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Diane asked: A skunk sprayed our vinyl siding, and I can’t get it off. It looks terrible. Help!
Skunk spray consists of a yellow, oily, musky liquid that can reach as far as 20 feet. The oily aspect of the spray allows it to attach to surfaces and not be removed with water alone. IN order to remove this smelly substance, it will require something to cut through the oil and allow the musk to release from the surface. If your home has been attacked by this nauseating substance, here are some methods that can be used to remove it.
You Will Need:
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Baking soda
- Liquid soap
- Bucket
- Soft cloths
- Scrub brush (optional)
- Water (outdoor hose works well)
Steps to Remove the Spray:
- Make your own “home remedy” by mixing the following items in a large container or bucket:
- 4 cups hydrogen peroxide
- ¼ cup baking soda
- 1 tablespoon of liquid soap (dish or laundry soap can be used)
- Moisten a soft cloth with the solution and generously apply it to the area that was sprayed.
- Allow it to set for at least 20 minutes. Reapply as necessary to keep the area moist with the solution.
- Scrub with a scrub brush or wipe away with the soft cloth.
- Rinse thoroughly with water. An outdoor hose will add additional pressure and allow for the easiest rinsing method.
- Repeat if necessary.
- Dispose of all remaining cleaning liquids. Do NOT store them in a sealed container. The mixture of these items releases a gas, and the container will rupture if sealed.
Additional Tips and Advice
- The cleaning solution above is only “active” for one hour. After that, the solution becomes neutral and will no longer be effective.
- Protect your hands and eyes with protective gloves and goggles.
- This is not a method to deodorize the air. Apply the solution directly to the surface of the spray.
- If the smell has entered the house, check the air filters and replace them if needed.
- Skunk spray is nature’s version of tear gas and prolonged exposure can be irritating to the eyes and skin as well as nauseating. Take breaks from cleaning as needed to avoid discomfort.
- Chlorine bleach (diluted with water) can also be used to remove the skunk spray. Test a small area first, especially if the siding is colored to ensure it does not cause discoloration.
- If there is a stain that remains, that is an oil stain. Use the oil instructions in the guide How to Remove Stains from Vinyl Siding.
A skunk attacked the neighbor’s cat on my back patio, and the skunk sprayed what seemed to be a gallon. The smell permeated into the house. I used 100% bleach to remove the smell from the brick and concrete. It took a few days to get the house to air out!
Tried bleach, tried household cleaner, tried mixing peroxide and baking soda, tried bathroom cleaner. Finally, tried nail polish remover and it worked!!!
Thanks Kelly; the nail polish remover worked like a charm.
Anton,
Did the nail polish remover ruin the color of your siding?
Hi, Our white vinyl siding got “skunked” and I used nail polish remover, worked a charm, no staining and did not ruin the colour of our siding.
How can I remove the skunk smell from my leather sofa and hard wood floors?? Please help, I can’t stand this much longer!!
Check it out! We’ve answered your questions:
How to Remove Skunk Smell from Leather
How to Remove Skunk Smell from Wood
Peroxide, dish soap, and baking soda did not work for me.????
It worked like a charm on my tan vinyl siding.
We had skunk spray on a powder-coated door frame and wood surround. Peroxide option did not work for me. Tried powdered bleach made into paste and several other cleaning products with no luck. A pumice stone bought at Home Depot did the trick without damaging the powder-coating.
The nail polish remover really worked on my vinyl siding to remove the skunk spray and it didn’t ruin the color of my siding.
Was that nail polish remover containing acetone or not? I think that they make it now without acetone; just want to be sure before I ruin my siding. Thank you in advance.
Daniel,
Whenever you are unsure if a product is safe, test it on a small hidden area first. There is a chance acetone could harm vinyl siding, but you should test the non-acetone kind first as well since it contains a variety of chemicals. Also, try to buy a version of nail polish remover that is clear; many are dyed and the dyes could stain as well. Good luck!
At first I didn’t realize that the skunk has sprayed the front door. One evening I kept smelling the skunk odor in the house and tried a variety of sprays on it. The odor had broken through the storm door, front wooden door, into the hallway and into the living room. The next day it still smelled so I was frustrated and used the spray for cat odor from Jackson Galaxy (the My Cat From Hell guy) and it cleared it up!!! Now I have to clean up the front storm door and a bit of siding, so wish me luck.