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Skunks spray as a defense mechanism to ward off predators. The active ingredient in their sulfurous, oily musk is n-butyl mercaptan, which evaporates into a powerful and smelly gas. Once the spray hits the skunk’s target, the stench can linger for days, and water and common cleaning kits aren’t enough to wash it away.

If you happen upon a skunk in your yard, try to back away slowly to reduce the chance of them aiming at you. Encouragingly, they don’t use their weapon casually, as it can take up to 10 days for their life-saving weaponry to refill. Paw stamping, hissing, lifting their tail, and arching their back are early signs they feel trapped or under threat and that it’s time to make a careful retreat.

You will need to discuss with your pest control expert to know when and what to clean after the treatment. Sometimes, you may have to wait a couple of weeks for deep cleaning to avoid wiping up the treatment they applied.

However, you’ll want to wipe down any surfaces you use for food prep and eating. Before the treatment, you’ll also want to make sure that items such as pet dishes and children's toys won’t be exposed to the chemicals.

Deer rely on scent to tell them what’s safe and unsafe, so effective deer repellents have to be pungent. Make your own natural repellent by combining a beaten egg, one tablespoon of cooking oil, one tablespoon of dish soap, and a half cup of milk. Pour it into a spray bottle and spray around your garden, avoiding anything you will want to eat later. This stinky repellent will ward off any deer that want to make your produce their next meal. But keep in mind that if your windows are nearby, the scent may waft over.

Roaches may not be quite as common on the top floors of a home, but they can easily climb up there if they want to. Second stories are less likely to have food sources and somewhat less likely to have moisture issues, so most roaches are attracted to bottom levels first. However, humid attics and similar spots can help roaches thrive.