Does Raid Kill Maggots? Here’s How to Use It

Some insecticides can kill maggots on the spot, while others can keep the larvae away several weeks after spraying. They contain chemical ingredients such as pyrethrin, phenothrin, and permethrin that can effectively kill larvae. Insecticides are the best option when controlling a massive maggot infestation.

Raid can kill maggots on contact. Cover or remove any food or fruits in the open. Then spray the maggots and the entire infested area and leave the house for the time indicated on the Raid label. Afterward, ventilate the rooms and clean surfaces to remove dead maggots and residues.

Does Raid Fly Spray kill maggots?

Raid fly is commonly used to control flying insects such as houseflies and mosquitoes. However, it also kills larvae on contact. Raid fly contains phenothrin and prallethrin as the primary ingredients.

Spray Raid fly on the maggots’ bodies to get rid of them from an area. Clean the infected area with soapy water afterward to remove residues and the dead larvae.

How to kill maggots using Raid

Raids contain potent ingredients that kill flying insects yet can be harmful to humans and pets. Cypermethrin and imiprothrin are among the dangerous ingredients in Raids. Here is a step-by-step guide to safely getting rid of larvae from your home:

1. Read the label                                                                                             

Checking the label is the first thing you must do to avoid adverse effects from misusing the product.

The label directs how to use the product and precautions to observe. There are also instructions on handling accidental spills or ingestion.

2. Cover food

Raids usually leave residues on surfaces. Uncovered foods can harbor residues, resulting in food poisoning when consumed.

Cover your foodstuffs and drinks to prevent the raid particles from falling on them when treating maggots from your kitchen or pantry.

Alternatively, remove the foods from the kitchen or pantry before Raid treatment and return them after cleaning the surfaces.

3. Close the doors and windows

Open windows and doors allow the raid particles to diffuse from the house to the surrounding, wasting the Raid and making the treatment less effective.

Close windows and doors when treating a massive maggot infestation. However, closing doors and windows aren’t necessary when removing a few larvae from a secluded area. 

4. Spray the Raid

Shake the Raid bottle before use. Hold it upright and position the nozzle away from your face. Press the top to spread the particles directly on the larvae’ bodies to kill them. Leave the house immediately for about 15 minutes to let the Raid kill the larvae.

For maggots on ceilings, ensure you have protective gear covering your eyes. Raid can have negative effects on them. Never let the particles come into contact with your eyes whatsoever.

5. Ventilate the rooms

Spray Raid particles can cause respiratory problems when inhaled. Open windows and doors immediately after returning to allow air circulation to the rooms. Stay away from the rooms for a few minutes to avoid inhaling any remaining harmful raid fumes.

6. Vacuum the flours and clean surfaces

Vacuum the floor to remove the dead larvae and stains. Throw the debris from the vacuum bag in a plastic bag and seal it tightly before disposing of it in a trash can outside. Wipe the countertops, furniture, surfaces, and areas exposed to the Raid using a sponge and a disinfectant to remove residues.

Types of Raid you can use

Raid is among the best insecticide brands to control insects and moths from homes. The Raid Multi Insect Killer, Raid Ant & Roach Killer, and Raid Flying Insect Killer are the three types of Raid you can use to kill larvae.

1. Raid Multi Insect Killer

Raid multi-insect killer has phenothrin and prallethrin as the main ingredients. The product controls flying and crawling insects. It kills roaches, ants, flies, maggots,  and spiders on contact. You can comfortably use the product indoors and outdoors, and it doesn’t leave any lingering chemical smell.

Pets and people should avoid using the treated area until the mist and aerosols have dispersed. Clean surfaces with soapy water to remove residues after the treatment.

2. Raid Ant & Roach Killer

Raid Ant & Roach Killer contains imiprothrin and cypermethrin as active ingredients. It kills various flying insects such as roaches, waterbugs, palmetto bugs, ants, silverfish, crickets, carpet beetles, and stinkbugs. It can also control maggots from a site since it kills them instantly on contact.

Raid Ant & Roach killer keeps away the bugs up to four weeks after treatment. Reapply the Raid after four weeks to control maggots from your property altogether. You can use the product indoors and outdoors, and it doesn’t leave a residual chemical odor.

To use the Raid Ant & Roach Killer, spray it on the infested areas until it is wet. Leave the house immediately until the mist dries. Clean surfaces thoroughly with soapy water after returning to the house.

3. Raid Flying Insect Killer

Raid Flying Insect contains phenothrin and prallethrin as the main ingredients. It controls various insects, including flies, mosquitoes, tiny flying moths, wasps, and yellow jackets. Since Raid Flying kills on contact, you can also use it to eliminate larvae indoors and outdoors.

The weather should be calm when using it outdoors. Otherwise, cover foods, spray the mist on the larvae, and leave the house immediately. Return when the mists have dried. Raid flying insect killer has a fresh scent and doesn’t leave any lingering chemical smell.

Other ways to kill maggots instantly

Spray raids are a chemical method of getting rid of maggots. However, spray raids can pose hazardous health effects, including skin irritation, diarrhea, and coughing when misused. If you want to avoid the raids, use natural home ingredients to eliminate the larvae.

Boiled water, vinegar, and salt are among the most popular natural remedies to kill maggots instantly.

1. Boiled water

Boiled water is a cheap and effective natural solution to kill maggots instantly from the house. It denatures the maggots’ organs, destroying them. Here’s how to kill maggots instantly using boiled water:

  1. Heat a kettle full of water until it boils
  2. Pour the boiled water carefully on the maggot-infested area, ensuring you cover all of them. Wait for a few minutes to let the water kill the maggots
  3. Collect the dead larvae and place them inside a plastic bag. Seal the bag tightly and dispose of it in a trash can outside.

Clean the maggot-infested area using a sponge and soapy water. You may want to add baking soda to remove any foul odor from the site. If the larvae were inside a trash can, clean it thoroughly with soapy water or add less concentrated bleach. Let the can dry before returning it inside.

2. Vinegar solution

Another easy, cheap, and fast method to get rid of maggots from your property is pouring vinegar solution on them. Vinegar contains acetic acid, which makes the maggots surrounding inhabitable. Thus, they die when treated.

  1. Here’s how to kill maggots instantly using vinegar
  2. Mix one part of vinegar to three parts of boiled water in  a bowl
  3. Pour the solution over the maggots-infested area and on the larvae
  4. Let the solution sit for 20-30 minutes to allow it to kill the larvae
  5. Reapply the solution if you still see some live maggots on the site
  6. Collect the dead maggots into a plastic bag and dispose of them in the trash can outside
  7. Clean the affected area.

3. Salt

You can also use the common table salt to kill maggots from your property. Like other living creatures, Maggots must have water in their bodies to survive. However, salt absorbs water from the maggots’ bodies, dehydrating and killing them.

Here’s how to kill maggots using salt

  1. Sprinkle a lot of salt on the larvae. It’s best when the larvae are in a confined place, such as a trash can or a room corner.
  2. Wait for a few hours to let the salt dehydrate the maggots
  3. If the larvae were on the floor, vacuum it to remove the dead larvae.

Reference

· University of Massachusetts Amherst: Pest Management: Proper Use of Pesticides.

Author

  • Felix Odi

    Hi, I’m an experienced author and content creator with over 18 years of experience as a publisher. Growing up in rural areas of Bristol, FL, I developed an interest in pest control, fish farming, and poultry keeping. Farming is a main activity in the area, and pests are always part of our major setbacks. I had to learn how to get rid of them with simple DIYs.