Cures for a Skunk Smell
Skunks spray a natural chemical called mercaptan as a defense mechanism. If startled or afraid, a skunk can aim the scent glands at the base of its tail and douse the intruder in mercaptan, which not only produces the distinctive skunk smell but can also sting and burn the intruder's skin and eyes. The liquid contains sulphur compounds, according to William Wood, a chemist with Humbolt State University. You can detect these compounds in even the most minute concentrations, which is why the scent seems to stay around so long. You must get every last trace of the scent out.
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Porous Surfaces
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To get rid of skunk smells around the house, Wood recommends mixing 1/4 cup baking soda with 1 qt. of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide solution, the kind generally available in the first aid section of drug and grocery stores, notes Science Update. The chemical reaction between the base (baking soda) and acid (hydrogen peroxide) substances help to reduce the smell on fabrics and other permeable surfaces, but you must use it immediately after mixing.
Pets and Skin
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North Carolina State University's Cooperative Extension (NCSUCE) recommends adding a tbsp. of liquid dish or laundry detergent to the peroxide and baking soda mixture. Bathe your pet or the affected person in this solution, but note that the hydrogen peroxide may bleach skin, fur and hair. Another common remedy for pets, although it may not work as well as peroxide, is bathing them a feminine wash solution, commercially available from drug stores. These solutions generally contain vinegar along with perfumes and other deodorizers, and vinegar helps to neutralize, rather than just cover up, skunk odors.
The old folk remedy of bathing a pet in tomato juice merely allows you to become accustomed to the smell, notes NCSUCE.
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Outdoor Surfaces
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For skunk odors left in the yard, mix white vinegar and automatic dishwasher liquid in a ratio of 16 to 1, and spray it on the grass, dirt and other affected areas. Treat nonporous surfaces like concrete and sealed woods with a water and bleach solution in the same ratio, but this may cause discoloration of the surface.
Use charcoal to deodorize enclosed spaces, such as crawlspaces or attics, skunks may have traveled into. Charcoal absorbs odors from the air, so empty a bag of standard barbecue charcoal onto a piece of heavy plastic, such as a tarp or drop cloth, and place it in the affected area, notes the NCSU Fisheries and Wildlife Coordinator.
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