Then rinse and wash your pet with their regular shampoo. However, if this doesn't work and the skunk dies under a shed or porch or deck, you have to put on a gas mask and crawl under there and grab it and bag it! If you get sprayed by a skunk, there are several ways to get rid of the smell. If your pet has been skunked outside, bathe them outdoors if possible so they cannot bring the smell in with them. Apparently, the oxidation changes the skunk smell's chemical composition, so it stops smelling so badly. Exhaust fumes smell indicates a chemical leakage in your HVAC. Do a patch test first to make sure it doesnt lighten the fabric. Check out Solves of the Problem! Do not pour it onto grass or plants as the bleach may kill them. However, it is important to note that a skunk will become dehydrated much quicker without water than it will without food. What was the cause of the skunk odor, and how did you resolve it? The human nose is extremely sensitive to thiols, and can detect these chemicals in minute quantities of just a few parts per billion. Identify where the skunk smell is coming from and follow it. The spray from a skunk's mouth is extremely foul-smelling and it can linger on your dog for weeks or even months. Find Out How Long Does Skunk Smell Last & Its Removal This mixture will help remove skunk smell lastingly and quickly. Mist the seats and let the solution sit for several minutes before dabbing the fabric with a clean cloth. Then invest in a skunk repellent to put a stop to the encounters and make sure you wont get stuck having to repeatedly rid your house of the smell. This is especially true if the liquid has found its way onto places such as your seats and car carpeting. After all, it could be challenging to keep the stinging stuff out of the eyes of an agitated animal during your de-skunk dog rubdown. You smell a skunk in your house but not outside due to a gas leakage from your gas appliance or HVAC system. If the skunk smell is lingering in the air of your home or car, the only way to get rid of it is to let it air out and run its course. Acting quickly with the following tips will ensure your success in eliminating skunk odor. Repeat if necessary. I recommend a final wash with Skunk-Off Pet Shampoo that is available on Amazon. By Bob Vila and Teresa Odle Updated May 17, 2022 12:06 PM. Interactive Quiz: Whats Your Self-Care Style? Pour 2 to 4 cups of baking soda into hot water. As an Amazon Associate we earn affiliate commissions from qualifying purchases. While a live skunk already has a bad reputation because with its putrid-smelling and sticky spray, and it certainly doesnt get better in death. 1 teaspoon baby shampoo or grease-cutting dish detergent. Research shows that a skunk's odor will last 14-21 days if left untreated. Were you always curious about what a skunk smells like? Roomba i2 vs i3: Comparison by 11 Parameters. How Long Does Skunk Smell Last | Guru Restoration It can even wind up on your own skin! Ignitable materials like lighting matches, smoking, or loose electrical wires can cause an explosion. Hydrogen peroxide can bleach fur, plus you want to avoid letting the cleaning solution run down into your pets eyes. 1/4 cup baking soda. This is the first step, simple and straightforward. The sooner and more efficiently you act, the better your chances of eliminating the skunk gunk completely and quickly. Let the garment soak for about 3 hours, then rinse in cold water and hang to dry. Because the odor is contained in the spray, it lingers until the liquid is diluted or removed. All rights reserved. This will get rid of your pest problem for good. If the affected piece of clothing is delicate or dry clean only, skip the peroxide, opting instead for a common pantry staple: vinegar. Please, feel free to like and share this Livestream. How Long Does Skunk Smell Last? | Wildside Wildlife Removal Skunk Spray Doesn't Have to Ruin Your Day - Alpha Tech Pet, Inc. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'homezesty_com-banner-1','ezslot_9',108,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-homezesty_com-banner-1-0');Skunk smell can find its way into your car in many ways, including hitting it while driving your car, or the skunk finding a home in your car. If it smells like a dead animal, maybe an animal is living, stuck, or dead in the HVAC. You can also pour the vinegar in inexpensive plastic containers and punch holes in the lids. If necessary, place bowls of vinegar in the front and back seats for several days. If your house smells like skunk, take the steps below to get rid of the odor. Skunk spray is not poisonous. These animals use their anal scent gland as a defensive mechanism against any predator. Consider these home remedies for how to get rid of skunk smell in various situations. But for most cases, it will last you for 14 days at least to 21 days for maximum. Let the clothes soak in the solution for 1 hour. Pour 1 gallon of water into bucket and add 1 1/2 cups of liquid bleach. Skunks defend themselves by spraying their target with a yellowish liquid with an extremely foul odor. By submitting your email, you agree to our, 5 Easy Ways to Remove Scratches from a Glass Window, All About Woodpecker Damage Repair and Prevention, The Ultimate Summer Maintenance Checklist, These Plants Will Keep Rabbits Out Of Your Garden, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Mix 1 quart 3% hydrogen peroxide, cup baking soda, and 1-2 teaspoons dishwashing soap (if you dont have hydrogen peroxide, any pharmacy and most grocery stores carry it), Wearing rubber gloves and keeping the solution away from your pets eyes, wash their entire body, Rinse your furry friend thoroughly to remove the solution, Follow up with a skunk-odor-eliminating shampoo, if you have one on hand. This will protect you from spray, but it will also keep the skunk calm once it realizes it has been captured. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission Heres our process. Some odor can still linger, and the heat of drying will bake the odor into the fabric. But the gas supplied to your house is mixed with a safe chemical called Mercaptan that gives it the odor. This is one of the easiest methods of skunk smell removal.However, if the skunk smell (click to see pricing for De-Skunk Shampoo) has found its way into fur, clothes, and carpeting, you should consider using liquid bleach to clean these surfaces. However, if they sense danger, theyll discharge an oily, yellow spray from their anal glands to protect themselves. Is the skunk smell in the house dangerous? Just be sure to test in a small area to ensure the bleach doesnt discolor or damage the surface. Once you or your pet has been sprayed by a skunk, be aware that it may spray you again. Rinse the exterior thoroughly with a garden hose. Make loud noises or flash bright light at the skunk. You will need to take these measurements early as your pet will also be very disturbed due to the smell. Porous items like cloths within the vicinity of the stink may have to be disposed of. And the longer you wait to wash it off, the harder it will to be free of that nasty odor. But if it is strong, the skunk must be in your house or close by. What makes a skunk's spray so noxious is the complex combination of sulfuric chemicals called thiols. You can get the skunk smell off your dog by using the Paul Krebaum solution. Roomba i3 Vs i7: Which One Is Really Better? Similarly, to remove the skunk from clothes you can use a hydrogen peroxide solution or even a commonly found item in the house like white vingar. Best Air Purifier for Large Rooms: Top 10 Air Purifiers You Can Trust! However, these pests can also transmit certain diseases such as rabies, just like raccoons. To make the process faster, create high ventilation and clean the surface thoroughly with baking soda and cleaning products. This formula can also be applied to a dog's fur that has been sprayed by a skunk. DOI: Getting skunk smell off clothes and furniture, scienceline.org/2006/07/ask-cosier-skunk/, humanesociety.org/resources/de-skunking-your-dog, acs.org/content/acs/en/pressroom/presspacs/2019/acs-presspac-july-24-2019/fungal-compound-deodorizes-skunk-smell.html, acs.org/content/acs/en/pressroom/reactions/videos/2019/how-to-get-rid-of-skunk-smell.html, The Fragrance of Marijuana Before and After Consumption. Here are some tips for in-house skunk smell removal. Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. Since this mammal is unable to climb, it tends to settle under porches and in sheds. If no immediate action is taken, untreated skunk smell can last for months or even years. The overspray can bleach plants or other unintended items. Because they rarely travel more than 2 miles from their established dens, a skunk will typically settle down within 2 miles of a water source. By creating an account you agree to the Hunker, How to Clean Nicotine Stains from a Carpet. The process of decomposition after death begins with intestinal bacteria starting to break down the internal organs. Suppose you were curious about what the skunk smell like or how pungent it can be. How to Increase Your Height: Is There Anything I Can Do? Keeping wild animals away from your home is essential for you and your pets. It is dangerous if your house smells of skunk. Veterans' New Plan To Stop Endless Wars! - Facebook Exposure to such an odor is dangerous for your health. You can find this product at most pet supply stores or order online. Experts Opnion, How To Clean Bounce House Mold? Drop your scoop into a strong garbage bag and seal it up tight. Place your pet in a sunny room or outdoor spot to keep warm for a few hours until dry. How To Get Rid of Skunk Smell - Angi Wash your entire body with deodorant soap or a grease-cutting dish detergent. Skunk smell that is left untreated can last for up to 3 weeks. Laval, If a skunk has died under or near your home, however, this smell will linger far longer as it will get worse as the skunk decomposes. Copyright 2023 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. Then wipe off these surfaces with a wet cloth. Unfortunately, this will take anywhere from 3 weeks to a couple of months, and this depends on whether the spray has settled on your seats, dashboard, and car carpeting.If the skunk fluid has touched your carpeting and other items found in the car, the amount of time increases, and the smell can even last for years if the problem is not addressed.Washing your car with soap and water ingredients will not remove the skunk smell completely. If your pet has just gotten sprayed, make sure their eyes arent affected (if they seem uncomfortable and their eyes look irritated, seek a vets attention). Go back to the Skunk Removal page, or learn tips by reading How to get rid of skunks. The smell can range from mild to strong repugnant smells that can make an area unlivable and a health hazard for the occupants.But how long does it take for the skunk smell to go away? Our note below modifies these cleaning tips to make sure getting the stink out wont damage your favorite delicates. Take the garbage bag to a dumpster or landfill far from your house and dump it there. Easy Steps to Remove, Can I Live in a House with Black Mold? When a skunk dies, the resulting odor is a sour skunk smell that will last for . 25 Porter Road, Suite 210 | Littleton, MA 01460 You can remove the smell faster by improving ventilation and cleaning the surface with baking soda and cleaning products. These tips will help get rid of the skunk smell, but remember to work quickly so the odor has less time to settle in. If you still have questions about getting rid of skunk smell, read on for the answers to some common questions about how to clean skunk smell off a dog, home, clothing, and car surfaces. The stink of skunk spray is caused by thiols which are made from sulfur. In a spray bottle, mix about 1 part vinegar with 1 part water, and add only a teaspoon or so of detergent. Wood WF. 1 quart (.95 L) 3% hydrogen peroxide (fresh bottle), 1/4 cup (70 g) baking sodium bicarbonate). One of the most common reasons someone might be dealing with skunk smell is an encounter between the family dog or cat and a startled skunk. 2023 Healthline Media LLC.