Since we first moved to this house, six years ago, we've had problems with skunks running up and down the fence line between our house and our neighbor's. One year, our neighbor did a major clean up around the yard and found that, there were indeed, as the old song goes, skunks in his woodpile. A little nest of them, as a matter of fact. Our neighbor moved the woodpile, cleared the brush around it and magically, the skunks went away.
For about two years.
However, as you may or may not know, out in the country, animals travel the same paths over and over again--sometimes for generations. So, sure enough, pretty soon, other skunks--no doubt distant relations-- took up residence in the exact same place. We never seem to notice them until August or September. Something about those warm summer nights seem to bring out the---uh---best in them. At that point, we quickly close the patio slider, button up all the windows and go to bed.
Enter The Dog.
For the first couple of years, the dog was too small and too---let's just say, "naive," to notice the skunks. Then, about a year ago, Mr. Rocket Scientist started chasing them up and down the fence line.
We knew then, that it was only a matter of time.
One night last summer, the dog was playing outside. My husband, daughter and I had just sat down to watch a mystery in the family room. Suddenly the dog ran in the open door in a frenzy and started rubbing his snout on the carpet like a crazed weasel.
Knowing the dog, we didn't think much of this behavior--it happens about every other day.
Then, we smelled it.
Aaaaaaargh.
We quickly escorted the dog outside, locked the patio door and ran to the source of wisdom and comfort that all families turn to in their time of need.
Google.
There, we found that the following will quickly remove skunk smell from both fur and carpet. Here is the magic recipe---use it wisely, young Jedi.
1/4 c dishwashing soap
1 c hydrogen peroxide
1/2 c baking soda
--Mix these in a bucket with a gallon of water.
Wash dog. Rinse. Repeat.
We scrubbed down the dog, and feeling smug and happy, we retired to bed.
Fast forward to tonight. I had just tucked down for an early bed time, when I heard a strange, muffled scream coming from the family room. Then, I heard my husband shouting the words:
"No! No! Oh, No!," followed by: "put him OUTSIDE!!!!!"
I jumped out of bed and ran down the hall to find my son wailing and my husband about to turn tail, (so to speak) and run. Turns out the little braintrust, (the dog, not my son,) was outside again, trying to make friends with the black-and-whites. This time, when he got sprayed, he yelped and ran straight toward my son, who got a face full of skunk as the dog collided with him.
We ran for the potion recipe and mixed up a batch to bathe the dog. But, the appetizing smell had already wafted off my son's face, into the hall and throughout the house. (Those of you who have experience with these things, know that whole process takes about 1.5 seconds.)
We sent the son to the shower to scrub his face and hair with baking soda. Then, we dragged the dog, (and my husband,) onto the lawn to bathe him, (the dog, not my husband.)
But, what to do about the smell in the house? Fabreeze wasn't gonna do it. You can't open the windows to air it out. (Bad idea. Very bad idea.)
Back to that Oracle of Delphi commonly known as Google.
Did you know that little bowls of white vinegar placed strategically throughout the house will absorb the odor of skunk?
At least that's what a nice lady on Google told us. I filled up the bowls, posted her a thank you, and now I'm off to bed, where I will sleep with of the confidence of one who knows that things will be better in the morning.
--Mostly because the dog is now locked in the house, and that will be the first time he'll be able to get back outside.
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