What To Do After Pest Control Sprays

Last Updated on August 15, 2023 By Emma W. Thomas

After pest control sprays, follow these steps:

• Keep treated areas ventilated for 2-3 hours
• Avoid cleaning treated surfaces for at least a week
• Wait until pests are eliminated; this can take several days
• Regularly clean to prevent new infestations. Consult your pest control professional for specific guidance

What To Do After Pest Control Sprays

Proper aftercare will prevent the pests from coming back. Here’s what to do after spraying your home with pest control chemicals;

1. Wait For The Spray To Settle.

After spraying your home with pesticide, you need to give it time to sit. Although most treatments for pests are kid and pet-friendly, there is a need to let your home air out for several hours before reentering. 

Depending on the treatment used, it can take from 30 minutes to a few hours before you can safely reenter your house. Inquire from your pest control expert to know how long you should wait before getting inside your home after the extermination process.

2. Throw Away Any Affected Food

If there is any food that was accidentally left uncovered or laid out during the time of treatment, ensure that you throw it in the trash bins. While most treatments are non-toxic, it is good to be cautious and discard the food exposed to the extermination chemicals.

3. Avoid Cleaning

Avoid cleaning your house immediately after pest control treatment and allow it to rest for at least one week. Cleaning cabinets and other areas after pest control treatment can cause the pesticides to be rubbed off prematurely and minimize the overall effectiveness of the pesticide. 

Deep cleaning of cabinets, countertops, and floors should wait for a different day.

4. Repair Leaks And Cracks

Leaking pipes, cracks, and crevices can lead to pest re-infestation in your home. It is necessary to protect your home by repairing and closing any openings that can act as entry points for annoying creatures. 

5. Eliminate Any Remaining Pests

You may realize that after a pest control treatment, the presence of bugs increases, and this is normal. When the extermination chemicals are sprayed along corners, cracks, and baseboards, they will force the creatures from their hiding spots. 

You may notice an influx of bugs and other pests a few weeks after spraying a pesticide. It would help if you killed these insects immediately after you see them and dispose of them in the garbage cans.

6. Store Up Paper Products

Cockroaches and other pests such as termites love snacking up on paper. Ensure that you pack up documents and keep them away to prevent them from attracting pests afresh.

Is It Okay To Mop After Pest Control?

It is advisable to do a thorough cleaning before your pest control process. After the chemical is down and dry, you can mop and clean the interior of your home normally. Professional-grade products have a lengthy residue that lasts two to three months if undisturbed.

A liquid pesticide is applied to crevices and cracks spots along baseboards. Mopping the floors up along the baseboards will likely remove any pesticide product used in the area, hence making it ineffective. You can stay a few inches from the edges when mopping as this will help leave the chemical in place and to give the best outcome.

If your home was treated for fleas, you might take longer before mopping your floor. Flea treatment is done differently from the standard pest control process. The product is usually sprayed across the entire floor and not just along the edges and crevices. Since flea treatment is desired to leave a long-lasting residue, mopping the floor will remove it and make it ineffective.

How Long Should You Wait To Be In Your Space After Pest Control Treatment?

Professional pest control is a common and effective way to manage pests, but it necessarily comes with a waiting period before you can safely re-enter your space. The exact duration can vary based on specific factors, including the pest, treatment method, and pesticide formulation. This listicle highlights different scenarios and what they mean for your re-entry timeline. 

1. Traditional Spray Pesticides
For traditional spray pesticides application, a typical re-entry time may range from a few hours to overnight. This allows ample time for the chemicals to settle and dry, making the area safe. The technician will provide a more definitive timeline depending on the specific product.

2. Fumigation
This is typically used for severe infestations or troublesome pests like termites. It involves sealing the property and filling it with pesticide gas. After treatment, the house needs to be thoroughly ventilated to remove any gas residue. Re-entry period usually requires 24-72 hours.

3. Heat Treatment
Heat treatments for pests such as bed bugs do not involve chemicals, making them safe to return to once the process ends and temperatures normalize, usually after about 4-6 hours.

4. Fogging
The fogging technique is another method that might need a longer waiting time. Since it distributes pesticides in the form of mist, it takes longer to settle and dry up, usually around 2-4 hours.

5. Natural or Eco-friendly Treatments
Many pest control companies offer natural or eco-friendly options which only need a few minutes to a few hours before re-entry because they pose minimal health risks.

What To Do After Pest Control Spray For Roaches

Cockroaches are a menace and there is a need to eliminate them immediately they infest your home. Once the expert leaves after spraying the roach control treatment, here’s what to do; 

1. Avoid the sprayed area for about one hour. If you get into the house and find some dust residue, use a damp paper towel to wipe up and throw it away. 

2. Do not fog or spray. You may see more active roaches after treatment, and you need to avoid the temptation of spraying them since doing so will contaminate any bait that the expert left behind. 

3. Keep your sinks clean and dry. Roaches need more water as they react to treatment, and lacking this essential commodity means them dying faster. If the area is clean with no grease, food, or trash, these creatures will gulp the bait. 

4. You will see more roaches for about two weeks as they will come out during the day as a response to the treatment. Keep track of where you see the creatures for follow-up services and to help the technician know where roaches are still hiding. 

5. Keep monthly appointments with your technician until you don’t see roaches for 60 days and switch to a preventive service.

How Long Should I Stay Out Of My House After Pest Control?

The length of time to stay out of your house after pest control spray depends on the type of service. However, most pest control technicians recommend that you stay out for 2-4 hours and up to a maximum of 24 hours depending on the chemical used.

Once you get back into the house after the treatment, you need to safeguard yourself and avoid direct contact with the chemicals. Wear disposable gloves and wipe away any residue spray with a paper towel and discard it. 

Final Word

Pests are annoying and irritating when around homes, and you need to do everything possible to eradicate them. They can infect food, transmit diseases, or even spoil your furniture. Once you call in a technician to spray your home, you need to ask them what to do to avoid contamination or getting infected.

Ensure that you avoid the house for the recommended period and clean your home as advised by the experts. Be on the lookout for pest re-infestation and follow-up with the professionals.

References:

https://www.smithereen.com/blog/what-to-do-after-pest-control-sprays/
https://www.insectekpest.com/blog/what-to-do-after-pest-control-treatment-essential-tips-to-know/