Can I Sleep in My Room After Spraying the Raid? (Is it Safe?)

Combating insect infestation can be challenging—they keep popping up even after a thorough cleaning and manual killing, with some surviving the massacre and manifest later after cleaning.

You can use Raid to tackle cockroaches, bed bugs, and other insects—spray it in the insect-infested room, and in no time, you’ll see the insects running for their lives and eventually die. Raid’s potency has been tested and proven.

Is It Safe To Sleep in the Room If You’ve Just Sprayed Raid?

This depends on the type of raid you use—some are harmful while others are almost harmless. Knowing this, you should be able to choose the kind of raid to use to determine whether or not you’ll sleep in the room after spraying.

There are different residual and non-residual spray varieties, and the difference comes in their mode of action. You have to apply the non-residual raid directly to the insect or bug, and it is active immediately you use it.

You can sleep in the room after applying the non-residual raid—use soap and water to clean the room before you sleep in it.

The second option is the residual raid—it eliminates cockroaches, fleas, ants, and other insects. This insecticide is harmful to you as it contains toxic chemicals; hence you can’t sleep in the room after its immediate application.

To be on the safer side, it is advisable not to sleep in the room if you have sprayed it with the raid.

Is Raid Toxic To Humans?

Yes, it’s toxic to you as the raid contains constituents that are hazardous to humans.

According to the datasheet on the raid, its components have high potency against insects but are dangerous to humans.

The harmful constituents in the raid are Imiprothrin and Cypermethrin—these can cause difficulty in breathing, congestion, and extensive coughing when inhaled.

In addition to the above constituents, the raid has other hazardous components which can cause asthma. Cypermethrin can also cause pneumonitis.

Other side effects of the components in the raid include—dizziness, headaches, irritation, and severe sneezing. People with preexisting conditions are advised against using raid as inhaling it may cause a heart attack. You need to have a first aid kit at hand in case of any emergency.

You should observe your kids and pets when applying raid—don’t allow them to get into the room when spraying or before it has dried out. Call 9-1-1 if somebody has raid poisoning.

Someone at the center of poison will direct you on how to manage the symptoms before they arrive. Even though raid is harmful, you can still use it with precautions.

What Happens If You Breathe Raid In?

If you inhale raid by mistake, you are advised to splash water on your face and gurgle some. You can experience coughing fits, congestion, and shortness of breath, but these will fade away after some time—if the symptoms persist, seek medical help.

Most people accidentally inhale raid when applying it, so you should not panic if this happens—take the appropriate measure to avoid inhaling it.

Other common side effects of inhaling or ingesting insecticides include—sneezing, headaches, dizziness, and irritation. Some people inhale raid on purpose to get high—this can even lead to death and other side effects, which are:

• Nausea
• Throat irritation
• Erratic behavior
• Headaches
• Redness in the extremities
• Cardiac arrest
• Seizures
• Paralysis and inflammation of the respiratory system

Repeated, extended, and deliberate exposure to insecticides can ultimately lead to loss of consciousness and neurological damage. These harsh side effects of insecticide poisoning occur due to ignorance, as you can fail to read the directions indicated on the bottles.

Can You Sleep in the Room After Spraying Raid in It?

After spraying the raid, the primary determinant of the room’s safety is the odor—if there’s no smell, it’s safe to stay in the space provided that there’s proper aeration.

When spraying your sleeping area, you should remove most if not all the items in the room. A typical bedroom has Items like carpets, beddings, curtains, and clothes placed all over the place—these things can trap toxic fumes and retain them for a long time. So, you should clear the room before spraying insecticides.

If you can’t remove all the items, you can cover them with something to prevent insecticides from soaking on them. Take out the coverings after the insecticide has dried out —this is the right time to replace pillowcases and spread clean sheets.

What Happens If You Inhale Too Much Lysol?

Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, many people have been purchasing disinfectants and sanitizers—these products kill germs and keep households clean, thus mitigating the spread of the virus.

Although these products are essential, excessive use can be detrimental. Cleaning products have different effects when excessively used.

Below is a list of commonly used cleaning products and their adverse effects when used in excess:

1. Hand Sanitizer

When the COVID 19 pandemic hit us, we were encouraged to wash our hands regularly using soap and water to eliminate germs and control the spread of the virus.

An alternative to hand washing is hand sanitizers with not less than 60% alcohol content—this is easy to use as it is portable and can be applied in seconds instead of handwashing, which is a little laborious. However, excess use of alcohol can damage the skin and body. Some of the effects include:

• Dry and broken skin– hand sanitizers contain alcohols like ethanol, isopropyl, and n-propanol—can cause dry skin and damaged skin cells, thus increasing the chances of contracting dermatitis.

• Skin irritation-sanitizers contain chemicals like chloroxylenol, triclosan, and chlorhexidine, which can get rid of the natural oils present in the skin and also cause irritation—the skin becomes highly susceptible to bacteria when you disrupt its natural moisture barrier.

• Hazardous unknown constituents– Some manufacturers don’t indicate every ingredient used to make the sanitizers—these strange chemical fragrances can irritate those with sensitive skin causing allergic reactions or even disturbance of hormones in the body.

• Antibiotic resistance– Triclosan, an active component in hand sanitizers, can cause antibiotic resistance—bacteria and some pathogens may develop resistance to antibiotics when you use sanitizers frequently. Thus it can subject you to a high risk of infections.

• Weakens the immune system– Exposure to a spotless environment at early stages in life contributes to weak immunity—this is per the results of the study conducted on the effects of exposing children and teens to high triclosan levels. The study showed that those exposed to triclosan at an early age were vulnerable to hay fever and allergies.

 2. Disinfectant Sprays

Coronavirus is transmitted in several ways—through contact with an infected person, by touching contaminated objects or surfaces, then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.

Many people clean surfaces in their homes and offices using disinfectant sprays—Lysol, a commonly used disinfectant, kills up to 99% of viruses, fungi, and bacteria. If not well-used, disinfectants can cause serious health risks.

• Eye and skin irritation -Disinfectants can irritate your eyes when you have direct exposure, and they can also cause redness of the eyes. Extended or regular skin exposure to disinfectants can cause dermatitis and dry skin for people with sensitive skin.

• Liver damage – Some disinfectants have ethanolamine—which adjusts the pH to maintain the stability of the disinfectant. This chemical can cause liver disease and harm the kidney if exposed in large amounts.

• Respiratory conditions – If you accidentally inhale disinfectant particles, you can get coughing fits, and it can harm your respiratory functions.

• Central nervous system effects – Overexposure to disinfectants can cause dizziness and headaches—you may experience nausea if you ingest the solution.

• Cardiac reaction – Manufacturers add butane to disinfectants to spray out of the can—butane is highly flammable, so you should take precautions when using disinfectants. Accidental consumption or excessive inhalation of disinfectants can cause severe cardiac effects.

3. Bleach Spray

Bleach spray is an alternative cleaning product that you can use to disinfect surfaces and control coronavirus transmission.

However, bleach is a harmful chemical, and you should take precautions when using it—keep it out of the children’s reach.

Some of the side effects of bleach include:

• Skin and eye irritation – Prolonged exposure to bleach in its concentrated form can damage the skin and eyes, especially if it is chlorine-based. It can irritate and burn the skin—it can also permanently damage the skin tissue and cause pigmentation. Exposure to the eye can lead to vision damage, which can be due to severe irritation that causes tissue damage—thus, you should rinse your eyes properly if bleach spills on them.

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) is a lung disease caused by irritation in the airways. Studies show that contracting COPD increases by 32% if you use bleach at least once a week.

• Asthma – Asthmatic people are advised not to use bleach as it can cause breathing problems— research shows that bleach is an asthma gene, so it can cause asthma if used regularly over time.

• Respiratory conditions -Bleach and some disinfectants produce fumes that are harmful to the lungs. Hence, inhaling excess fumes can cause harm to your respiratory tract.

• Lightheadedness -This is one of the side effects of inhaling fumes from chlorine bleach in excess amounts—you may experience lightheadedness or breathing difficulties because these products contain corrosive chemicals.

How Long Can You Enter a Room After Spraying Raid?

Manufacturers indicate these details on the datasheets, read the label for instruction before applying raid. The label indicates the duration it takes before the raid dries off. Different insecticides have different application procedures, so make sure you read the instructions well before use.

After applying raid, you should lock the room for approximately 15 minutes or more to allow air drying. Before re-entering the room, open all doors and windows for ventilation purposes to get rid of the harmful effects caused by the spray.

Keep kids and pets out of the room as per the instructions indicated on the label. Protect the doors and windows with a screen before ventilating the room—this is to prevent re-infestation.

You should know the duration it takes for RAID to dry off after application— to enter the room when it’s safe.

Frequently Asked Questions