House Smells Like Raid? (We Have A Fix!)

Upgraded Home Team
by Upgraded Home Team

You think you smell Raid in your house, even though it’s been days since you used the insecticide eliminate ants and termites? Well, chances are that you went on a little overkill while trying to get rid of the insects. Raid has a strong odor, which takes time to wear off, especially if you empty a can to eliminate the insects.

After noticing ants, termites, and other small insects around the house, many homeowners panic. Most people end up using a little too much of Raid, just to be thorough when dealing with the insects, which is why there’s always a lingering Raid odor in the air. Raid has a strong paraffin-like odor with a tinge of lemon and can be quite irritating.

Although Raid is effective in eliminating small insects, it also contains harmful toxins. When these toxins linger in the air for too long, they can potentially harm you and your family members. Thus, it’s best to find out how to eliminate the Raid odor from your house, even after spraying the space. This will guarantee the well-being of your household.

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How Long Should Raid Odor Persist?

If you spray Raid around your house moderately, its odor should dissipate naturally within two to eight hours. Conversely, if you empty an entire can of Raid trying to exterminate insects from your home, expect the odor to linger for days or even weeks.

Thus, it’s important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using Raid around your house. Being an insecticide, it possesses toxic ingredients that could harm you. Over-spraying means more toxins will linger in the air, and therefore, poses a greater risk to you. If there’s a considerable insect infestation, it’s best to contact an exterminator rather than do the job yourself.

Another safety measure to take when using Raid is clearing the room you intend to spray. In doing so, not much of the insecticide will get absorbed into upholstered furniture, carpets, and other household items. Windows in the treatment area should also be kept open to ensure adequate air circulation.

How to Get Rid of Raid Odor

If you regularly use Raid to exterminate pesticides around the house, you’ll always be left with a lingering odor. When spraying Raid, your furniture, walls, carpets, and even clothes will absorb some of it, hence the lingering odor. Your family’s well-being depends on how fast you move to reduce the odor, or better still, eliminate it.

Just like it’s the case with other insecticides, the Raid odor can linger for a couple of days or use after spraying. Even so, you can still get rid of the odor from your house naturally without using any harsh chemicals that may cause further problems.

Removing Raid Odor from the Air

The easier way to get rid of Raid odor from your house is using vinegar. The natural deodorizer is effective at removing even the most pungent odors from your home. However, it’s best to keep in mind that vinegar only eliminates the smell of Raid and not any toxins that might also be in the air.

When it comes to using vinegar, there are several options at your disposal. For instance, placing bowls filled with vinegar throughout the house will help refresh the air by masking the Raid odor. Another effective method is dissolving a tablespoonful of vinegar in a cup of water before boiling the solution at low heat.

You can add cloves, cinnamon sticks, or even vanilla extract to the solution for a better effect. When the solution boils, lower the heat, then allow it to simmer. Repeat this several times until all the Raid odor in your house dissipates.

The downside of boiling vinegar and water to mask the smell of Raid is that it takes a while to achieve the desired results. Besides, the method is hectic because it means having a bowl of boiling water in every room of the house. Nevertheless, the method is quite effective.

How to Prevent Raid Odor from Lingering for Too Long

You can save yourself from the stress of eliminating the lingering Raid odor by ensuring it doesn’t occur in the first place. When spraying Raid in a particular room, lock the doors to ensure that the pesticide doesn’t escape to other rooms.

Since clothes absorb some of the chemicals, keep your wardrobe doors closed. If any items might absorb the chemical, including furniture, clear the room first before spraying Raid. Furthermore, open the windows to ventilate your living space after spraying naturally. Alternatively, use a fan to bring in some fresh air and improve the indoor air quality. In doing so, the odor will dissipate and won’t linger in the air for far too long.

Removing Raid Odor from Fibers and Fabrics

Getting rid of Raid odor from fibers and fabrics is harder than removing it from the air. When you spray insecticide in a room full of furniture and other fixtures, the odors will get trapped in the fibers of the carpets, draperies, and upholstery. Getting rid of the odors is challenging but possible.

To remove the odor, mix equal parts of vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Then, spray the mixture on your carpets, upholstered furniture, and draperies. The mixture will penetrate the fibers and mask the odors as it dries. It’s best to leave the items outside so that they can dry in the sun for a couple of hours.

Another effective way to remove Raid odor from upholstered furniture, carpets, and other fibers is by sprinkling baking soda over them liberally. Do this in the evening, and allow the baking soda to stay on the fabrics for a couple of hours or overnight. Once it settles in, vacuum your carpet or use water and soap to wipe your upholstered furniture thoroughly. Draperies should also be washed thoroughly.

Your house could also smell like Raid because of the clothes you wore when spraying the place. If this is the case, ensure that all washable clothes you wear when spraying your house get washed separately from other clothes. If you wash them together, chances are that the Raid odor will spread to the other clothes.

When washing the clothes, rinse them in plain cold water. You can do this in a large bucket, sink, or plastic tub. After that, wash the clothes using warm water and a heavy-duty liquid detergent. Add some baking soda to neutralize the odor even further.

Use Lemons

Another natural antidote for the Raid odor is lemons. If there’s a faint Raid odor in your apartment, cut two lemons in half before boiling them in water for a couple of minutes. As the stream disperses, the lemon aroma will neutralize the Raid odor. However, it’s best to keep in mind that this method only works if there’s a faint Raid odor in the house. If the issue persists, you’re better off exploring other methods.

Use an Air Purifier

There’s no safer and more efficient way to remove Raid odor from your house than using an air purifier. These devices come with a fan for cycling air in a room and a carbon filter that absorbs the chemicals causing the odor.

The carbon filter on air purifiers is porous and has an absorbent element that traps airborne chemicals and odors present in the air. The filters remove even the tiniest contaminants from the air. Therefore, air purifiers not only get rid of odors but also purify the air.

Air purifiers feature different technologies for removing unpleasant odors from your home. However, it’s best to choose a purifier that comes with an Activated Carbon filter. These filters are not only longer-lasting but also more effective than regular filters. Thus, an air purifier with an Activated Carbon filter does an excellent job at removing Raid odor from your house.

Spray Some Air Freshener

If you’re looking for an instant solution to the Raid odor in your house, consider spraying some air freshener. However, it would help if you only used these as a short-term solution because they can affect you adversely. Some of the air-freshening sprays you’ll come across contain potentially harmful chemicals, which will only worsen the situation in your house.

Another problem with the so-called air fresheners is that some don’t even contain the purported ingredients. It’s common to come across a “cinnamon-scented” air freshener that doesn’t smell like cinnamon. If you have asthma or an allergy, these aerosol sprays may not suit you. Thus, you’re better off considering the other odor-elimination measures listed in this guide.

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Key Takeaways

Like other pesticides, Raid’s manufacturers claim that its scent dissipates within hours of application. However, this isn’t always the case, especially if you spray too much of it. The lingering odor of Raid in your house is not only unsettling but also poses a health risk.

Therefore, it’s best to know how to get rid of the odor safely and within the shortest time possible. Remember, there are several measures you can take to ensure the odor doesn’t linger in your house longer than expected. This includes spraying the recommended amount of Raid.

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Upgraded Home Team
Upgraded Home Team

We are a team of passionate homeowners, home improvement pros, and DIY enthusiasts who enjoy sharing home improvement, housekeeping, decorating, and more with other homeowners! Whether you're looking for a step-by-step guide on fixing an appliance or the cost of installing a fence, we've here to help.

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