Getting rid of Skunk smell may seem as a hard task but it is not impossible.
The smell can persist for several days or weeks depending on Skunk spray is one of the most recognizable, unpleasant, and difficult to remove odors from homes, pets, and outdoor areas. But with these tips, you will learn how to get rid of skunk smell, trading those foul, pungent odors for fresh, nose-pleasing smelling air.
The odor that a skunk can leave in the house, pets, or in the yard is more offensive than anything else. The extremely foul odor can last for three weeks, and the longer it goes on, the more difficult it will be to eliminate. Acting quickly with the following tips will guarantee success in eradicating skunk odor.
Skunk Smell on your Pets
If your pet has just been sprayed, make sure their eyes aren’t affected. Also, ensure the pet doesn’t touch as many indoor surfaces as possible. In other words, grab and put them in a separate area. Follow these tips to remove the skunk smell from your pets:
- Mix 1 quart 3% hydrogen peroxide, ¼ cup baking soda, and 1-2 teaspoons dishwashing soap (if you don’t have hydrogen peroxide, you can go to any pharmacy, and most grocery stores carry it)
- Wear gloves and keep the solution away from your pet’s eyes, and wash their entire body
- Rinse thoroughly to remove the solution
- Follow up with a skunk odor eliminating shampoo, if you have one on hand
Remember, it is always advisable to go to the nearest veterinarian, as your pet may suffer from allergies.
Skunk Smell on your House
Skunk smell can persist for several days or weeks, depending on the intensity of the smell. Here are some tips to eradicate skunk odor at home.
Open all windows to ventilate the entire area and let in as much sunlight as possible to get rid of the odor and shorten its lifespan. Also, turn on the fan on your central heating or air conditioning system to circulate the air.
Put bowls of vinegar in each room for two or four days. Please make sure they are out of reach of children and pets. You can also pour the vinegar into plastic containers and pierce the lids. The vinegar will work as an absorb and neutralize the odor.
Place affected clothing, bedding, and other washable fabrics in a washing machine in the hottest setting. Add ½ cup of baking soda to the load, along with your usual detergent. Wash and repeat the wash cycle one more time.
Be sure to air dry the clothes, if possible, rather than putting them in the dryer, as the intense heat from the dryer could cause the odor to cling to the clothes.
A thorough steam cleaning is best for sofas, carpets, mattresses, curtains, and other soft, non-washable surfaces. You ensure not only to clean but also to eliminate bacteria that may be present.
For hard surfaces, create a mixture of bleach and water to remove the odor. However, test a small area to ensure the bleach does not discolor or damage the surface.
When you’re done, be sure to add new air filters to your heating, and air conditioning system or the odors may linger.
Skunk Smell on your clothes
You can use many easy methods to eliminate the offensive skunk smell from your clothing. Acting promptly is crucial because the odors could worsen with time. When handling the greasy residue, always wear rubber gloves, and avoid letting the foul-smelling clothes touch anything else in the house.
Baking soda with detergent for laundry
A strong washing detergent will typically be able to get rid of any skunk scents. By including 1/2 cup of baking soda in your regular wash cycle, you can increase the odor-removing properties of your normal detergent. The baking soda will neutralize the molecules that give forth the foul odor.
Using warm or hot water is also essential to eliminate the stench. Oily residues that usually stick to the fabric will be easier to remove in warmer temperatures. To ensure the material can withstand the heat, check the labels on your apparel.
Ammonia
Ammonia can effectively eliminate skunk scents.
Mix one-part ammonia with six parts warm water in a sink or basin. Afterward, soak your clothing in the mixture for at least 30 minutes.
You can remove the smell of the clothing by soaking it in the ammonia mixture. Finishing this technique requires washing your clothes, as usual, using a powerful laundry detergent. If the odors continue, try this procedure more than once.
There are several significant safety factors if you use ammonia as a cleaner. Never combine ammonia with goods containing bleach, including chlorine bleach. When these two compounds are combined, they release toxic vapors that, in high quantities, can cause severe disease or even death.
If you keep this in mind, using ammonia alone is safe. Never mix any household chemicals unless you are confident that doing so is entirely secure.
Vinegar
One of the best household items for eliminating odors from clothing is vinegar. Just combine one part vinegar and four parts warm water in a sink or basin. After that, you’ll submerge your clothing and let it soak for at least three hours.
For this approach, you should only use white vinegar since other types could unintentionally stain your clothes. When the time for soaking is over, wash your garments, as usual, using heavy-duty washing soap. To give your regular wash cycle one last push in odor eradication, add 1 cup of vinegar.
This technique is soft on clothing enough that you can do it repeatedly if needed. Just be sure to wait until you are certain the stench is completely gone before drying your stinky items in a heated dryer.
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