How To Get Rid Of Skunk Smell: Off Humans, Pets, & Clothes

What Is Skunk Smell?

Skunk spray otherwise referred to as skunk musk is a defense mechanism of the striped skunk to ward off predators. It stores this secretion in its anal glands and sprays a yellow oily discharge at predators when it is surprised or feels threatened. A skunk spray can travel up to a distance of 3 meters! (1). Unless you’re really far away from a skunk, escaping its spray is quite difficult.

One of the reasons that make skunk spray so noxious is due to the presence of thiols and thioacetates, which are sulfur-based organic compounds (1). Thioacetates when exposed to humidity or water morphⁱ  XSignificant and dramatic change in character or form that makes the substance completely different from its original state. into thiols that produce the smell.

What Are The Effects Of Skunk Smell?

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Getting sprayed by a skunk and suffering the stench is one half of your misery, the other half is nausea and teary eyes caused by the spray. Studies suggest that skunk spray has a similar effect as that of tear gas. The spray causes you to tear up when it comes in contact with your eyes as it’s a natural tear inducer. At high concentrations, it may also cause nausea and might also be fatally toxic to humans (1).

Skunk attacks are not limited to people alone. Your pets, property, and personal belongings may also be affected. In that case, what can you do to remove the stench from them? Read through the next section and find out.

How To Get Rid Of Skunk Smell

Acting quickly and using the right products is the most critical step in tackling skunk odor. The quicker you act, the better are your chances of completely getting rid of that nasty stench. Here are a few ways that may help you with skunk smell removal.

• How To Get Skunk Smell Off People

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The first thing you need to do if you’ve got “skunked” is to take a bath. Use a strong dish wash detergent or fragrant soap on your body. For your hair, use a shampoo that is specially formulated for oily hair.

You could also try taking a bath with baking soda as it is known to be an odor absorbent (2). For this, you will need to do the following.

1. Put 3-4 cups of baking soda in a bucket and add hot water
2. Rinse yourself and repeat the process until you’ve got rid of the odor
3. Rinse with water to remove any residue

• How To Get Skunk Smell Off Pets

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  Image: Shutterstock

You could also try this formula developed by a chemist named Paul Kerbaum, which supposedly neutralizes skunk odor. To prepare this formula you will need the following.

• 1 quart of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide
• ¼ cup of baking soda
• 1-2 teaspoons liquid dishwashing detergent

Instruction For Use

• Combine all ingredients in an open container and lather them on your pet and let it stay for 5 minutes.
• Repeat the process till you achieve the desired result.

Here are a few precautions to follow when using hydrogen peroxide (3):

• It is important to note that hydrogen peroxide has the tendency to lighten your pet’s fur.
• Hence, do not leave it on for more than 5 minutes.
• Ensure you do not let this lather enter the eyes of your pet, as it may harm them.
• Also do not combine these ingredients or store the leftovers in a closed container as oxygen released from hydrogen peroxide may cause them to explode.

• How To Remove Skunk Smell From Clothes

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  Image: Shutterstock

For clothes like suits, dresses, and shoes that cannot be machine washed, air-drying under shade is the best option. Once they are dry, check with your local dry cleaners if they can further help clean them and get rid of the smell.

• For clothes that you can wash, soak them in a bucket of hot water, add laundry detergent, and ½ cup of baking soda.
• Soak for 30 minutes and air dry them.
• Repeat this process till the smell is completely gone.

You could try using products like Skunk-Off®, Odormute, and Nature’s Miracle Skunk Odor Remover, which can be purchased from online retailers or major supermarket chains.

If a piece of clothing has been heavily sprayed, consider getting rid of it as the fabric can hold the stench for a long time.

• How To Remove Skunk Smell In Your Car

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• If your car has been attacked by skunks, the first thing to do is open up all the windows and let the upholsteryⁱ  XFixed soft, padded cloth covering for couches and other furniture pieces that could be found on their sides or on the headboards. air out.
• Use a mixture of water, hydrogen peroxide, and baby shampoo to wash the interiors thoroughly.
• You can also mix water and bleach in a 1:9 ratio (1 part bleach, 9 parts water) and wash the interiors. Since bleach can lighten the fabric of your seats, it is better to do a patch test before you proceed.
• Wash the exteriors and tires with water and car-wash liquid.
• If the smell persists, use odor removers like Skunk-Off® or Odormute.

• How To Remove Skunk Smell From Your Home

If a skunk has sprayed inside your house or your pet has been skunked and it enters the house, here are a few tips that may help you.

• Open all doors and windows and set all the fans on high speed to let the stenchⁱ  XA stinky, strong, unpleasant smell that is unbearable, making breathing tough. The smell of burning rubber can be considered a stench. out.
• You can use bamboo vinegar or white vinegar to remove the odor as they have deodorizing properties (4).
• In a pot or pan, boil vinegar for an hour and let the smell of vinegar permeate through your house. Your house will smell like vinegar, but it may help get rid of the skunk stench.
• Alternatively, you can place bowls of vinegar in every room of your house for 24-48 hours or till you get rid of the smell.
• Make sure these bowls are kept away from the reach of pets and children.
• If you have wooden floors or decks, use bleach and water in a 1:9 ratio and wipe these areas. Patch test this first to avoid discoloration.

Getting attacked by skunks may not happen very often, as they are nocturnal creatures and attack only when provoked. However, if you become an unfortunate victim of its attack, you are now prepared to deal with the aftermath. In the next section, find out how you can keep yourself safe from skunk sprays.

Safety Precautions To Consider

• If you find yourself face-to-face with a skunk, speak in a low tone and stomp your foot to shoo it away. Avoid any sudden movements as it may perceive you as a threat and unleash its spray.
• Since they are nocturnal pests and forage for food at night, ensure you do not leave garbage or pet food on your porch or driveway at night.
• Check your yard and under your house for holes that are 3-4 inches wide. This is a sign that skunks are nesting. If you find such holes, seal them off with cement.
• Try and walk your pet before it gets dark.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Febreze work on skunk odor?

Febreze may help remove skunk odor from furniture, clothes, curtains, etc.

Do candles help with skunk smell?

Anecdotal evidence suggests that burning strongly scented candles for long hours may help eliminate skunk odor to a certain extent.

Does coffee remove skunk smell?

Unused ground coffee may help remove skunk smell to some extent.

Does tea tree oil get rid of skunk smell?

Tea tree oil may help to cut through skunk smell from pets when combined with shampoos. However, evidence regarding this is only anecdotal.

Does orange juice help skunk smell?

Orange juice may not help with skunk smell. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that citrus scents from rinds, candles or essential oils may help with skunk smell.

Does milk help with skunk smell?

Anecdotal evidence suggests that milk may help mask skunk odor, but there is no certainty that it will remove the odor permanently.

Sources

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Jennifer RoelandsMD

   

Jennifer Roelands, MD, is an integrative medicine trained OB/GYN with 18 years of experience. She is the founder and director of Well Woman MD, which provides comprehensive health care for women by combining the best evidence-based therapies from conventional, naturopathic, and holistic medicine. She is also the host of the podcast, Ignite Your Powher. An active part of the PCOS...more

Sanchari BhattacharyaHealth & Wellness Writer

 

Sanchari has over 10 years of experience as a teacher and a writer and has done a certificate course in natural medicine. Working in diverse fields has strengthened her perceptive skills and honed her expression which helps her to create content that can connect people across age, gender and borders. Her fascination with herbs, natural remedies and traditional medicine has...more