How Long After Spraying Raid Is It Safe? (Find Out Now!)
Raid is the biggest name in home-use pesticides, and that’s no joke. It’s one of the only pesticide brands that gets commercials on TV and the radio on a regular basis. It also happens to be a brand people trust when it comes to serious infestations. Their stuff is notoriously potent. Unfortunately, Raid isn’t just unsafe for bugs. When it’s freshly sprayed, it can be dangerous for people and animals too.
If you want to stay safe, it’s best to avoid areas that have been sprayed for at least 15 to 20 minutes after the initial spraying session. Each Raid product has a different minimum time that you should leave the area, so the best practice that you can have is to check the label.
Spraying any kind of pesticide is going to be a risk, so it’s a good idea to know what you should expect before you fumigate a place. Don’t worry, we have the answers to your questions.
How Can You Figure Out How Long You Need To Wait?
Raid products vary greatly when it comes to the wait times they’re given, especially when it comes to ventilation. The best way to gauge your wait times is to read the label of the spray can (or bug bomber), then follow the guidance given there. Here’s a general run-through of Raid products and their wait times:
- Raid Ant + Roach Killer 26. This requires almost no wait time, but still should be used with care around kids and pets. 15 minutes will suffice.
- Raid Exterminator Flea And Cockroach Bomb. Like most other flea and roach bombs made by the company, you should expect to wait at least two hours prior to going back in.
- Raid MAX No Mess Dry Fogger. This heavy-duty dry fogger sprays hardcore insecticide in all directions. Do not reenter your room for at least four hours!
- Raid Deep Reach Concentrated Fogger. Much like the other aerosol fogger on this list, a minimum wait time of four hours is highly suggested.
What Is The Fastest Raid Spray You Can Use?
Most of the “instant kill” surface sprays will only take 15 to 20 minutes before you can reenter an area. If you want to be able to go back into a room or touch a surface soon, going for a regular old can of Raid Ant And Roach Killer will do the trick.
Are There Any Raid Products That Are Safe For People And Pets?
Though Raid makes a valiant attempt to reduce the amount of damage their sprays do to people, it’s important to realize that they are still a pesticide company. This means that their products, by the very nature of what they are, are meant to kill. Assuming that you can find a safe one isn’t a good idea, nor is it really reasonable.
While these products are safe when you use them the right way, you still have to maintain a certain level of caution around them. They are literally poisons, after all.
Can Staying In An Area Where Raid Was Sprayed Kill You?
While Raid can be dangerous, it’s usually not lethal. If you have a preexisting condition, there is a small chance that too much Raid can trigger a heart attack. With that said, humans can still deal with a wide array of symptoms if they end up staying in an area with a lot of Raid. The most common symptoms include:
- Extreme coughing
- Tightness in the chest
- Dizziness and disorientation
- Headaches
- Sneezing
- Runny noses
- Watery eyes
What Should You Do If You’re Feeling Really Ill From Raid Exposure?
The first thing you should do is to leave the area and determine how bad the symptoms are. Light symptoms can be treated by just distancing yourself. Worse symptoms require a call to 911. After calling 911, the dispatcher will send you to the Poison Control line. They will guide you when it comes to figuring out how to mitigate symptoms.
Is Raid Safe For Pets?
Most humans can stay in a Raided-up room and survive, even if it won’t be very pleasant. However, that doesn’t hold true if you’re talking about small animals. Animals can become extremely sick or even die when exposed to large quantities of Raid pesticides. If you are a proud pet owner, lead them away from the area that’s being sprayed and err on the side of caution whenever possible.
Are There Any Safer Alternatives Than Raid?
If you want to get rid of bugs and pests, there are some alternatives you can try to use instead of Raid. These options below may not be as effective in some cases, but they are also notably safer:
- Diatomaceous Earth. This is a powdered substance made of shredded shells. When sprinkled in your home, insects get near it and they get the shells caught in their chitin. Eventually, this stuff ends up making it impossible for pests to breathe, killing them. Surprisingly, it’s chemical-free and can even be eaten by people. We don’t suggest eating it, but it’s still good to know it’s that safe.
- Essential Oils. Certain oils, like neem oil or peppermint oil, can ward off bugs pretty well. They’re safer than Raid, but they also tend to be less effective. When choosing your essential oils, it’s best to look up the ones that work best for the specific pest you have. For example, peppermint is good for spiders and centipedes. Meanwhile, tea tree oil is best for ants.
- Food Reduction. Believe it or not, keeping a tidy home can sometimes be all you need in order to get rid of ants and other pests naturally. If pests do not find enough food to keep them alive, they will not stay near your home for much longer. This means taking out the trash, getting things professionally cleaned, and hoping for the best. While it may not be the ideal go-to, it always helps and should be part of any pest removal project.
- Plants. Strategically placed plants might be a good way to ward off specific insects. Sage, lemongrass, thyme, and lavender plants are known for emitting scents pests hate.
- Heat Treatment. If you have bed bugs, you might want to look into heat treatment. This chemical-free option will kill bed bugs instantly, since they die instantly at 140 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s a “flash kill.” With that said, this does not work with other creepy crawlies and you usually have to do this through the use of a professional pest control company. Even so, it’s still an option.
Related Questions
What essential oils ward off insects?
There are plenty of essential oils you can use to ward off insects. The most popular options that you can choose include tea tree oil and peppermint oil. However, it’s also worth noting that almost any citrus oil—including lemon, lime, grapefruit, and orange—can be used as an effective insect repellent.Many insects will steer clear of any type of oil that has a strong scent. This can include things like sage oil or lavender oil, which means that having a little lavender scent in your home might just do the trick.
Can Raid cause cancer?
Raid pesticides are known for being potent, but their potency comes with a major safety disclaimer. Scientists have linked the heavy use of Raid with several different types of cancer, including some rare cancers only found in children. This is why many doctors advise against families with small children from using Raid.This is also not the only issue that can arise from heavy use of Raid. Several of the ingredients in mainstream pesticides have also been linked to a higher rate of birth defects in babies as well as small animals.
Is Raid safe to breathe?
Relatively safe is the best way to describe it. Huffing, injecting, or purposefully inhaling large quantities of Raid is not safe, though. Doing so can cause permanent neurological damage, brain damage, as well as death. This is why the Raid company emphasizes that you should only use their products as the instructions recommend. It’s not safe for you to do anything other than that.
Ossiana Tepfenhart is an expert writer, focusing on interior design and general home tips. Writing is her life, and it's what she does best. Her interests include art and real estate investments.
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