Getting Skunk Smell Off A Car?

[McLaren]

Thread title is pretty self-explained. Driving home tonight, saw a skunk, went over him (he wasn't hit, he was just in the very middle of the car), and suddenly smelled him.

So, any tips to get the smell out b/c my poor TL smells worse than a garbage dump, and I think I might too.

 

[Omnis]

Drive through a pool of tomato sauce and then torch it.

 

[MCubed]

Uh, every time we've driven over a skunk, the smell went away after about 20 more minutes of driving with the windows open...


of course, I'm not sure if we ever actually went directly over one or if they were many feet away

 

[McLaren]

Drive through a pool of tomato sauce and then torch it.

I'm looking for serious answers, please....

 

[nk4e]

Febreeze?

 

[McLaren]

Febreeze?

I've already sprayed the inside with it. It's still smell-able walking up to it....

 

[bergauk]

Give it a nice wash and tan the leather maybe?

 

[TB]

Make sure the car wash does undercarriage, too.

Good luck, Rev.

 

[Max Powers]

Spray the undercarriage off really well, either take it to a car wash, or use one of those coin op washes, and just go to town on the bottom of the car with the pressure washer. On the inside, I would try an enzyme cleaner (can't think of a name, but we have it for when my dog used to pee inside). If that doesn't work, rent a carpet shampooer (unless you have one) and really take your time hitting all of the upholstery.

 

[Omnis]

I'm looking for serious answers, please....

Doesn't tomato sauce kill the smell though?

 

[opelgt1969]

Does the area where you live have any nice fairly smooth "dirt" roads if so take a nice long drive on that; will act kind of like sandblasting the undercarriage then to the car wash.

 

[FoolKiller]

Doesn't tomato sauce kill the smell though?

Yes, Mythbusters did a thing on it and tomato juice was the most effective thing they found.

I would suggest trying to find a way to wash the sprayed area with something that has some tomato juice in it.

Did the spray itself actually get inside the car, or did the smell just get in because he sprayed your undercarriage? If it is just smell then getting the car itself cleaned will allow the interior smell to eventually fade.

I have also heard of a peroxide/baking soda misture. Can't remember what was in it though, as I think there was more to it.

And I am sure someone sells stuff for this, but may or may not work.

 

[Slicks]

Give the car a very thorough cleaning on the exterior, including a thorough pressure-wash of the undercarriage. Don't go through an auto-wash though, as it'll strip every ounce of wax from the paint.

I'd send the car to a detailing shop for the interior - They can ozonate the interior (it's what they use to get rid of smoke smells, etc) and shampoo it if neccessary.

 

[McLaren]

Yes, Mythbusters did a thing on it and tomato juice was the most effective thing they found.

I would suggest trying to find a way to wash the sprayed area with something that has some tomato juice in it.

Did the spray itself actually get inside the car, or did the smell just get in because he sprayed your undercarriage? If it is just smell then getting the car itself cleaned will allow the interior smell to eventually fade.

I have also heard of a peroxide/baking soda misture. Can't remember what was in it though, as I think there was more to it.

And I am sure someone sells stuff for this, but may or may not work.

It just got in because he sprayed the undercarriage. I think he sprayed right behind the front bumper.


I'll probably be taking Slicks advice, though, and just have a detailer do a whole job on the car.

 

[BayConRong]

What about the vents? if they smell too that will be a wonderful time soak, rinse, repeating. Jumbo pipe cleaners, I've always wanted one of those.