Deodorizing Skunk Essence Strategies
One of the most desperate questions we get at WDC is how to deodorize a home
after a skunk has sprayed. Please read the information below carefully. Skunk
deodorizing can be a pain staking process because usually one cannot access
the actual spot where the skunk sprayed. Patience and persistence are necessary
virtues to get rid of the smell.
Can't see under the deck well, Get the Fiber Optic Tool
For deodorizing other smells click bad smells
For more information on skunks click Skunk Trapping Booklet
Skunk Biology and Skunk Myths
Skunks Mephitis mephitis nigra
Skunk Odor
Why do skunks spray? Skunks spray for a number of reasons.
The primary reason is self defense. Their essence, which is a yellow creamy
substance sometimes called mercaptan, can burn the eyes and make another animal
reconsider eating them. Many times a skunk will warn its victim before it sprays
by pounding the ground with its front feet. If you hear the pitter patter of
little feet, it means the skunk is angry and ready to let you have it. Skunks
also warn their victims by leaking a little fluid to remind you what it smells
like. Fail to heed these two warnings and you could be in for a brand new experience.
Remember, like a rattlesnake, skunks don’t always warn you that they are
about to spray. If they are frightened enough they will spray you immediately.
How far away to do you have to stand to avoid getting hit?
Well the answer to that question depends on who you ask and the geographical
setting your in. Some biologists contend the skunk can spray up to 18 feet,
others say only 12. Personal experience says the skunks spray up to six feet.
It is quite an experience watching the spray come towards you. You also have
to consider wind direction and whether the skunk is on higher ground when calculating
how far they can spray. Another myth says that skunks can’t spray if their
feet are off the ground. Don’t believe it. They can spray quite well even
when lifted by their tail.
Is skunk odor dangerous? We are not aware of any long
term health dangers associated with the odor. However, we are aware of people
with asthma and those sensitive to odors complaining of difficulty breathing
and sometimes even throwing up. We do recommend that you expose yourself as
little as possible to the smell.
Deodorizing Skunk Essence
1. Make sure the skunks have abandoned their den under your house etc. You
can't get rid of the smell if the skunks are still there. If you want to learn
about getting rid of skunks click Skunk Trapping
Booklet
2. If the smell lingers at the same strength for over two weeks, then you could
have a dead skunk under your house or deck or porch. You will need to look.
If not possible then you had better call a professional cleaner to fog underneath
your deck, porch or house.
For enclosed space situations such as below trailers, crawl spaces etc., we
recommend that you try to ventilate the area as much as possible once the infestation
has been removed. Be sure to take care in resecuring the area however, as a
new skunk family or other animal may have taken up residence.
3. For generalized skunk smell like that found in a car, room or garage, spray
any deodorant you like to smell. Incense candles, carpet fresh, pine-sol, lemon
oil, etc. More importantly air out the room as much as possible. Crack windows
etc. For example, When you drive, have the hot air blast as much as you can
stand and leave the window cracked. Washing floors, furniture can help to alleviate
the smell faster. Be prepared for the odor to be reactivated during periods
of high humidity. In situations where skunks have sprayed under a trailer home
or porch, it can take up to one month or longer to be completely free of the
odor.
Don't forget, skunk smell lasts a long time. It is not unusual for it to linger
for several weeks. But the odor should be on a downward slide. However, the
smell is from a dead animal it will actually get worse.
4. The following method works best when you know the exact spot
where the skunk sprayed, such as your pet, clothing, walls etc. While potent,
skunk spray can be effectively removed with some simple techniques. If your
clothing smells, simply wash them using a strong detergent and for yourself
take a shower. There is also a product you can mix yourself that has a remarkable
ability to counteract skunk smell. It was invented by a chemist and has been
used by a problem animal controllers with good success.
The ingredients of the skunk deodorizer are 1 quart of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide;
½ cup of baking soda and 1 tablespoon of liquid dish or laundry detergent. Mix
these three items in an open container. Never, Never put them into a container
and then close the lid. The escaping gases could build up enough presser to
explode the container. Never store this mixture. If you create it, use it. This
formula is only effective for deodorizing items that have been directly hit
with the spray. It won’t deodorize your room. Be careful it may discolor
fabrics etc.
"Last night our Whippet bitch got 'skunked'...this year
we have a plague of them about...I did the 'old standbys', vinegar, V8 to no
avail. My husband
did a 'google search' and came up with your site...the recipe worked beautifully.
Perhaps we were fortunate to get it on while the spray was
fresh (2-3min.) or it's just highly effective...thank you in any case. Chris,
Ipswich, MA"
Thanks Chris. As always, let us know about your skunk deodorizing
technique.info@aallanimalcontrol.com
Another person had less than good success with this method
"we tried that bogus recipe with the (H2O2) peroxide and
BiCarb. it
worked about as much as tomato juice would.. very little! it did knock it
down a bit, but not much. would have taken 10 washings of the dog."
Suggestions from Site Visitors (use at own risk)
- I have learned about another solution: Lemon Juice. Pour or spray
it directly on the site. (Just a warning though, lemon juice is acidic and
could stain etc. clothing, furniture etc.) I understand that the results are
instant.
- "A product called Nature's Miracle Skunk Odor Remover.Iit is
enzyme based, and dispersed in alcohol thus, requiring no bathing of dog.
all you do is pour it on dog, lather into dog, and let dry. the alcohol evaporates,
and takes the skunk thiols with it. NO MUSS, NO FUSS. i did have to wipe her
face again with a saturated cloth, but this stuff really works.. GREAT. Istill
have MOST of the bottle left too. probably enough for 3 more treatments."
- Many years ago, our Great white Pyranees got skunked in Northern Wisconsin.
These dogs are white and large, and as such we had a giant yellow stinky dog.
Tomato juice failed and we resorted to what was on hand at midnight in a town
that closes at 5pm. Downy fabric softener worked like a charm. Liberally applied
to a tub full of water we soon had a sweet smelling dog with the brightest,
poofiest fur we could ever remember. In case you were wondering, she did not
seem to get itchy, or suffer any other side effects.
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If a skunk sprays near enough to the house to get the smell into the house, spread cinnamon on a baking sheet; put it in the oven on 250. The smell will be gone in an hour or so.
I have used it about 6 or 7 times (skunks are numerous out here!) The relief lasts until the next skunk sprays. And, yes, it's powdered cinnamon that I use, but I suppose the sticks would work as well. I usually bake it about 1 hour, then prop the over door open to make sure it permeates the house. I don't know why it works, but I am certainly glad it does!
-
After my dog was sprayed at close range by a skunk, I wrapped her in a blanket and called local groomers. Many have a rule and do not take one time skunk clean-ups, besides their results are often disappointing and expensive. Facing the challenge of destinking her I found I needed a good harmless degreaser. If you wash your pet in warm water this will open the hair follicles and allow the odor to sink in, thus you get the lingering odor. The best degreaser I use around my home is mineral spirits. I soaked a rag and wiped the dry dog off. All the black came off on the rag as well as the odor, in less that 5min. I them washed her with any good smelling soap. Odor gone completely 100% in no time, and cheap also! I often use mineral spirits to wash off after gardening if I think I have been in poison ivy, it breaks up the oil before I get in the shower and open up my pores, so I knew it would not hurt her skin. The best 5 bucks remedy ever!
Ionizers:
We have heard of Ionizers which the manufacturer claims that they reduce odors
by create an electrostic charge that causes the dust in the room to combine
together, become heavy and fall to the floor. The idea is that dust particles
are what carry the odor. If you can get the particles to fall out of the air
then you can automatically reduce the odor. These products then create Ozone
which allegedly oxidize the organic material and get rid of the odor. Others
contend that ozone doesn't oxidize the odors but instead reduce our ability
to smell. I have heard one person who used one say it worked well. She wasn't
sure if it created ozone as well but it was an ionizer. We are waiting for more
research.
One visitor wrote: "Came across your site looking for answers to the barn
area. The house was unlivable and made a person quite ill. I borrowed an ionizer,
Flair makes, and it did work. We were able to stay home. But the smell is still
in the barn. Ofcourse I did not hook one up in there. Becca" Thanks Becca.
We welcome the experiences of others.
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Nose Cone |
8/14/04
Disclaimer: WDC seeks to provide accurate, effective and responsible information
on resolving human/wildlife conflicts. We welcome suggestions, criticisms to
help us achieve this goal. The information provided is for informational purposes
only and users of the information use it at their own risk. The reader must
consult state/federal officials to determine the legality of any technique in
the reader's locale. Some techniques are dangerous to the user and to others.
WDC encourages readers to obtain appropriate training (see our informational
literature at our Store ), and understand that proper animal damage
control involves patience, understanding that not every technique/method works
for every situation or even 100% of the time. Your use of this information is
governed by this understanding.
We welcome potential users of the information
and photos to simply ask for permission via e-mail. Finally, WDC welcomes
e-mail but understand that all e-mails become property of Wildlife Damage Control.
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