Although skunks rarely make their ways within out homes, the odorous oils they spray can easily do so. The putrid oil can make their ways clothes, pets or even yourself. Once this happens, these secondhand skunk oils can be wiped of on carpet and deliver unbearable results.
Once the damage has been done to the carpeting, it may seem as though your options are numbered. Fortunately, there remain a range of household remedies for eliminating the smelly oils within your carpeting and adding freshness to the fiber. Follow the below tips and tricks for a helpful guide on doing away with this unwanted aroma.
Skunk Smell Removal Solutions for Carpet
1 Quarantine Skunk Oiled Items (Preferably Outside!)
As a preliminary action, you will want to move any affected items or pets that may have come into contact with a direct spray of a skunk outside. It is important that you treat these as if they are hazardous material, because the skunky scent can spread into any surface that it contacts. Once these affected items are moved outside you can narrow your focus to deodorizing the carpeting.
2 Treat Skunk Oils Immediately
After skunk oil has touched the carpeting, you will be in a race against time to prevent the odorous skunk oils from permanently setting into the fiber. Take swift action to treat the carpeting to ensure that it does not settle in for more than 1-2 hours before drowning the fiber within a deodorizing solution.
3 Apply Homemade De-skunking Concoction
Once you have taken note of the above principles, you will need to create a homemade de-skunking concoction. This is accomplished by mixing one quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup of baking soda and one teaspoon of dish detergent. This will cause a foaming chemical reaction as the acid and base some into contact. Finish this solution but mixing in another quart of water. Proceed to pour it over the affected carpeting and scrub the fiber. The dish detergent will help to break down the skunk oil while the hydrogen peroxide cuts through it and the baking soda absorbs it. Allow the solution to soak in for 2-3 hours before blot drying the solution with a hand towel from the freshened fiber.
4 Drench Carpeting in Enzyme Cleaner
The use of an enzyme carpet cleaner can be especially effective for difficult skunk oil odors within the carpeting. Once purchased, the enzyme cleaner can be poured over the affected carpeting until the fiber and underlying padding has become drenched. Allow the enzyme cleaner to slowly eat through odorous organics during the net 24-48 hours. Once this time has passed, the deodorizing compound can be blot dried from the carpeting allowing the remaining moisture to air dry away.
5 Sprinkle Baking Soda
As an added freshening effect, the use of baking soda powder can work to absorb much of the difficult odors. After applying one of the above compounds, proceed to sprinkle heavy amounts of baking soda over the carpet fiber. Allow the baking soda to sit for 24-48 hours as it works to absorb any residual odors from the carpeting. Once completed, vacuum the powder from the freshened carpeting.
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Photo credit: Robert Bieber
