How To Get Rid Of Skunk Smell From House And Dogs

How To Get Rid Of Skunk Smell: Ever get a whiff of fresh skunk spray? That “skunky” smell wafting through your car vent on a country road can’t compare to the potency of fresh skunk spray which is overwhelming, to say the least. Whatever it touches reeks so badly it has to stay out of the house until a remedy is found. Skunk smell can linger for 2 to 3 weeks, so you will need to act—and fast—if you get sprayed. Skunk spray is pungent and oily. It’s hard to remove and the longer you wait, the harder it is to neutralize. Here’s how to get rid of skunk smell.

Everyone knows that tomato juice is handy for de-skunking a dog, but it’s not the only old-time remedy that works to get rid of skunk odor from your dog. Some other ingredients to keep on hand in quantity in case of emergency include vanilla extract, apple cider vinegar, and hydrogen peroxide.

Water To Get Rid Of Skunk

Try dousing a skunked dog with about a cup of vanilla extract mixed in a gallon of water to get rid of skunk odor, says Hazel Christiansen, a longtime professional groomer and former president of the American Grooming Shop Association, in Lewiston, Idaho. Let the dog soak in the solution for about 10 minutes before applying dog shampoo and rinsing.

The noxious scent of skunk spray can be long-lasting and overpowering. Skunk spray contains sulfur-based organic compounds called thiols. These compounds let off an immediate blast of acrid scent, reminiscent of rotten eggs.

Skunk spray also contains thioacetates. Thioacetates remain dormant at first but can morph into smell-producing thiols when they come into contact with water or humidity. This can happen days or longer after the skunking occurred. It’s the thioacetates in skunk spray that give it it’s staying power.

How To Get Rid Of Skunk Smell On Dog

1. Use rubber gloves. Protect your hands with latex or rubber gloves before handling your pet after a skunk spray. You do not want to accidentally transmit the spray to your eyes, causing severe irritation.
2. Investigate for any wounds. It’s possible your pet got into a physical altercation with the skunk. Look over your pet for any bites or scratches. Although spraying is the skunk’s primary defense, they have been known to use their teeth and claws when attacked.
3. Contact the veterinarian if necessary. If you find any wounds or notice redness or discharge in the eyes, contact a professional immediately before administering any homemade remedy. In addition to the potential for inducing vomiting and drooling, there also exists the rare possibility of developing anemia, more so in the Japanese breeds. And if you have not seen the offending animal itself to determine its condition and the possibility of it carrying rabies, you might want to have this ruled out professionally as well.

How To Get Rid Of Skunk Smell In House

• The homeowners let out their dog, and a skunk sprayed him. Then the poor pooch came back in and rubbed the skunk’s odor into the carpet and upholstery.

• A skunk sprayed in the crawl space for any number of reasons. Skunks are known to spray under houses — generally wherever their nests are located.

• A skunk simply sprayed the outdoors near your house, and the smell seeped in through the HVAC system or cracks found near your home’s doors and windows.

The first step is to remove the source — the skunk, that is. We do not recommend you doing this on your own. Definitely call a wildlife removal professional!

The second step is to determine what needs to be cleaned, such as furniture, carpet, clothing or more. The spray oils can cover multiple surfaces, and they will all typically need to be cleaned. Also, if the insulation in a crawl space has been affected, it may require complete replacement.

Reliable companies use proven technology for deodorization, allowing them not to merely mask the odor but completely eliminate the problem at its source. In the past, this process could take several days, but with new technology, technicians can complete this process in a much more timely fashion, sometimes as quickly as one day.

How To Remove Skunk Smell From People

Wash your entire body with deodorant soap or grease-cutting dish detergent. Wash your hair with a shampoo made for oily hair.

You can also soak in a baking soda bath for 15 to 20 minutes:

1. Pour 2 to 4 cups of baking soda into hot water.
2. Rinse to remove the residue from your skin.

   

How To Get Rid Of Skunk Smell On Clothing

Soak clothing in a solution of 1 part vinegar and 4 parts water for several hours to get rid of skunk smell on washable clothing. Rinse with water, then wash in hot water using detergent and 1/2 cup baking soda. Set for repeat rinse. Hang dry, outdoors if possible; do not use a clothes dryer.

How Do You Get Rid Of Skunk Smell In The House?

If people or pets come into the house before being de-skunked, you may find that the smell lingers in the air. To get rid of it, boil vinegar in a pan. The home will now smell like vinegar, but once that smell is gone, the skunk odor should also be gone.

What Kills Skunk Odor?

Hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and dish soap: Konecny recommends mixing together one quart of three percent hydrogen peroxide (available at any pharmacy), a quarter cup baking soda and one teaspoon liquid dishwashing soap.

How Do You Get Rid Of Skunk Smell On A Dog?

1. ¼ cup of baking soda.
2. 1-2 teaspoons of mild dishwashing detergent like Ivory Snow.
3. 1 quart of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide solution.
4. Mix in a bucket and use it immediately.
5. Work the foaming mixture well into the coat.
6. Leave on for five minutes.
7. Rinse with warm water.
8. Follow with dog shampoo if desired.

Can You Use Vinegar To Get Rid Of Skunk Smell?

Remove Skunk Odors From Your Home With Just Some Vinegar. Simply place bowls of white vinegar around the house. According to Lynn, they will absorb the smell after one day.