The smell emitted by a skunk can enter your home in various ways, from contact with you or your pet to a spray done right in your garden. Light stench can be eliminated by ventilating the home, while strong stench can soak into fur, clothing and carpets for months or even years if immediate measures are not taken. Here are some effective methods.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Vinegar
Step 1. Create a solution by mixing one part vinegar with five parts warm water in a bucket
- The exact dose will depend on the amount of clothes, towels and sheets you need to put in the washing machine.
- Remember that some synthetic and delicate fabrics are not resistant to vinegar.
Step 2. Soak the contaminated textiles in the solution and let them soak for two to three hours
- For best results, scrub the fabric for several minutes before soaking it. This way, you will allow the vinegar to penetrate better and eliminate the odor more effectively.
- This treatment works best when done an hour or two after contamination.
Step 3. Put everything in the washing machine and wash with warm water
- For a better deodorizing effect, add 125ml baking soda in the washing machine before the wash begins.
- If possible, let it dry in the sun instead of in the dryer.
Step 4. Place bowls of white vinegar around the house if you can't pinpoint the exact origin of the smell
- Focus on the smelliest rooms in the house, as the source of the stench is likely to come from there.
- If you have pets or children, put the vinegar on the shelves to prevent them from ingesting it by mistake.
- The vinegar should absorb most of the odor in 24 hours. However, sometimes this method doesn't work.
Method 2 of 4: Refresh the Home
Step 1. Open the windows to neutralize the smell
- Closing the house will only make the stench worse. Only fresh air eliminates the contaminated one.
- The sun is also indispensable: ultraviolet rays can help remove odor.
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Wash your clothes, towels and blankets in the washing machine with hot water and detergent as soon as possible and hang them out. Carpets and other difficult-to-wash fabrics should be cleaned with a car vacuum cleaner. Direct sun exposure and fresh air eliminate odor better than a dryer.
Get Skunk Smell Out of the House Step 4 - Steam vacuums are most useful for carpets and other difficult-to-clean textiles because they open and expand the fibers of the fabric. However, a car vacuum cleaner is better than nothing.
- As a general rule, clothes and other textiles should be washed after an hour or two of contamination to prevent odor from soaking.
Step 2. Turn on the fans to circulate the air in the house
This method works particularly well in conjunction with open windows
Step 3. Change the air conditioning and heating filter before and after treating the house
- Odor can get into these filters and will plague your home when you turn on the air conditioning or heating.
- Changing them before treating the rest of the house will minimize the smell that contaminates the house.
- Take a smell test after cleaning the rest of the house and smell the filters. If they don't stink, you won't have to reciprocate them. If they stink, you should replace them once more to prevent them from contaminating the air in the house.
Step 4. Spray an air freshener
- Opt for a spray that can truly deodorize the room - most only emit a strong scent that covers odors. However, this function is not sufficient. The stench must be neutralized.
- There are special sprays for the odors emitted by skunks. Look for them online. According to some people they are not effective, but this depends a lot on individual experience.
Method 3 of 4: Hydrogen Peroxide and Sodium Bicarbonate
Step 1. Mix 1 liter of hydrogen peroxide, 60 ml of baking soda, and 5 ml of washing-up liquid or dish detergent in a container
- If possible, use 3% hydrogen peroxide.
- For stubborn odors, increase the amount of baking soda to 125ml and the amount of soap to 15ml.
- Do not close the container after mixing the ingredients: the gas produced could destroy it.
- Don't store the mix - use it right away.
Step 2. Exfoliate your skin and your dog's coat with this solution using a clean sponge
- This solution is safe for both animals and humans, but avoid contact with the eyes, ears or mouth, as it can damage sensitive areas.
- Exfoliate and then rinse. Repeat until the smell is gone.
- You may need a larger dose of the solution if you have a large dog or if more than one person has been contaminated.
- This method works best when done an hour or two after contamination.
Step 3. Combine one part of hydrogen with six parts of warm water
This solution can be used on clothes and other textiles, but the amount to prepare depends on the deodorant action you need.
- As for fabrics, this solution is preferable to that used for animals and people, as a high concentration of hydrogen peroxide could damage clothes. But, when diluted with water, it won't cause any problems.
- Avoid using it on delicate items or dry clean only items.
Step 4. Soak them in the solution for an hour or two
After removing them from the solution, put them in the washing machine and set a normal wash cycle
Step 5. Alternatively, add baking soda to the next wash
If you don't want to soak your clothes in hydrogen peroxide, add 125ml of baking soda in the washing machine at the start of the wash.
You can also add the same amount of baking soda to hydrogen peroxide-treated clothes for a greater deodorizing effect
Method 4 of 4: Bleach
Step 1. Dilute 250ml of bleach in four liters of warm water
- Bleach should be used alone; when combined with other chemicals, a reaction could occur that would produce a toxic gas.
- Keep the room well ventilated by opening windows and doors. Do not use bleach indoors.
Step 2. Scrub sturdy surfaces (floors, car tires
..) with a stiff bristle brush dipped in bleach.
- Do not use this solution on upholstery and other fabrics: it will stain them.
- If you don't have brushes, you can use a clean rag or abrasive sponge.
- Protect your hands by wearing rubber gloves.
Step 3. Rinse with warm water and repeat if necessary
- Scrub the surfaces you bleached with a rag dipped in water or a lint broom.
- Wipe dry with a clean cloth after you're done.
Advice
- If nothing works, go to a laundry to clean the fabrics and a dog groomer.
- You can prepare a tomato juice bath for both yourself and other people and animals, but this will only mask the smell, it will not neutralize it.
