Skunk ‘Fall Shuffle’: PA, How Do You Get The Stink Out?

PENNSYLVANIA— You just never know when a skunk will spray a nasty odor on your car or on your pet.

It's that time of year to prepare for the worst.

The middle of fall is when the skunks are out in Pennsylvania spraying on cars and pets before they go for a winter nap.

Young skunks reach adulthood, leave their mothers’ dens to make their own way in the skunk world, increasing the chances your dog will get sprayed, or your car will get sprayed by a skunk on the highway.

The smell is unpleasant and there is no simple way to get rid of it without calling a professional exterminator to come to your house immediately.

But exterminators may not be available on demand, and they can be expensive.

The cost for removal of a skunk can range from $300 to $600, according to home advisor.com.

How to prepare in advance

Skunks venture out earlier in the day and evening, increasing the chances you or your pet will get nailed with what’s not-so-affectionately known as “nature’s tear gas.”

If you are one of those types of people who likes to prepare for the worst, you can purchase a pet odor remover online here and store it in your house.

In a skunk takes you by surprise, here is home remedy you can immediately try for you and or/your pet.

In an open container, mix together:

• ¼ cup baking soda
• Fresh 1-quart bottle of 3% hydrogen peroxide
• 1-2 teaspoons of liquid dish detergent
• This solution must be used right away and cannot be stored.
• Work the mixture into the fur, hair or skin, avoiding the eyes and mouth, and leave it on for five minutes.
• Then, rinse with fresh water and repeat if necessary.

Skunk on a highway

If your car gets sprayed by skunk on the road, get after the smell right away.

The longer you let the odor linger, the tougher it will be to get rid of it.

If unintreated, the odor will last up to 21 days.

If the vehicle is left in the wind and rain, the smell will go away in about two weeks.

Cartreatments.com recommends treating the exterior of the vehicle with a distilled vinegar/dishwashing liquid formula.

• Mix equal parts of vinegar and water, and add a few drops of dishwashing liquid and apply liberally to the exterior bottom half or so of the vehicle.
• Let the solution stand for about five minutes, then rinse away with a garden hose.
• For the inside of the vehicle, mix 1-to-5 ratio of hydrogen peroxide and water with a “healthy” amount of baby shampoo, scrub the carpet and upholstery, and then allow the interior to dry under direct sunlight, with all windows open.

Don’t Invite Skunks To Your Deck

Here are some tips for keeping skunk smell away from your house:

• Add a fence below the deck using half-inch mesh hardware cloth attached firmly to the deck frame and buried about a foot below ground;
• Build an electric fence around your deck;
• Remove food sources;
• Spring skunk repellent granules around your house;
• Install lights around your house;
• Seal trash bins;
• Seal deck with chicken wire.

Your Turn: Go to the comments and tell us about your or your pets’ encounters with skunks. How did you get rid of the smell?