We all remember Pepe Le Pew the skunk from Looney Toons that nobody wanted to be around because of his awful smell. Well skunk odor is no laughing matter if you or your pets get sprayed by a skunk the odor can find its way into your house and become a huge nuisance.

Skunks contain a gland that creates an odorous spray that made up of sulfurous chemicals, methyl and butyl thiols. Skunks use their spray to defend against predators such as wolves, bob cats and even bears. But sometimes you can be in the wrong place at the wrong time and corner one of these critters triggering their defensive reaction of spraying you or your pet.

Once sprayed, you need to be very careful what you do next as the smell can be invasive to you home. First be mindful of what you touch in your home because the smell will attach itself to everything you touch. Next you want to get your clothes in the wash as soon as possible and then the shower so that the oils don’t set in. This goes for your pets as well; their fur can trap the spray so get them to a bathtub as soon as possible. If shampoo and soap aren’t enough to take care of the smell there are several other alternatives. For your pets, local pet stores sell skunk scent neutralizers that can help and are good to have on hand if you live in a wooded area. Also if you transferred the oils to your carpet, upholstery or other household items you can use white distilled vinegar and a few drops of dishwashing liquid to wash the area. If you apply baking soda after it will absorb the odor and can be vacuumed out when it dries. To freshen the air in your home leave your windows open to let in a breeze and use odor neutralizing products such as Fabreeze. If the skunk’s odor does not seem to go away you can call a local house cleaning service to shampoo your carpets and upholstery.