Q. I read your column about getting rid of skunk odors. As the owner of two dogs that have been sprayed by skunks, I have found that washing them in the bath tub with Massengill feminine hygiene solution eliminates the smell in minutes. It really works.
A. We won’t ask how you came up with this idea, but we are intrigued. Massengill makes a number of products for douching and we could not tell from your letter which one you used. Some come with baking soda; others are mostly detergents and one has many aromatic herbal ingredients. This may be the best use we have heard of for a feminine hygiene solution.
Other solutions readers have suggested for getting rid of a skunk smell include:
“When I read the column on cat pee I thought of an experience I had when I was sprayed by a skunk. A taxidermist told me to get oil of anise at the drugstore, sprinkle drops of it on my clothes and seal them in a cardboard box for three days. He remarked, ‘People tell you to bury your clothes after a skunk strikes, but never tell you to dig them up again.’
“The oil of anise worked and I was able to wear my clothes again. Perhaps it would work on the suitcase that was sprayed by a cat.”
A few years ago, a reader sent us this suggestion from Chemical and Engineering News: “Mix one quart of 3-percent hydrogen peroxide (from your pharmacy) with one quarter cup of baking soda and one teaspoon of liquid soap. Soak the pooch in water and scrub with the mixture, then rinse in warm water.”
“I have a Siberian Husky who loves to “play” with skunks. I have tried bathing her in tomato juice. This works, but it is very messy, and leaves the dog smelling of tomato, with a hint of skunk. My pooch has white fur that tends to stain an orange-pink color.
“Here’s a remedy that works even better. Take 1/2 cup Goop (the degreaser mechanics use to clean their hands), 1/3 cup Dawn dish detergent and 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide. Work this mixture into the fur and let it sit a few minutes. Then rinse well. Repeat as needed. Be careful not to get it into your pet’s eyes!
“Veterinarians have said that the degreaser is the key. It is the oil that holds the skunk’s smell.”
