How to Eliminate a Skunk Smell in the Home
A skunk odor in the house can result from various things, such as a sprayed pet or skunk nest beneath the porch, and the scent is often difficult to remove. Identifying the source will help you remove most of the odor, and some home remedies will neutralize the foul-smelling chemical compounds. Don't bother with tomato juice, though, because this highly touted remedy is ineffective---your sense of smell simply becomes fatigued from the skunk odor and fools you into thinking the scent is diminishing. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Flour (optional)
- Traps (optional)
- Dish detergent
- Baking soda
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Laundry detergent
- Borax (optional)
- White distilled vinegar
- Ammonia (optional)
- Bleach (optional)
- Water
- New AC and furnace filters
Instructions
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Check areas around your home if the odor is not a result of you or your pet coming into contact with the skunk. The University of California recommends sprinkling one-eighth of an inch of flour around entrance points to your home and checking it for tracks late at night to identify any nesting areas.
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Contact animal control services, or trap the skunks if you wish to remove a nest from beneath your house. For more information about humane trapping techniques, visit urbanwildliferescue.org.
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Pour one to two tsp. of dish detergent and one-quarter cup of baking soda into a quart of three-percent hydrogen peroxide. Prepare this mixture immediately before use and do not seal the container, because the container can burst from the chemical reaction.
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Wash skunked pets and people with the peroxide solution and allow it to set for five minutes before rinsing.
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Wipe skunk-scented clothes and fabrics with the peroxide solution before washing them with your regular laundry detergent, but test them for colorfastness beforehand. Use borax, vinegar, ammonia or bleach in the wash cycle with your detergent if the peroxide bleaches your fabrics, but only use one---do not mix them together.
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Use the peroxide solution or a 10-percent bleach solution on outdoor areas that have been sprayed by a skunk. Scrub the area and rinse it thoroughly---multiple times, if needed---to stop the odor from wafting into your home.
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Place shoes and unwashable objects out in the sun for a few days to air out, and wash indoor walls and windows with equal parts water and white distilled vinegar. The vinegar scent will dissipate as it dries but will also neutralize skunk odors.
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Replace the filters in your furnace and air conditioner if the scent lingers throughout your home, and open windows when possible to allow cross ventilation.
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Contact your veterinarian or animal control services for product recommendations if the scent persists. Some skunk odor solutions, such as Neutroleum Alpha, can be difficult to obtain through retail outlets but may be available through professional wildlife services.
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Tips & Warnings
Place shallow bowls of vinegar throughout your home to neutralize odors.
Use extreme caution when trapping skunks, as they are known carriers of rabies and will bite or spray you if they feel threatened. Seek immediate medical or veterinary attention if you or your pet has an aggressive encounter with a skunk.
