Whether you’re taking your dog on an evening stroll or are simply out in the backyard throwing away some trash, it’s always an unpleasant surprise to come in contact with a skunk. Startle a skunk and you risk getting sprayed.
When a skunk feels threatened, it’ll spray oils from its anal scent glands as a defense mechanism. The intense stench will resultin burning eyes, difficulty breathing, and an odour that sticks around for a long time. If the smell manages to find its way into your home, either on your dog, on your clothing, or on something else outside of your house, it’s going to take some hard work and dedication to remove the smell of skunk from the house.
1. Work Quickly
You’re in for a long night! If a skunk has sprayed,you must take immediate action to get the best results. The longer you wait, the longer the stench will linger in your home and the more difficult it will be to wash it off. Research shows that left untreated, a strong skunk odour will last for 14 to 21 days.
2. Use Baking Soda
Baking soda is alkaline, but it’s neither toxic or caustic, making it an effective and safe solution to neutralize the skunk’s smell. Because it’s alkaline, it’s also an effective deodorizer.
Dissolve four cups of baking soda in a bath to remove the smell from your body. You can use a mixture of one-quarter cup baking soda, one quart hydrogen peroxide, and one teaspoon dish soap to wash the oil off your dog if it was sprayed directly. You may have to bathe your pet several times.
3. Run Fans
Keep the air in your home circulating by turning on any and all fans you own, from ceiling fans to desk fans. Stagnant and still air will only allow the smell sinking deeper into your carpets and furniture. To improve the effectiveness of this solution, open up your windows, too. Don’t give the smell a chance to settle into your home.
4. Change Your Filters
Once the smell is inside your home, it will cling to your heater and air conditioner filters. It’s best to remove these filters both before and after you treat your home. Otherwise, you might end up smelling the odour every time you turn on the heat or air conditioner—for months down the line.
5. Use Vinegar
White vinegar is effective at counteracting the oil in skunk spray. As such, it’s a great way to remove the smell of skunk from the house. Place bowls of vinegar in every smelly room of your home. Put the bowls higher up on shelves if you have children or pets at home. After 24 hours, the vinegar should successfully absorb most of the smell.
Vinegar is also a good solution for removing the smell from clothing. If you don’t want to simply toss out your clothes, wash the smelly pieces in detergent with four cups of vinegar. Smell the clothing before putting it in the dryer, though. You can end up sealing in the smell in the dryer if it isn’t completely washed away.
It’s difficult to remove the smell of skunk from the house. The five tips above should help. However, the process will take time, and you will have to deal with the skunk smell until you can completely remove it. If you have a skunk den on your property, consider calling a wildlife removal company that offers skunk removal services to evict the pests once and for all. This way, you can prevent the problem before you have to deal with the stinky aftermath.
Do you need wildlife removal services? Request a quote today!