Skunk smells are some of the worst you can encounter in your home and yard, whether you yourself have been sprayed, or your pet has been the unfortunate victim of a disgruntled skunk in your yard. But how do you get rid of the skunk smell?
The answer, unfortunately, is not simple, especially given that water can make the horrid smell even worse – water and oil, after all, do not mix. Especially skunk oil.
Here, professionals have shared a range of ways to get rid of the skunk smell from your home, with tricks to remove the nasty-smelling oil and keep lingering odors at bay – no matter if you are dealing with skin, fur, clothing, or furniture.
How to get rid of skunk smell
One of the best ways to get rid of skunk smells, particularly those outside, is to get rid of skunks from your property entirely. This may mean removing sources of shelter and food or using natural deterrents.
If one has sprayed, however, or the smell has made its way inside, then time can be of the essence when it comes to removal. Here are five easy cleaning tips to eliminate odors for good.
1. Treat the area immediately
Skunk spray is essentially a strongly scented oil, designed to fling to animal skin and fur to dissuade them from further attacking or sniffing around the skunk. As a result, it is essential to treat the sprayed area as soon as possible, says Muffetta Krueger, cleaning advisor and owner of Muffetta’s Domestic Assistants.
‘If the skunk spray has come into direct contact with any fabrics, such as curtains, upholstery, or rugs, remove them from the affected area immediately. Promptly wash or dry-clean these items, following the care instructions, to prevent the odor from setting in.
‘These horrid odors can last up to three weeks, and the longer it sits, the harder it is to remove,’ she warns.
Muffetta Krueger is a driving force in the domestic service business, with over 15 years of operational management experience in the industry.
2. Clean with white vinegar
Vinegar is one of the best natural deodorizers and is great for breaking down oils, so cleaning with vinegar is the best way to get rid of the skunk smell in your house and yard.
‘For particularly bad odors, you can spray the affected area with equal parts water and white vinegar and leave it for at least 15 minutes before wiping away,' recommends Mark Melton, founder of Queens Carpet Cleaning. ‘This is generally usable on all surfaces, but be sure to test it on an inconspicuous area first when treating fabrics or carpets,’ he adds.
Of course, vinegar itself has a strong odor, but it is arguably far better than that of skunk and is easily washed away with a scented product afterward.
If there is a lingering odor, even after cleaning, then Kevin Geick, manager and cleaning expert at Bio Recovery suggests placing bowls of white vinegar down around the affected area. Just like keeping a bowl of vinegar next to a stove, the solution will absorb odors from the air, neutralizing them with ease.
3. Ensure the space is well ventilated
If the smell is in your home, then good ventilation can help to remove some of the persistent odors left behind after cleaning away the scented oil itself, recommends cleaning expert, Kevin Geick.
‘Skunk smells can be quite persistent,’ he explains, ‘but once you have cleared away the foul-smelling oil, it can be a case of waiting for the remaining smell to simply blow away – this can be made easier if you have some fans to direct air out of your home’s doors and windows too.’
Using an air purifier with a filter for gas filtration is also a good approach to take if you want to improve air circulation and have a persistently bad smell you are looking to clear away.
4. Use a commercial skunk odor cleaner
If natural cleaners haven't quite cut it, then you can try a dedicated skunk odor cleaner, such as Nature's Miracle Skunk Odor Remover, available at Walmart, Nathaly Vieria, cleaning expert and founder of InspireClean recommends.
‘This product is specifically designed to eliminate skunk odors and can be used on both indoor and outdoor surfaces, furniture, and carpets,’ he explains, ‘but it may not be great for skin or pet fur, so it is best left to home cleaning,’ he warns. ‘For this, maybe stick with shampoo, such as Nature's Miracle Odor Control Shampoo, from Amazon or vinegar.’
5. Light scented candles to finish the job
One of the many ways to make your home smell nice is, of course, to light scented candles, use air fresheners, or light incense, adds Nathaly Viera, cleaning expert. This won't help clean away the source of the odor, but it will help to make your home or yard smell fresher after an unfortunate run-in with these black-and-white friends.
When outside, consider using a citronella candle. These are very strongly scented, making them good for outdoor spaces, and can even help to get rid of flies too – it’s a win-win!
FAQs
Does tomato juice get rid of the skunk smell?
A common wives' tale, tomato juice does not get rid of a skunk smell – it is also incredibly messy and less than ideal when already dealing with a tricky situation such as a skunk odor. Instead, it is best to stick with traditional cleaning methods suggested by experts.
What makes skunk smell worse?
Skunk odor is oil-based, so it can be made worse by trying to wash it away with water. This is the case whether you are washing clothing, skin, animals, or home/yard furnishings. As a result, washing with vinegar is preferred to help lift the oil without reacting.
If you have noticed a distinct smell of rotting eggs, so strong that your eyes water, then it is likely that a skunk has sprayed in your vicinity – but these odors can easily travel up to half a mile away, so it is best to try to work out where the scent is coming from before starting to treat your whole home.
The smell is likely to be coming from your property if: you have animals that freely roam the yard and may scare a skunk (your pet will likely be looking very sorry for itself if it has been sprayed, as well as smelling awful), have seen skunks in the area, the smell is particularly potent, or there is a large wet area where a bad aroma is coming from.
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