Re: Got to get rid of a skunk...any tips
This won't help you get rid of the skunk, but it might come in handy if there's an 'accident' while you try. My dog got sprayed a few years back & I used this; it really does work!
The mix was first created by a guy to neutralize the sulphury smell of a gas given off by chemical reactions in his lab (see bottom). When it worked, he theorized that it would neutralize skunk spray as well. He found a roadkill skunk carcass, treated it with the mix, and neutralized the odor.
Below is a 'cut & paste' of how to treat a dog that has been sprayed, but the mix should work for people or things as well. Hopefully you won't need it but you might want to make sure you've got the ingredients on hand just in case.
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Skunk Spray Remedy
Usually dogs take a hit in the neck area. Typically they are sprayed while provoking the skunk and turn their head, while being sprayed, in order to avoid it.
First Aid
First check to see if your dog was injured by the skunk. If your dog is bleeding or appears to have been bitten, consult a vet immediately. Skunks may carry rabies. If vaccinated, your dog is safe from the rabies virus (but you are not!).
What you need
* 1 quart of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide, H2O2. Use fresh (unopened) hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Hydrogen peroxide eventually turns into water (H2O).
* 1/4 cup of Baking Soda
* 1 teaspoon of Liquid Soap
* 1 pair of plastic or latex gloves
To Use
* Bathe the dog outside or, if it's too dark or cold, in the bathroom with the door closed and window opened.
* Combine the ingredients in an open container (do not store in a sealed bottle--it can burst).
* Using gloves, wash your dog with lukewarm water and the mixture while the mixture is bubbling. Work the mixture well into the fur.
* Be sure to concentrate on the area that was sprayed.
* Keep mixture away from your dog's face and eyes (it's a harsh solution). If your dog has been sprayed in the face, try an over-the-counter liquid douche.
* Let the mixture stand for 10 minutes or so before rinsing off.
* Rinse the dog with lukewarm tap water. Don't wash the mixture into your dog's eyes (use a washcloth to cover the eyes if you're rinsing the head).
* After bathing, check the dog's eyes. If they are red and watering, your dog may have taken a direct hit in the face. Skunk spray won't blind the dog, but it's painful. Contact a vet.
How it works
Paul Krebaum is a materials engineer. He was looking for a way to neutralize the sulphury smell of a gas given off by chemical reactions in his lab. He turned to his chemistry books, and reasoned that hydrogen peroxide could neutralize the smell by oxidizing the gas. The receptors that are in your nose are sensitive to sulfur in its low oxidation state, however they are not sensitive to sulphur in its high oxidation state.
Krebaum mixed together a few household ingredients and came up with a formula that deodorized the hydrogen sulphide gas. Hydrogen peroxide and baking soda, when combined, become a "chemical engine" for churning out oxygen. That's why it has to be used immediately after mixing. The soap breaks up the oils in the skunk spray, allowing the other ingredients to do their work.
A quote from Dr. Caceci of Texas A&M University:
"Forget what you have heard about tomato juice--it doesn't work. Skunk spray is mainly composed of low molecular weight thiol compounds. ("Thiols" are compounds with the "-SH radical" attached to a carbon atom.) In industrial applications, alkaline hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is used for scrubbing similar compounds from waste gas streams."
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I never tried it, but I'd think that an oxygen bleach (like Oxyclean) mixed with a liquid detergent would also work...
This won't help you get rid of the skunk, but it might come in handy if there's an 'accident' while you try. My dog got sprayed a few years back & I used this; it really does work!
The mix was first created by a guy to neutralize the sulphury smell of a gas given off by chemical reactions in his lab (see bottom). When it worked, he theorized that it would neutralize skunk spray as well. He found a roadkill skunk carcass, treated it with the mix, and neutralized the odor.
Below is a 'cut & paste' of how to treat a dog that has been sprayed, but the mix should work for people or things as well. Hopefully you won't need it but you might want to make sure you've got the ingredients on hand just in case.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Skunk Spray Remedy
Usually dogs take a hit in the neck area. Typically they are sprayed while provoking the skunk and turn their head, while being sprayed, in order to avoid it.
First Aid
First check to see if your dog was injured by the skunk. If your dog is bleeding or appears to have been bitten, consult a vet immediately. Skunks may carry rabies. If vaccinated, your dog is safe from the rabies virus (but you are not!).
What you need
* 1 quart of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide, H2O2. Use fresh (unopened) hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Hydrogen peroxide eventually turns into water (H2O).
* 1/4 cup of Baking Soda
* 1 teaspoon of Liquid Soap
* 1 pair of plastic or latex gloves
To Use
* Bathe the dog outside or, if it's too dark or cold, in the bathroom with the door closed and window opened.
* Combine the ingredients in an open container (do not store in a sealed bottle--it can burst).
* Using gloves, wash your dog with lukewarm water and the mixture while the mixture is bubbling. Work the mixture well into the fur.
* Be sure to concentrate on the area that was sprayed.
* Keep mixture away from your dog's face and eyes (it's a harsh solution). If your dog has been sprayed in the face, try an over-the-counter liquid douche.
* Let the mixture stand for 10 minutes or so before rinsing off.
* Rinse the dog with lukewarm tap water. Don't wash the mixture into your dog's eyes (use a washcloth to cover the eyes if you're rinsing the head).
* After bathing, check the dog's eyes. If they are red and watering, your dog may have taken a direct hit in the face. Skunk spray won't blind the dog, but it's painful. Contact a vet.
How it works
Paul Krebaum is a materials engineer. He was looking for a way to neutralize the sulphury smell of a gas given off by chemical reactions in his lab. He turned to his chemistry books, and reasoned that hydrogen peroxide could neutralize the smell by oxidizing the gas. The receptors that are in your nose are sensitive to sulfur in its low oxidation state, however they are not sensitive to sulphur in its high oxidation state.
Krebaum mixed together a few household ingredients and came up with a formula that deodorized the hydrogen sulphide gas. Hydrogen peroxide and baking soda, when combined, become a "chemical engine" for churning out oxygen. That's why it has to be used immediately after mixing. The soap breaks up the oils in the skunk spray, allowing the other ingredients to do their work.
A quote from Dr. Caceci of Texas A&M University:
"Forget what you have heard about tomato juice--it doesn't work. Skunk spray is mainly composed of low molecular weight thiol compounds. ("Thiols" are compounds with the "-SH radical" attached to a carbon atom.) In industrial applications, alkaline hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is used for scrubbing similar compounds from waste gas streams."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
I never tried it, but I'd think that an oxygen bleach (like Oxyclean) mixed with a liquid detergent would also work...
