Get Skunk Smell Out of the House

Skunk smell can get into your house by a variety of sources. For instance, you or your pet might be sprayed, or a skunk could spray something else directly outside of your house. Mild skunk smells can usually be removed by simply airing out your home, but stronger skunk smells that have worked their way into fur, clothes, or carpeting can linger for several months to several years if immediate action is not taken. If you need to get skunk smell out of your house, here are a few different methods to try

Steps

Vinegar

  1. Create a vinegar solution. Mix one part vinegar with five parts warm water in a large bucket.
    • The precise amounts you need will largely depend on how much you need to clean. This solution is meant for clothes, blankets, towels, and other removable fabrics that can be washed in a washing machine.
    • Note that some synthetic fabrics and delicate fabrics may not hold up well when exposed to acidic vinegar.
  2. Dunk contaminated fabrics into the solution. Dip your contaminated clothes and other fabrics into the diluted vinegar. Let them soak for two to three hours.
    • For best results, use your hands to gently scrub the fabric for several minutes after dipping it into the vinegar solution. Doing so works the vinegar in between the fibers of the fabric, allowing it to penetrate further and deodorize more of the smell.
    • This treatment is most effective when performed within one or two hours of contamination.
  3. Finish washing the fabrics in a washing machine. After removing your fabrics from the vinegar solution, wash them in a standard warm wash cycle.
    • For extra deodorizing power, add 1/2 cup (125 ml) baking soda to the washing machine at the beginning of the wash.
    • If possible, air dry in sun and fresh air instead of drying in the dryer.
  4. Place bowls of vinegar around the house. If you cannot pinpoint the exact source of the smell, fill small bowls with a little white vinegar and place them around the house.
    • Focus on the worst smelling rooms of the house, since the source of the stench most likely originates there.
    • If you have pets or small children, you may want to consider putting the vinegar high up on shelves to prevent them from ingesting it.
    • The vinegar should absorb much of the smell after 24 hours. In most cases, the smell of vinegar should not be too potent, either.

Freshening Up

  1. Open your windows.[1] Let natural sunlight and fresh air into your home to help neutralize the skunk odor.
    • Closing your house up will only keep the stench inside. By opening your windows, you let out some of the smell and allow fresh air into your home to help replace some of the contaminated air.
    • Sunlight also has an effect on fabric. The ultraviolet rays can help neutralize the odor and lift it out of your fabrics.
    • If you need to get skunk smell out of clothes, towels, blankets, or other removable fabrics, wash the fabric and hang it to dry outdoors. The direct exposure to sunlight and fresh air will work better at ridding the fabric of the skunk smell than a dryer would.
  2. Run fans. Turn on electric ceiling fans and desk fans to keep the air circulating in your home.
    • If you allow the air to remain still and stagnant, the skunk smell will only sink deeper into your fabrics. Turning on all the fans in your home as soon as possible helps to keep the air in your house moving, thereby preventing the odor from settling into anything too deeply.
    • This works especially well when used in conjunction with opened windows.
  3. Change out your filters.[2] Change out your air conditioner and heater filters before and after you treat the rest of your home for skunk odor.
    • The skunk smell can cling to these filters, and as a result, you may end up smelling skunk through your air vents for months. The only way to remedy this is by changing out your air filters.
    • Changing the air filters before treating the rest of your home minimizes the amount of stink coming through your vents and re-contaminating the rest of your home.
    • Do a sniff test after you clean the rest of your home. Smell the air filters. If they do not smell like skunk, you may not need to change them again. If they do smell like skunk, however, you should replace them once more to prevent the filters from re-contaminating the rest of your home with smelly air.
  4. Shampoo your carpets and wash removable fabrics. Clothes, towels, blankets, and other removable fabrics should be washed in washing machine with hot water and detergent as quickly as possible. Carpets and other hard-to-wash fabrics, like cloth furniture and curtains, should be washed using a wet vacuum.
    • Steam cleaners work better than ordinary wet vacuums because the heat helps to open and expand the stitching of the fabric. This allows the detergent to sink in further and eliminate more of the skunk smell. An ordinary wet vacuum is still better than nothing, however.
    • As a general rule, clothes and other fabrics should be washed within one or two hours of initial contamination in order to prevent the smell from sinking in too deep.
  5. Spray air deodorizers. Deodorizing air fresheners can mask and remove part of the skunk smell.
    • Look for a spray that specifically indicates its ability to deodorizing. Most air fresheners only emit a strong perfume that covers other odors in the home. This will not be enough to deal with skunk smell, however. Only a deodorizing freshener can neutralize and eliminate some of the stink.
    • There are also special "de-skunking" sprays that are formulated specifically with the purpose of removing skunk odor. People who use these sprays tend to report mixed results, but you can read reviews about various types online and determine which may be the most effective for your needs.

Hydrogen Peroxide (newly opened) and Baking Soda

  1. Mix together 1 quart (1 liter) hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup (60 ml) baking soda, and 1 tsp (5 ml) liquid laundry detergent or dish detergent.[3] Combine the ingredients in an open container.
    • Use 3 percent hydrogen peroxide, if possible.
    • For more stubborn skunk odors, you may need to up the amount of baking soda to 1/2 cup (125 ml) and the amount of soap to 1 Tbsp (15 ml).
    • Do not close the container after mixing the ingredients together. The gas that will be produced could build up and create enough pressure to destroy the container.
    • Do not store this mixture. Use it as soon as you mix it together.
  2. Scrub yourself or your dogs with this solution. Dip a clean washcloth in the solution and use it to clean contaminated fur and skin.
    • This solution is safe for both dogs and human, but you should avoid getting it into eyes, ears, or mouths. While it is safe for skin, it can sting and damage eyes or other sensitive areas.
    • Saturate then scrub the skunked dog or human with this solution and let sit for five minutes before rinsing it off with clean water. Repeat as necessary until you can no longer smell the skunk.
    • Note that you may need to make more of the solution for a bigger dog or adult human.
    • This works best if done within an hour or two after contamination.
  3. Combine one part hydrogen with six parts warm water. This solution is safe to use on clothing and other fabrics, but the amount you make will depend on how much you need to deodorize.
    • As far as fabrics are concerned, this solution is recommended over the stronger hydrogen peroxide solution used to clean pets and people. Strong concentrations of hydrogen peroxide can damage clothes, but when diluted with water, it should be safe to use on normal fabrics.
    • Avoid using this solution on delicate fabrics or "dry clean only" clothes.
  4. Dunk your clothes in the solution. Dip contaminated clothes in the diluted hydrogen peroxide and let soak for one or two hours.
    • After removing the clothes from the solution, place them in the washing machine and run a normal washing cycle.
  5. Alternatively, add baking soda to your next wash. If you feel uncomfortable dunking your clothes in hydrogen peroxide, add 1/2 cup (125 ml) baking soda to the washing machine at the beginning of your washing cycle.
    • You can also add the same amount of baking soda to a load of clothes treated with hydrogen peroxide for maximum deodorizing power.

Bleach

  1. Dilute bleach with water.[4] Combine 1 cup (250 ml) bleach with 1 gallon (4 liters) warm water in an open container.
    • When working with bleach, it is best to avoid using other chemicals or cleaners, since many will have a chemical reaction with the bleach that may produce a toxic gas.
    • It is also wise to keep the room well-ventilated by opening windows and doors. Do not work with bleach in a closed room.
  2. Scrub hard surfaces with this solution. Dip a scrubbing brush into the bleach and use it to wash kitchen floors, counters, car tires, decks, or other contaminated hard surfaces.
    • Do not use this solution on carpets, upholstery, or other fabrics since bleach is likely to stain fabrics.
    • Avoid using this solution on clothes. You can add bleach to whites, according to label directions, but darker colors should not be bleached.
    • If you do not have a scrubbing brush, you could also use a clean rag or abrasive sponge.
    • To protect your hands, you may want to wear rubber cleaning gloves as you work with the bleach solution.
  3. Rinse and repeat as needed. Wash off the bleach with warm water. Repeat the process as necessary in order to remove the smell.
    • Wipe bleached surfaces with a clean water-soaked rag or mop.
    • Dry with a clean, dry cloth after finishing.

Tips

  • If all else fails, get professional help. Take smelly clothes, blankets, and other removable fabrics to a professional dry cleaner and ask them to get the skunk smell out. If the odor has gotten into your carpet, hire a professional steam-cleaning carpet cleaner to give your home a good scrubbing. Similarly, if your pet was sprayed by a skunk, take it to a professional pet groomer.
  • You could try giving contaminated pets and people the classic tomato juice bath, but the tomato smell only masks the skunk odor instead of neutralizing it.[5]

Things You'll Need

  • Electric fans
  • Air filters
  • Carpet shampoo
  • Wet vacuum or steam cleaner
  • Air deodorizers
  • 3 percent hydrogen peroxide
  • Baking soda
  • Dish or laundry detergent
  • Water
  • Large bucket or container
  • Washing machine
  • White vinegar
  • Bleach
  • Scrubbing brush or sponge
  • Rag or washcloth
  • Rubber gloves

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.getsmellout.com/how-to-get-skunk-smell-out-of-clothes/
  2. ↑ http://thehousingforum.com/how-to-get-rid-of-skunk-smell/
  3. ↑ http://www.lynnskitchenadventures.com/2009/03/getting-rid-of-skunk-smell.html
  4. ↑ http://www.mvmagazine.com/article.php?24895
  5. ↑ http://animals.howstuffworks.com/pets/how-to-get-skunk-smell-off-dog.htm
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