Raid is seriously potent. If you’ve been at war with an insect infestation, whether it’s roaches, bedbugs, or anything in-between, then you might be at your wit’s end. Even the most thorough cleaning job with household cleaners won’t eradicate the creepy-crawly monsters.
Enter, Raid.
This potent insecticide will send any nasties running for their lives. It’s a chemical spray cleaner that will ensure anything lurking in your bedroom will drop dead.
But what about you? Is Raid harmful to your health? How long must you wait after spraying Raid before you can enter a room again?
This guide will answer all your questions.
Can I Sleep in My Room After Spraying Raid: Short Answer – Yes and No!
The general answer is that you can sleep in a room after you’ve sprayed Raid IF;
- The room has been ventilated for at least 15 minutes,
- There’s no odor remaining from the Raid,
- You’ve removed the dead insects,
- You’ve cleaned any residual Raid that may be lingering on surfaces.
Raid manufacturers are usually pretty clear with their instructions, so double check what it says on your Raid aerosol.
Note: Some Raid products, like the bedbug spray, are designed to be applied directly on your mattress and leave a foam. You’ll need to wipe off the residual foam and ventilate the mattress before you can sleep on it again. The Raid should continue to kill the bedbugs for up to a month!
Sleep in My Room After Spraying Raid: The Long Answer
Whether you can sleep in your room after spraying Raid depends on the type of Raid you use and where it is applied. There are generally two types of Raid:
- Non-residual Raid – this Raid needs to be applied directly to the insect to kill it, like a foam.
- Residual Raid – this Raid can be sprayed about in a room and will kill (and continue to kill) insects.
Non-residual Raid is easier to deal with. Once the insect has died and you’ve cleaned up the Raid, you’ve removed the harmful product and can continue life as normal.
The residual Raid lingers, and you will need to ventilate the room as well as clean up any dead insects before it is safe to sleep there.
Raid products come with an official precaution that warns that Raid is hazardous to humans and domestic animals. You need to wash your hands thoroughly after using Raid and don’t let it touch your skin.
If you can still smell the Raid or your skin will encounter a surface that has been sprayed within the room, then you need to get rid of the Raid first. Either ventilate the room and remove the insects or wash the surfaces contaminated with Raid with soap and water.
Once everything is clean again, then you can sleep in your room!
What is Raid?
Raid is an insecticide – an insect killer. The company is owned by SC Johnson “a family company” and produces a range of insect-killing products. They sell aerosols, gels, foams, baits and traps, and even bug detectors. In your bedroom, they can be used to kill:
- Ants
- Bedbugs
- Fleas
- Flies
- Hornets
- Mosquitos
- Moths
- Roaches
- Scorpions
- Spiders
- Ticks
- Yellowjackets
To both kill and repel insects for a period after it has been sprayed, Raid relies on some potent chemical ingredients.
Harmful Raid Ingredients
Ingredients vary from one Raid product to another. Some of the most harmful ingredients in Raid are:
- Imiprothrin – a synthetic insecticide used for commercial and domestic purposes. It has low acute toxicity in humans but is deadly to insects. The insecticide works by altering the nerve function in insects, basically paralyzing them. The insects die soon afterward and can be removed.
- Cypermethrin – another synthetic insecticide used in agriculture as well as domestic products like Raid. This compound is toxic to fish as well as bees and aquatic insects. This is problematic, as bee populations are important for pollinating our crops and wild plants. Thankfully, cypermethrin binds to the soil well, so it doesn’t leach and spread much when applied to crops. Furthermore, it is safe and effective to be used in your home in small quantities – just make sure you follow the instructions on the Raid product carefully.
Most Raid sprays use these ingredients and more to kill insects by working as nerve gas or nerve agent. It is almost harmless to mammals – we’ve written about the side effects below.
The Safest Type of Raid to Spray
Raid has released an “essentials” range of products that are plant-based and designed to be healthier around your home. While they are the safest and healthiest type of Raid available to buy, they are still potentially hazardous. After all, the formula needs to be strong enough to kill insects!
The Raid Essentials Multi Insect Killer is good for both crawling and flying insects. It’s made with geraniol, lemongrass oil, white mineral oil, isopropyl myristate, and ethyl lactate.
You still need to avoid getting it on your skin. Wash your hands thoroughly after using it and keep the product away from children and pets.
This is not the most effective Raid product either. At the time of writing, many of the reviews collected on Raid’s official website were collected as part of a promotion. Other customers have claimed it isn’t as effective as other Raid products and leaves an oily residue.
This is What Happens If You Breathe in Raid
Whether you inhale Raid spray or get it on your skin, the side effects often depend on what ingredients are in the Raid.
If the Raid gets on your skin:
- Usually, nothing happens unless you’re pouring Raid onto your skin and rubbing it in,
- If you have sensitive skin, you may experience mild skin irritation (redness, itchiness, etc.),
- Immediately wash your skin thoroughly with soap and water regardless of whether you have symptoms.
And that’s it! Don’t forget, the chemicals in Raid are designed to kill insects but are generally harmless to mammals and humans. It’s not going to be fatal. At worst, you’ll experience mild irritation, so you should wash your hands and anywhere else the Raid has touched you.
If you breathe in Raid spray:
- You’ll have a coughing fit almost immediately,
- You might also experience shortness of breath and congestion (a blocked nose, for example),
- You can try gargling water and going outside to breathe fresh air until the coughing stops,
- These symptoms will pass fairly quickly, and you won’t need to do anything further.
If you have asthma or a similar condition that impacts your lungs, it would be wise to avoid Raid or at least wear a mask when spraying it.
Talk to your doctor if you experience long-lasting side effects or are concerned about using Raid in your home. Dial 911 in an emergency.
How to Make Your Room Safe After Spraying Raid
Here is a method and a few tips to spray Raid in your room and then sleep there afterward:
- Read the Raid instructions and make sure you remove pets from the bedroom,
- Spray the Raid as directed, usually on the affected surfaces or where you can see the insects,
- Make a note of where the Raid was sprayed, then open the windows to ventilate the room,
- Leave the room for at least 15 minutes and immediately wash your hands.
At this point, you need to use your common sense. If the room still smells of Raid after 15 minutes, you need to leave it for longer.
- Once the bedroom no longer smells of Raid, you can re-enter it,
- Use a washcloth, soap (a surface cleaner or even laundry detergent), and water to clean away any Raid,
- Ensure that you clean surfaces that were sprayed even if you cannot see the Raid on them,
- Dry surfaces (or wait for them to dry), wash your hands thoroughly and remove the cleaning equipment.
After this, your room should be safe to sleep in.
If you need to spray your mattress, it may take longer to ventilate and clean. A night on the couch may be in order if you don’t feel confident enough to sleep in your bedroom.
Also Read: Why Do I Sleep Better On The Couch? 6 Reasons And A Guide To Solutions
FAQs
Can I sleep in my room after spraying Raid?
Once the room is ventilated and the dead insects/residual raid is cleaned away, your room should be safe to sleep in.
How long after spraying Raid can you enter the room?
It depends on the type of Raid used. Generally, you should wait at least 15 minutes for the odors to clear. If the room still smells, leave it for longer.
Is it safe to spray Raid on your bed?
Some types of Raid spray are designed to be sprayed on upholstery, including mattresses and carpets. Ensure that you select the right type of Raid to prevent stains on fabric surfaces.
How long does Raid stay in the air?
The odor of Raid stays in the air for 15-20 minutes, when the room is ventilated. The ventilation is key to letting the Raid chemicals out!
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