Disaster

Grumpy

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Jan 25, 2023
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Yesterday I put up a new awning on the side of our van to try it out before we go away.
As it rained hard I thought I would take it down today because the forecast is good. Went out to check it and WOW an awful stench of cat pee/spray or whatever. I can't see any wet patches but I don't want to fold it up smelling like that. Seriously thinking of binning it as the smell will never go away. Disaster!!!
 

Sam Vimes

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Sep 7, 2020
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Oh dear!

When I lived in Canada, Skunks were a problem. The advice if they sprayed you or your dog was to wash with Tomato Juice. Maybe that would work on your awning. Might stain it though.

The smell of Skunk is absolutely appalling but fortuntately never got sprayed despite coming close to a few.
 
Nov 11, 2009
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Oh dear!

When I lived in Canada, Skunks were a problem. The advice if they sprayed you or your dog was to wash with Tomato Juice. Maybe that would work on your awning. Might stain it though.

The smell of Skunk is absolutely appalling but fortuntately never got sprayed despite coming close to a few.
Having lived in Ottawa I know the problem. One night a skunk came in as we had an early bbq and my dog went for it. The smell was awful and neighbours all around us left their outdoor activities and went indoors. The tomato juice was worked a treat.
 

Mel

Mar 17, 2007
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Oh dear!

When I lived in Canada, Skunks were a problem. The advice if they sprayed you or your dog was to wash with Tomato Juice. Maybe that would work on your awning. Might stain it though.

The smell of Skunk is absolutely appalling but fortuntately never got sprayed despite coming close to a few.

Somehow, I am doubting it was a skunk. But wouldn’t it be great if it was 😂
Mel
 
Jan 19, 2002
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Just googled on your behalf as seems a shame to bin a new awning - there are companies that specialise in tent and awning cleaning like The Canvas Cleaning Company in Bridgewater and a quick glance at example prices on the website seems very reasonable - worth a punt? I have no connection with them and have never used them so please regard this as a suggestion not a recommendation and doubtless there are other similar offers available!
 
Jul 18, 2017
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It was probably a male cat spraying to define their territory or possibly some other wild male animal. Unlikely to be a skunk?
 

Sam Vimes

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Somehow, I am doubting it was a skunk. But wouldn’t it be great if it was 😂
Mel

No.! It's an incredibly pungent smell and once experienced never forgot.

We'd be driving down the highway and all of a sudden you would start to smell it and then there's a panic to get the vents, windows and fans turned off before you get to the flattened skunk.

I've been sitting out with a group of people around picnic tables when a skunk has come around the corner and I've never seen a group of people move so fast.

A daughter of a friend of ours used to rear abandon young ones - never got sprayed supposedly.
 
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Jul 18, 2017
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In SA the skunk was known as a "polecat" and in the fifties living with the bush bordering the farm every now and then the dog would come back stinking to high heaven. Bathing the dog was for the very brave as the stench was overwhelming.
 
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