How To Get Skunk Odor Off Of Anything (talk about Dogs, Cars, Humans, Houses)

Skunk odor is a putrid, gut-wrenching smell that lingers. It seems to permeate the air and creep into every crevice. If your dog gets sprayed, forget about letting them in the house for a while. They say a dog can carry the smell for up to two years if not treated properly after being sprayed by a skunk. Now that’s an odor!

The liquid sprayed by skunks is sulfur based which accounts for some of the horrid smell. It is also oil formatted, which means it sticks to practically everything. Skin, dogs, houses and even cars are not immune from the hazards of skunk spray.

What Doesn’t Work

If you’ve been unfortunate enough to deal with this horrid liquid, there is no doubt you are looking for a solution. There are several old wives’ tales about removing the odor of skunks. Unfortunately, they are only tales and do not work. Some of these myths include bathing in tomato juice and even citrus.

Masking agents are also a waste of time. Perfumes and sprays are a bust. Air fresheners and even ‘cleaners’ are a waste of time and they will do nothing for the smell. Even most items marketed as skunk odor eliminators will fail miserably.



What Really Works

There are a couple of mixtures that will work to remove the smell of skunk spray. The length of time the items must soak and the number of times the process must be repeated depends on how badly these items were sprayed by the skunk initially.

Mix one quart of hydrogen peroxide with a quarter cup of baking soda and a teaspoon of liquid soap or dish detergent. You’ll need to wear rubber gloves and use this solution immediately as it is unstable and will not keep. Do not attempt to store, either. You’ll need to mix a new solution every time you use it.

Secondly, do not rinse the area before applying the solution. This includes the dog. Since a skunk’s spray is mainly oil, the detergents in the solution will help break up the smell if it isn’t diluted with water.

You’ll want to put this mixture on the affected area and let it site for a bit. This can be hard on a dog and may take a few applications. For clothes, however, they can soak for a half hour. This solution will also work on carpets and the outside of houses.

For clothes, you’ll want to line dry after rinsing. Do not put clothes in a dryer until the smell is gone. Carpets will need to be shampooed and vacuumed once the smell is almost completely removed. Cars, houses and skin may require a few applications but the solution works.


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