Skunk smell?

[Steelharp]

Ma got a skunk under the sunporch. Have a trap under there now, but it sprayed a couple days ago. The whole house makes your eyes water. What will get rid of the smell?

Don't tell me to burn the house down.

[Guest jdavis]

nothing, my mother is a taxidermist and some guy wanted a skunk mounted she wanted me to help her with it one night and i screwed up and busted the scent bag, that was three years ago and still today you can open a door a certain way and get a wiff of a skunk, needless to say she no longer has the need for my help.

[Rightwinger]

If its under the house and sprayed the wood and foundation about the only thing to do is let nature take its course. You might try using a pressure washer and detergent as high a concentration as you can handle and help it along. A big fan to keep air circulating will speed it up as well.

I had one do the barn but I just stayed out of the barn. Can't just do that with a house.

Sorry to hear it.

[Smith]

Mix hydrogen peroxide and baking soda and the chemical reaction neutralizes the smell. Only thing I know of for sure that works.

[Steelharp]

Mix hydrogen peroxide and baking soda

And do what with it?

[Smith]

And do what with it?

Sorry I assumed people would know. Put it on anything that has been sprayed, clothing, wood, etc. The solution attaches to the skunks chemical spray and neutralizes it as it oxidizes. You could put it in a spray bottle if you make it thin enough.

[ShaunM]

I think you should take a bath, it might be you . No really pressure wash it or over time it will go away.

[Steelharp]

The problem is access to where the critter got to... I'm a little big, and it's really small... wonder if that mixture could be put in one of those "attach to the garden hose" bottles, like a plant food bottle?

[Smith]

I don't see why not. With that much area it will probably take a good amount. It may be the best option because if it is that tight, power washing may be out of the question anyways.

[Guest 70below]

I recommend using an extension cord and one of those Glade Plug-ins! No seriously though, I've heard that some of the good cat spray/odor neutralizers work.

[BryanP]

The problem is access to where the critter got to... I'm a little big, and it's really small... wonder if that mixture could be put in one of those "attach to the garden hose" bottles, like a plant food bottle?

Yeah, I know your problem. Do what I do when that sort of problem arries: hire a skinny guy to do it for you.

[jeffmem]

From mythbusters episode 16

http://mythbustersresults.com/episode16

The smell of Skunk musk can be removed with tomato juice.

plausible

The strong odor of tomato juice masks the skunk smell until the human nose becomes desensitized to the smell of tomatoes, at which point the skunk musk is again noticeable.

The smell of Skunk musk can be removed with commercial cleaners.

plausible

The commercial cleaners tested had limited success at eliminating the aroma of skunk musk.

The smell of Skunk musk can be removed with a custom mixture.

confirmed

A mixture of soap, hydrogen peroxide, and baking soda proved to work best for actually eliminating the aroma of skunk musk. The precise formula may be found in the Skunk article.

The smell of Skunk musk can be removed with beer.

busted

Beer did not work.

The smell of Skunk musk can be removed with a douche.

busted

A douche had also no effect at all.

[Seaslug]

I recommend using an extension cord and one of those Glade Plug-ins! No seriously though, I've heard that some of the good cat spray/odor neutralizers work.

Then why does your apartment still smell like that?

The smell of Skunk musk can be removed with a douche.

busted

A douche had also no effect at all.

Oh, nevermind. I see now...

[Guest 70below]

Then why does your apartment still smell like that?

I've been trying to get the smell of your spray out with everything........I guess I've grown used to it. I knew I should have rubbed your nose in it and swatted you with a newspaper.

[Guest db99wj]

From mythbusters episode 16

http://mythbustersresults.com/episode16

The smell of Skunk musk can be removed with tomato juice.

plausible

The strong odor of tomato juice masks the skunk smell until the human nose becomes desensitized to the smell of tomatoes, at which point the skunk musk is again noticeable.

The smell of Skunk musk can be removed with commercial cleaners.

plausible

The commercial cleaners tested had limited success at eliminating the aroma of skunk musk.

The smell of Skunk musk can be removed with a custom mixture.

confirmed

A mixture of soap, hydrogen peroxide, and baking soda proved to work best for actually eliminating the aroma of skunk musk. The precise formula may be found in the Skunk article.

The smell of Skunk musk can be removed with beer.

busted

Beer did not work.

The smell of Skunk musk can be removed with a douche.

busted

A douche had also no effect at all.

Beer does work, it makes you not care as much about the smell when you are using the peroxide and baking soda.

[Guest mustangdave]

Mike .357 has a varmite irradication licence....I think his Chipmonk permit is just about full. He may be willing to move up in weight class and go skunkin' for you.

[Guest Traumaslave]

Dawn dish washing soap will work. My German Shepherd used to love chasing the black kitties. He would get it about once a month. I would wash him down with a Mr Clean car washer and rinse. Dawn was what they used when the Exonn Valdese wrecked and I figured that skunk musk was oil based so, I gave it a try.

[Guest nraforlife]

Thought this was going to be a Stimulus Bill thread....

[TripleDigitRide]

I know this probably isn't a plausible solution for your home, but I always hear that a bath in tomato juice will get rid of the scent of a skunk. Never tried it, but have heard that many times.

[Guest mustangdave]

I know this probably isn't a plausible solution for your home, but I always hear that a bath in tomato juice will get rid of the scent of a skunk. Never tried it, but have heard that many times.

I can see some "enterprising" fellow now..offering a tomatoe base pressure wash service for your home...and the over spray can make a nice spaghetti sause.

[bvarnell]

I know this probably isn't a plausible solution for your home, but I always hear that a bath in tomato juice will get rid of the scent of a skunk. Never tried it, but have heard that many times.

We had a boxer 40+ years ago who HATED all things feline. About once a year, he would get "lucky" and kill one and bring it home to show off. On those infrequent instances, we would get a couple of large cans of the cheapest tomato available and wash him. It worked just fine (I guess the acidity) until the next rain. Then it was repeat the process.