[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]You will probably catch a whiff of the foul odor before you see the cute (yes, cute!) black and white furry animal. You may feel a little panicky. No one wants to get showered in smelly oil!
Your best bet is to avoid getting sprayed by a skunk in the first place, which is easy to do. Skunks are generally nocturnal in the warm months and only spray their stinky, oily substance if they feel threatened. So, duh, don’t make skunk feel threatened! Don’t approach it or make big movements.
A skunk doesn’t want to spray you any more than you want to get sprayed. Here’s how to avoid getting a skunk stink shower and what to do about getting rid of the smell if you, unfortunately, do get sprayed.
Why do skunks spray people or animals?
Skunks are small furry black animals with, usually, black and white stripes. Some skunks have spots or swirls. Although most people are frightened of skunks, they are actually friendly animals, about the size of a house cat. However, like all creatures, they, at times, need to defend themselves against predators, harm, or perceived harm.
They have claws, but their primary defense mechanism is an odorous oily liquid that they store in their anal glands. It’s a pretty effective way to distract their predators so that they can escape. Skunks are slow, moving at a top speed of about 10 miles an hour. So, they need a powerful way to deter their attackers to give them time to scamper to safety. A skunk can release a big 10 to 12-foot cloud stink spray that can waft in the air for about two miles and two weeks.
But, as mentioned above, skunks don’t seek out people or animals to spray. They only use their stink bomb as a defense mechanism. In fact, skunks will offer several warnings before lifting their tail, where their odorous reserves are stored, to give you time to leave them alone before they release their stink bomb mist. Warnings include stomping its feet, lifting its tail and moving toward you. When you see these warnings, get away!
How to avoid skunks
Skunks generally come out at night to look for food. They’re sensitive to light, so having lights around your home or a motion detector is a good first step to frightening off these furry friends.
Their diet consists of small animals such as mice, rats, crickets and fruits and vegetables. Be sure to secure your garbage so they need to dine elsewhere. They build their homes, or dens, under porches, decks, wood piles, or large rocks. Animal-proofing your porch or den can deter skunks from making your home their home.
How to get rid of skunk smell if you are sprayed
If you don’t take heed of a skunk’s warnings or if your dog didn’t read this article and confronts a skunk, which is more common than a human antagonizing one, act fast! In addition to producing a gag-worthy smell, a skunk’s oil can also irritate your eyes and make you vomit, especially if you inhale the substance.
The quicker you can wash away the odor, the better because the longer the smell sits on your skin, hair, pet, or furniture the harder it is to get out. You may have heard tomato juice, beer or oatmeal can help neutralize skunk stink, but those are myths. Here’s what you should do:
First, if you swallow the liquid or get it in your eyes, rinse both out with water for several minutes. Then, create this mixture for your body or your pet:
This mixture helps neutralize the scent and break up the oil so it’s easier to wash away. When possible, it’s best to get treat outside so as not to stink up the rest of your home.
Use this mixture immediately on your skin and hair or your pet’s hair, avoiding your eyes and mouth. Scrub all over and let sit for about five minutes. Then, thoroughly rinse off with hot water. Repeat if the smell remains. Don’t use it on clothing because it can strip away color. And don’t keep any leftover hydrogen concoction for another potential skunk attack. Instead, dilute with water and pour down the drain.
For smelly carpets, furniture, or drapes, use a steam cleaner to remove the stench. For clothing, toss it in your washing machine with heavy-duty laundry detergent or borax. Repeat as needed.
Note: you’ll probably have to repeat all efforts since you’ll unlikely eliminate the strong odor on your first try.
And lastly, for lingering home smells, open all windows to let fresh air do its thing, and place bowls of vinegar around the house.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title="Featured Products" border_width="2"][vc_row_inner equal_height="yes" content_placement="middle" gap="35"][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="175653" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=".vc_custom_1717451947692{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}" link="https://www.vitacost.com/mrs-meyers-clean-day-liquid-dish-soap-refill-lemon-verbena"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="175651" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=".vc_custom_1717451966685{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}" link="https://www.vitacost.com/bobs-red-mill-baking-soda-16-oz-1"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="175650" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=".vc_custom_1717451983724{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}" link="https://www.vitacost.com/heritage-store-hydrogen-peroxide-3-usp"][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]
