Raid Ant & Roach Spray Review

Raid pest control products are among the best- known manufactured goods of their type and among the different Raid products, the one that gets the most advertising exposure and the one that most people will recognize instantly is the aerosol spray bottle. And of the spray bottle products, the one most frequently purchased is Raid Ant & Roach Killer, a powerful, toxic spray that stops bugs dead in their tracks.

Pest Control Commentary:

Raid Ant & Roach Killer is an effective way to kill bugs instantly and to help prevent some of them from returning to your home. I keep a bottle of this under my kitchen sink at all times to kill bugs when I see them and to spray in areas where I think they might be entering my home.

This product is powerful and once bugs are sprayed, they croak instantly. There is no escaping the affects of Raid. It knocks the creepy crawlers out cold, with no chance to survive. I use this mostly to control ants but now that I live in a warmer climate, there are other insect problems to deal with. Often, I have walked into the kitchen and discovered a small army of ants walking off with crumbs of bread or other foods, leaving a trail of food as they walk under the refrigerator and down under the floor. I sometimes find other bugs in the house as well, feasting on leftover food or just making a nuisance of themselves. When this happens, all I do is grab my can of Raid and spray them as they walk toward their escape. They are killed instantly and swiftly.

Raid can sometimes help keep bugs from returning, but this isn't something you can count on. If ants are entering, say, through a corner of a window due to a loose screen, you can spray around the edge and prevent them from coming back. But in many instances, finding exactly where the bugs are coming and going is not possible. In these instances, Raid Ant & Roach killer has limited use. It will kill the bugs you can see, but it won't do much to stop ants from returning.  

Raid Ant & Roach killer is also effective on roaches and many other creatures. Don't let the name of the product fool you- this stuff contains toxic poison that can kill any type of bug. In fact, the label recommends using Raid for eliminating spiders, crickets, silverfish, and waterbugs in addition to ants and roaches. But the truth is, any bug that gets sprayed with this product is going to die. Some might gasp for their last breath of fresh air a little longer than others. But they will succumb to the toxic effects of Raid, sooner or later.

While Raid is good for killing bugs instantly, there are a few qualities that prevent it from earning a perfect rating. First of all, let's talk about the smell. The smell is pretty awful and it makes me sneeze if I stand too close to where I spray. Even after returning to the area long after spraying, I can strill smell the product and I still catch myself sneezing. I have the red- label can and even though it is supposedly "Outdoor Fresh Scent", it still smells rather nasty- a combination of chemical aromas and a hint of air freshener. It's supposed to be less offensive then the chemicals alone would be, but it still smells bad to me. There is also a "Country Fresh" scent and a "Fragrance Free" variety. I have not tried either one of them but I think the next one I buy will likely be the fragrance free. Based on the aroma of the Outdoor Fresh scent, I would bet that the Country Fresh is equally repulsive.

Another disadvantage of Raid Ant & Roach killer is the clean-up that comes afterward. Once you spray, you are left with a heap of dead insects and an awful, chemical aroma. At this point, you get the pleasure of wiping up the pile of dead bugs. It's a nasty job, but it must be done. Some people spray bugs behind large appliances and just leave them there. It makes for less work, but that pile of Raid- coated dead insects isn't going to disappear. You have to give in and clean them up.

Bottom Line:
 
Ants and other pests inevitably make their way into places they are not welcome. With Raid Ant & Roach spray, these little six and eight- legged creatures don't stand a chance to survive. One spray is all it takes to kill these bugs dead and keep them out of your way. Raid knocks ‘em out cold, in a matter of seconds.