspiration and resources for homeowners and renters alike. Youll only need to spray a few drops of this oil along lizard-infested areas. Theyre harmless to humans, and can be very helpful for controlling insect populations, especially objectionable pests like mosquitoes and cockroaches. The National Pesticide Information Center describes oil of citronella as an effective repellent of insects. However, there are some anecdotal reports of people using essential oils to repell snakes and geckos successfully. We hope you found this article helpful, and hope that you check out more articles to keep any pesky critters you may have out of your home! essential oils can serve your lizard repellent needs. Other Anti-Snake Plants Lowering the temperature in your house is a great way to make it inhospitable to lizards and drive them out. For centuries, citronella has been used for a variety of purposes, including: as an insect repellent as an antifungal agent to treat parasitic infections to promote wound healing to lift mood. While it provides a repellent effect on lizards and other pests, it also doubles as a useful aromatherapy solution. For this repellent effect to linger, youll need to reapply peppermint essential oil for about a week or more. This is necessary until lizards are eliminated. Pour the water with the essential oils into the mason jars. Apart from essential oil treatments, there are other ways to rid your home of lizard presence. of carrier oil, such as grapeseed oil. To have a better idea of what they are, youll need to check up the definition of what pests are. Many common flowers, including morning glories, calla lilies, Christmas cactus, hyacinths, periwinkle and rhododendrons, are toxic to your little lizard friends. Garlic and onions are two more plants with powerful odors lizards just cant stand. Where to find lizards around the home? {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/c2\/Use-Citronella-As-an-Insect-Repellent-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-Citronella-As-an-Insect-Repellent-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c2\/Use-Citronella-As-an-Insect-Repellent-Step-1.jpg\/aid7631418-v4-728px-Use-Citronella-As-an-Insect-Repellent-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"
License: Creative Commons<\/a> License: Creative Commons<\/a> License: Creative Commons<\/a> License: Creative Commons<\/a> License: Creative Commons<\/a> License: Creative Commons<\/a> License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>
\n<\/p><\/div>"}, Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/22\/Use-Citronella-As-an-Insect-Repellent-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-Citronella-As-an-Insect-Repellent-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/22\/Use-Citronella-As-an-Insect-Repellent-Step-2.jpg\/aid7631418-v4-728px-Use-Citronella-As-an-Insect-Repellent-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"
\n<\/p>
\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/4f\/Use-Citronella-As-an-Insect-Repellent-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-Citronella-As-an-Insect-Repellent-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/4f\/Use-Citronella-As-an-Insect-Repellent-Step-3.jpg\/aid7631418-v4-728px-Use-Citronella-As-an-Insect-Repellent-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"
\n<\/p>
\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e7\/Use-Citronella-As-an-Insect-Repellent-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-Citronella-As-an-Insect-Repellent-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e7\/Use-Citronella-As-an-Insect-Repellent-Step-4.jpg\/aid7631418-v4-728px-Use-Citronella-As-an-Insect-Repellent-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"
\n<\/p>
\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/0e\/Use-Citronella-As-an-Insect-Repellent-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-Citronella-As-an-Insect-Repellent-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/0e\/Use-Citronella-As-an-Insect-Repellent-Step-5.jpg\/aid7631418-v4-728px-Use-Citronella-As-an-Insect-Repellent-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"
\n<\/p>
\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/bd\/Use-Citronella-As-an-Insect-Repellent-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-Citronella-As-an-Insect-Repellent-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/bd\/Use-Citronella-As-an-Insect-Repellent-Step-6.jpg\/aid7631418-v4-728px-Use-Citronella-As-an-Insect-Repellent-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"
\n<\/p>
\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e1\/Use-Citronella-As-an-Insect-Repellent-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-Citronella-As-an-Insect-Repellent-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e1\/Use-Citronella-As-an-Insect-Repellent-Step-7.jpg\/aid7631418-v4-728px-Use-Citronella-As-an-Insect-Repellent-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"
\n<\/p>
\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/61\/Use-Citronella-As-an-Insect-Repellent-Step-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-Citronella-As-an-Insect-Repellent-Step-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/61\/Use-Citronella-As-an-Insect-Repellent-Step-8.jpg\/aid7631418-v4-728px-Use-Citronella-As-an-Insect-Repellent-Step-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"