How to Get Skunk Smell Out of Your Car
No matter how careful you are, you may have the horrifying experience of encountering a skunk while driving, especially if you live in a rural area.
If your car hits a skunk, hits a runover animal, or even if you’re simply driving through an area where a skunk has just dumped its load, the smell can permeate the entire vehicle and cause great discomfort to everyone involved.
Read on to learn why skunk smell is so strong and how to get the stench out of your car if necessary.
Why is skunk spray so overwhelming?
The spray is a defense mechanism for skunks. The oily substance is slow to replenish in the anal glands, so you should only use it when necessary. However, it usually expires when the skunk is hit by a car.
Skunk spray is a type of tear gas that irritates the eyes and nose. This causes red and watery eyes, just like tear gas.
Two components are responsible for the smell: thiol and thioacetic acid.
1. Thiols contain sulfur, which quickly produces a rotten egg odor.
2. Thioacetates are activated when in contact with water in the air or on surfaces, which is why they are responsible for the persistent odor.
These can be difficult to remove from materials, especially since the entire solution is very oily. Most skunk odors will eventually go away on their own, but in some cases, this process can take months or even years. It is much better to take matters into your own hands.
How to get rid of bad smells in your car
Febreze is a deodorizing spray you can try, but it probably won’t get rid of the smell on its own. It is important to get rid of as much oil-based spray as possible.
Here are some helpful tips to get rid of bad smells in your car. We recommend wearing gloves to avoid skin contamination.
1) Hurry!
The longer you wait to get rid of the smell, the harder it will be to get rid of. If you notice a skunk smell, immediately ventilate your car (you probably won’t need to be told to do so because the smell is so strong).
When you get your car back from a trip, remove the interior mats and place them outside to air out. If possible, leave the doors open until you’ve cleaned your car.
2) Place in the sun
When you remove the mats, place them in the sun if possible. Sunlight is a natural odor neutralizer, so if possible, make sure the sun is shining on the interior of your car as well.
3) Clean the exterior
Your car’s tires and undercarriage are the ones that are most likely to have come into contact with skunks, so these should be cleaned more thoroughly to remove the oil.
A solution of distilled vinegar mixed with a little dish soap is best for removing the oil. Add this solution to a garden sprayer and work it over the entire underside of your car. After application, leave it for a few minutes to avoid scratching the metal, then rinse it off with a hose.
Apply the same solution to tires and wheels with a scrubbing pad and wash them thoroughly. Rinse well. Clean the rest of the exterior of the car with regular car wash soap. If the vinegar and soapy solution comes into contact with the paint, rinse it off immediately to avoid damaging the paint (vinegar is acidic and can corrode paint).
You may be wondering if an automatic car wash can get rid of skunk smell. It may work a little, but the skunk oil will likely linger. The manual method described above is much more effective.
4) Clean the interior surfaces
If the smell persists even after ventilating your car, the oil may have penetrated the surface.
Clean the dashboard and other hard surfaces, such as interior doors and steering wheel, with a dashboard cleaner or a solution of mild soap and water. Wipe with a microfiber cloth dampened with water only to wash off any remaining solution and provide optimal surface protection.
Wash leather seats gently with a mild detergent solution, rinse immediately with a damp cloth and dry with a clean microfiber cloth.
All fabric surfaces, such as floor mats and fabric seats, can be cleaned with carpet deodorizer or a mixture of 1 quart hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup baking soda and 1 teaspoon dish soap. We recommend testing this solution on a hidden area of ​​the fabric first to ensure that no discoloration will occur.
Spray the mixture onto the fabric surface (or dip a damp cloth into the mixture, wring it out well and wipe the fabric surface), leave it and then wipe with a microfiber cloth dampened with water only to remove any soapy residue. Use a clean microfiber towel to dry the material as best you can.
Leave the door open until the fabric is completely dry (leaving a wet car closed for long periods of time will cause other problems). Don’t forget to clean your windshield, too; odors can stick to just about any surface.
5) Put charcoal in your car
To absorb any lingering odors, place a small container of charcoal in your car for a few weeks. A container of vinegar or baking soda will also work, but it won’t be as effective.
Good luck! This may be your last encounter with a skunk, but if it does happen again, be prepared. Avoiding country roads at night can help avoid skunk encounters, but some skunks live in urban areas too.
