Thread: Non-Car ??? For The Country Boys...

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Originally Posted by 36 sedan

Have you tried an odor inhibitor like Frebreeze or possibly their commercial counterpart (janitorial supply).

Yep, I forgot about that one but I did spray Fabreeze odor eliminator on the whole collar, concentrating on the sealed joints, and then took a scrub brush to it. Sitting here at the keyboard the collar is on the counter about three feet away and I still get a whiff of "skunk" from it. I've found a product, Skunk Off, that's made in the region, but then I find information saying that commercial products, such as Nature's Miracle Skunk Odor Remover don't work as well as the home made mix of peroxide, soda & soap developed by a chemist in '93. All of the other "home remedies", like vinegar, tomato juice, lemon juice and mixes using them simply mask odor temporarily and don't affect the source. I may buy a bottle of the commercial product to see what it does to plastic, but at this point I'm glad that Innotek put a new collar on the FedEx truck for me.

Originally Posted by rspears

All of the other "home remedies", like vinegar, tomato juice, lemon juice and mixes using them simply mask odor temporarily and don't affect the source. I may buy a bottle of the commercial product to see what it does to plastic, but at this point I'm glad that Innotek put a new collar on the FedEx truck for me.

I note that these are all acid (rather than alkaline,) based, implying that the skunk smell itself is alkaline . . . would it be worth a crack to use a stronger acid?
Perhaps nitric?
Nitric acid doesn't have a detrimental effect on plastic, and should be readily available in a fairly strong mix from any hydroponic store.
Just a thought.

Originally Posted by johnboy

I note that these are all acid (rather than alkaline,) based, implying that the skunk smell itself is alkaline . . . would it be worth a crack to use a stronger acid? Perhaps nitric? Nitric acid doesn't have a detrimental effect on plastic, and should be readily available in a fairly strong mix from any hydroponic store. Just a thought.

jb, I've read a scientific paper from Johns Hopkins where they actually analyzed the chemistry of the four (I think) different skunk varieties, identifying subtle differences in their spray makeup. The spray is a thick, oily mess that is derived from urine and stored in a pair of glands to be sprayed in a concentrated stream up to sixteen feet. They state that the best home remedy is the peroxide/soda/dishwashing detergent for the pet, and also for inanimate objects, but that common household laundry bleach is also effective for things that can take it. I did try a strong bleach solution, soaking the collar for about 1/2 hour, but no joy. The lab report suggested soaking clothes in vinegar, then Dawn, then laundry soap & water followed by a good rinse and leaving them in the sun until dry and odor free. Sunlight is said to be a key, and I can attest that when I thought Bones' web belting collar was "skunk free" putting it in the sun re-activated the aroma quite strong. Perhaps I need to leave both outside in the sun, were it not that today is cloudy.... Someone mentioned that this whole discussion is only of serious interest to me, and I can see that being true so I won't continue to bore you with more info.

Originally Posted by rspears

Someone mentioned that this whole discussion is only of serious interest to me, and I can see that being true so I won't continue to bore you with more info.

Roger, obviously, no one is bored with this discussion as we all keep reading and posting on it. I've been a little ornery and having a little fun with your stinky situation but certainly mean no harm or hurt feelings. Please accept my apologies if I've offended and please keep us posted on how you get it resolved. Who knows which of us might be next to get sprayed by one of those smelly critters!!

Originally Posted by randyr

Roger, obviously, no one is bored with this discussion as we all keep reading and posting on it. I've been a little ornery and having a little fun with your stinky situation but certainly mean no harm or hurt feelings. Please accept my apologies if I've offended and please keep us posted on how you get it resolved. Who knows which of us might be next to get sprayed by one of those smelly critters!!

Randy, I'm not offended by anything that's been said. Absolutely no need to apologize from my standpoint. This is the second time Bones has been sprayed, and we're in a once burned, twice cautious mode at this point where our after dark constitutional walks are on a long leash as opposed to runs in the woods. I thought that the first spraying was bad, but this one has been worse!