Be Prepared: The Skunk Always Wins

When you NEED this recipe, you don't exactly have time to surf for it on the internet.
We just learned the hard way that skunks shoot first, ask questions later.
Okay, they don't ask questions... nor do they care if you have everything on hand to deal with the horrors of that smell!
Tough guy Jack...
thought he'd take on a skunk last week. Jack discovered in the worst way possible that the skunk always wins. (An added bonus for us...we let him in the house before realizing what had happened!)
Since nearly everyone can ID a skunk smell, we know they’re out there, right? So how hard would it be to plan ahead… just in case?


Turns out: not very.


After this experience, I will forever keep a $3 “skunk emergency kit” in the garage.
Most likely, you already have these ingredients on hand...but do you really want to take the time to assemble them while you or your pet have immediate need.


NO...no, you do NOT!


When you NEED this recipe, you'll want everything handy (and in your garage):


- 1 quart of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide (new each summer)


- 1/4 cup of baking soda


- 1 to 2 teaspoons liquid soap


How does it work? The fizzy reaction between the fresh peroxide and the baking soda is what neutralizes the odor, while the liquid soap binds it to the subject.


I used Dawn…because, heck, it was there. (Some also theorize that Dawn breaks down the oil that’s a base ingredient to Pepe’s le Pew, but Dawn also breaks down the fizzy. Recipe inventor Paul Krebaum prefers Ivory or Softsoap.)


DO NOT MIX UNTIL YOU NEED IT!! Why? It's dangerous to store in a closed container.
Hand mix the ingredients in the bowl and apply. Lather and leave the mixture on the victim for five or so minutes. As with all shampooing, be careful around the eyes (a toothbrush was pretty helpful in that area). Rinse and repeat as needed.


If you enjoy schadenfreude, want the rest of what WE WISHED we knew before "Jack versus Skunk," or are interested in what other methods we tried, you're invited to click on the link below.


Our new Skunk Rules and the rest of the story might be helpful...JUST IN CASE!
EmDirr @ DustandDoghair.com
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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3 of 9 comments
  • Thank you for you helpful comment! Great info. Our experience with Jack was very similar to yours. (It's more detailed in the post but I kept it simple here.). After a week or more we had to give Jack another treatment. Smell kind of creeps back. Thanks again for the added info!
  • Toni Johnson Toni Johnson on Aug 19, 2016
    I love your post and the photo of Jack made me laugh out loud, poor guy, and he is so super adorable. I have been there...with 2 large dogs, and the tomato stuff didn't work. I had 2 dogs that spent a couple of nights in the garage, so this is truly a wonderful recipe to have. Great idea to have it all handy with the recipe printed on the container. Thank you for sharing this
    • Hi, Toni... Thank you for your nice comment! Can't imagine the two big dog tomato mess...poor you! Hopefully there won't be a next time, but I read that the sooner you get 'er done the less likely the smell will return. Hence the "emergency kit". Gotta love those dogs, though... such good friends!
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