Get Rid of Skunk Odor: What Really Works (2024)

If a skunk has ever sprayed you or your pet, then you know stories abound about how to get rid of the skunk smell. Concoctions for getting rid of their odor range from tomato juice to beerto liquid detergent. What works for skunk smell besides avoiding a skunk in the first place?

Myths vs. Facts

A popular myth says tomato juice gets rid of skunk spray but unfortunately, it doesn't work. You'll stop smelling high doses of skunk spray when olfactory fatigue (desensitization to strong odors after prolonged exposure) sets in. When this happens, you'll detect the scent of tomato juice.

Similarly, other fabled remedies like beer and oatmeal also don't work because they don't have the compounds necessary to neutralize the thiols in a skunk's spray. Thiols are sulfur-based organic compounds with an acrid rotten egg smell.

Combining baking soda and hydrogen peroxide (two affordable oxidizing agents) is one of the best ways to get rid of the skunk smell because the oxygen molecules chemically alter the sulfur in thiols.

DIY Remedy for Skunk Smell

According to the Statewide IPM Program, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California, the following home remedy can be safely used on people, pets, clothing, and furniture. This remedy was developed by Paul Krebaum and published in Chemical & Engineering News in 1993. Mix it in a large, open container and use it immediately to wash your hair and body but be careful using it directly on clothes or it could discolor fabrics.

• 1 quart 3 percent hydrogen peroxide
• 1/4 cup baking soda
• 1 teaspoon liquid detergent
  

Other Ways to Remove Skunk Smell

• People: Wash your entire body with deodorant soap or a grease-cutting dish detergent. Wash your hair with a shampoo made for oily hair. Or, soak in a baking soda bath (2 to 4 cups baking soda) for 15 to 20 minutes in hot water. Rinse to remove the residue from your skin.
• Pets: Get rid of the skunk smell by using the DIY remedy mixture, and let it sit for five minutes without getting in its eyes. Rinse and wash with regular pet shampoo. Repeat until the smell is gone.
• Clothing or washable fabrics: Use a regular laundry detergent mixed with 1/2 cup baking soda in hot water and air dry. Or, soak the item in the baking soda and hot water solution for 30 minutes if you have delicates. Repeat until the smell is gone.
• Home: Open windows, run fans, and ventilate well to get rid of the skunk smell. Place a bowl of vinegar in each affected room for at least 24 hours. Or, boil vinegar in a pan. The room will smell like stinky vinegar but it takes away the skunk odor. Replace all the HVAC filters so odors don't linger in the vent system.
• Furniture: Furniture pieces sprayed by a skunk can be washed down with bleach or vinegar water solution (9 parts to 1 part water) to remove the smell.

• Car: Hose down the exterior of the vehicle. Open the windows. Make a solution of hydrogen peroxide, water, and baby shampoo to wash down the car's interior (be careful of any discoloration on surfaces and seats). Place bowls of vinegar in the vehicle to neutralize the odor.
  
• Exterior of building or decks: To get skunk smells out of buildings, wooden decks, porches, etc., mix 1 cup of liquid bleach in a gallon of water. Be careful because the mixture can bleach surfaces. Test this mixture on a small spot first to see if there is concern about discoloration.

Retail Products

One recommendation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture is to use over-the-counter products containing Neutroleum Alpha to eliminate skunk smells on pets. These products are available at many pet stores.

Additional Tips

• Try to remove the smell from people, pets, and items as quickly and thoroughly as possible. The longer the odor is on anything, the more difficult it will be to remove.
• If you can, work outside, so you don't bring the smell into the house or get the oil on the carpet, furniture, or other household items.
• Shower thoroughly with hot water after using any de-skunking solution.
• If the skunk has heavily sprayed clothing or other items, you may want to discard them, as the fabric can hold a skunk odor for a long time.
• Use a steamer to help remove skunk odor from carpets or upholstery.

The Final Word

It is unlikely that any solution will eliminate the smell the first time. It may take several times or a length of time for the smell to dissipate completely.