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How To Get Skunk Smell Out of Car?

ByTsukasa Azuma-August 26, 2024

Skunks are notorious for their foul odor. Since they are among the most common road kill victims, it is highly likely to smell skunk odor from cars. In case your car is sprayed by a skunk, do you know what to do? Well, when you have the skunk smell in your car, the first thing you search is how to get skunk smell out of car.

The good news is that many people face the challenge, and there is an easy-peasy solution to get rid of the putrid smell.

Easy to Follow Steps on How to Get Skunk Smell Out of Car

Removing the foul odor from the car can be challenging if you do not know the right approach. Fortunately, getting rid of this overpowering smell is both possible and easy. With the right products and actions, you can eliminate this problem effectively.

Step 1: Gather the Essentials

You will be required to gather the essential things in the process of learning how to get skunk smell out of car. A skunk’s odor is among the worst smells. 

So, the things you will need to be armed with include a cloth, bowl, plastic container, charcoal, dish liquid, baking soda, water hose, and hydrogen peroxide.

Car cleaning is necessary to get rid of the putrid smell. (Photo Source: Pixabay)

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Step 2: Begin with the Exterior

If your car smells up your world, you probably want to eliminate the Skunk gunk right off.   Regular soaps and water ingredients won’t be useful in this task. 

Therefore, make a mixture of liquid dish detergent and distilled vinegar. Use it to clean the undercarriage and tires of the car.

Get some water to rinse it and dry with a towel. Repeating the vinegar wash becomes essential in case the car smell remains even after one hour of washing the car. 

Charcoal is known for absorbing the stretch, so put charcoal in a trap, and use it under the car.

A Word of Advice: Before proceeding to the interior, remember that a carpet color might fade due to hydrogen peroxide. As per expert maintenance tips, testing a small amount in an area helps keep such trouble at bay.

Step 3: Interior

A whiff of a mysteriously pungent odor can be frustrating, especially when it is from your car. 

Whenever a skunk attacks a car with foul and fetid liquid, car cleaning becomes necessary to get rid of the skunk smell in car. Dip the clean cloth in the mixture of dish liquid, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide.

Use the clean cloth to scrub the interior. Make sure not to soak the upholstery or carpets. Get some water to clean the upholstery and carpets. 

Let it dry or use a cloth or cleaning machine for this process. This remedy will solve the problem and give you olfactory relief.

Pungent odor from the car is a horrible experience. (Photo Source: Wallpaper Flare)

FAQs

1. Will a car wash remove the skunk smell?

An ordinary car wash may not be sufficient to remove the skunk smell as it requires stronger cleaning solutions. 

Mixing distilled vinegar and dish detergent with warm water and applying it to affected areas, followed by a thorough rinse, can be more effective​​.

2. Are there any home remedies for skunk odor neutralization?

Yes, using baking soda and vinegar can be effective. Mix them in equal parts and apply to affected surfaces. Additionally, placing charcoal or coffee grounds in the car overnight can help absorb and neutralize odors​​.

3. What should I do immediately after noticing the skunk smell?

Act quickly to remove the smell. Air out the car, remove interior mats, and let them air out in the sun, which is a natural deodorizer. Then proceed with washing the exterior and interior surfaces as mentioned earlier​​.

4. Are there any professional treatments for persistent odors?

For stubborn odors, a professional ozone treatment might be necessary. This treatment uses ozone gas to break down and eliminate odors at a molecular level. 

However, it should be done by professionals due to the potential hazards of ozone if not handled properly

5. How long will the skunk smell last on a car?

If left untreated, the skunk smell can linger for several weeks. However, with prompt and appropriate cleaning methods, this duration can be significantly reduced. 

Using the right odor-removal products and techniques can effectively eliminate or greatly diminish the skunk odor​

Check out this video from Scotty Kilmer to learn some life hacks that will make your car smell go away!

Conclusion

Skunks may look cute and fuzzy, but they can leave an overpowering and long-lasting odor.  It is a horrible experience when a skunk sprays your car.

Hopefully, the above tips will help you to how to get skunk smell out of car. So, don’t procrastinate until you feel as though you are suffocating from the pungent odor. Take the necessary steps today!

Tsukasa Azuma is an awesome car blogger of Car From Japan. He owns a car repair shop at downtown Osaka, and he put all that experience to good use in his sharing posts. Tsukasa’s blog is one of the best resources for information about keeping your favorite imported car running smoothly. Moreover, because of being passionate to learn about the recent happenings in auto industry, he doesn’t only provide great car maintenance tips, he also always updates latest trends in among car brands and share them in his own interesting viewpoint.

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