Sometimes chasing down a skunk requires the need to remove the stench that they can leave behind. Depending on what prank you may have pulled, there could also be a need to remove some horrendous odor that remains. Also, dogs & cats love chasing small animals, until they come home with a tail between their legs after they were sprayed. So this begs the question: What is the best way to remove the skunk smell? (or similar nasty odor that could remain?)

You can smell these things from a mile away!

We’ve all heard about tomato juice and how it can remove the intense scent left behind, but the who wants to go through that whole ordeal with the stickiness it can leave behind. Because of this, we have actually found the best way to get rid of the stench from Skunks.

Removing the Smell from Skunk Spray

The Skunk is a mammal which is able to secrete an oily liquid from it’s rear end, that has a foul smelling residue which is colloquially referred to as the “skunk smell“. They’re small, hobbling creatures that scare very easily. Instead of running away like most prey animals, these guys rear their hind quarters to threaten any animal that might think of it as food for that night. This could be a problem if some skunk decides to spray your dog, cat, or even yourself! Should you ever find yourself in an unlucky situation with a skunk, don’t panic – skunks spray because they’re afraid or startled, and the spray is offending due to the fact that it’s used as their only defense mechanism. If you’re like many people who encounter a skunk and freak out, you’ll more than likely come in contact with that nasty, penetrating skunk stench sprayed from their buttocks. Instead of burning your clothes and washing yourself scalding hot water, or deciding to douse yourself with sticky tomato juice – first try this remedy on how to “remove skunk smell” that isn’t so drastic of a measure. A Skunk smell can be removed, but only with a little elbow grease on your part.

How to remove skunk smell from skin, clothes, your home, & your pets!

First things first: Immediately prior to washing get those clothes off and into the laundry as soon as possible. When it comes to the pieces of clothing, furniture, or carpets, you will need to get those washed as quickly as time permits, using something like a fabric cleaner will help get rid of the nasty scent and any stains may help alongside your laundry detergent.

Immediately spray at the point of contact that your pet (cat, dog, varmint) got hit with our home remedy. The key is get your pet showered as fast as could be expected under the circumstances. If unfortunate if it’s yourself that has been skunked, so get to the shower as quick as possible as well. Isolating the pet, a person, or thing that has been sprayed is crucial in keeping the fumes and liquid from spreading all throughout your home.The quicker they get into the laundry, the better chance of the smell washing off and not setting in. In addition to using your regular laundry soap, try soaking the clothes in some other household chemicals to help wash off the smell, as well. Skunk spray is full of oils that stick to the fibers in your clothes as well as skin or pet fur, so something to help dissolve the oil or counteract it works best. We searched far and wide, but wouldn’t you know – we should’ve asked someone who’s been there and done that. That’s how we came up with this grandmother’s homemade remedy option.

The best solution is to neutralize the Skunk odor using the following formula to actually change the chemical structure of the compounds in skunk spray that make it smell so bad, and stick around for such a long time. It’s sciency-stuff, so we won’t get into it too deeply – and this solution is not just for pets, it will work on you too, if you’re unlucky enough to get sprayed that is. It’s also relatively safer than the loads of chemicals that are on the marketplace.

Skunk Odor Removal Formula

Without further ado, we’re introducing you to our amazing smell-removal mixture. To build the best skunk reducing formula known to man, gather these products:

I. 1 quart 3% Hydrogen Peroxide

There are many uses for the above product. Hydrogen peroxide is used mainly to disinfect wounds and as a bleaching agent or oxidizer. You can even use it to remove plaque buildup from your mouth. You don’t need too much of it, one of these bottles will do.

II. ¼ cup Baking Soda

Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, can be used as a fire extinguisher, in cooking, as well as removing the nasty smells within the refrigerator. We’re using it to help eliminate a disgusting smell in our formula.

III. 1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap

Dish soap helps eliminate grease, it also works to dissolve the oils from a skunk. You can use a name brand such as Dawn or Palmolive, yet any comparative dish soap will work. This will help absorb and/or destroy the odor molecules that are oils within a skunk’s spray.

Step 1: Mixing

You’ll want to mix these specific ingredients all together. Make sure that you combine it within an open wide mouth container or mixing bowl. This mixture will combine to create air pockets and bubble up profusely, so do not blend it, shake it, or store it in a closed jug or container. This formula will release more air within a shut compartment, and may cause it to explode! (Hey, there might be a clean prank use in here somewhere). For best results – use it immediately after you make it, because over time it will lose it’s strength and power to remove the smells and oils. When it is freshly mixed and bubbling, that’s when it works 100% of the time.

Step 2: For your pet

Wet your pet’s coat with warm water. Immediately after the fur becomes damp, rub your newly created formula into the spot that was marked by the skunk. Make sure you rub it in vigorously, but not hurting your pet, so you can remove even the slightest trace of that oily spray. Also Caution: you do not want to get any of the mixture into their nose, eyes, or mouth of the animal (it may cause irritation). You may use a microfiber towel place the product onto the face gingerly. It is best left to sit for around five minutes or so, and then rinse it off completely (again, making sure not to get it into the eyes!). Reapply multiple times if necessary.

Step 3: For a human

What do you do if you get sprayed? Right after mixing, get to the shower! Pour the skunk eliminating formula all over the spot that was sprayed. Make sure to use hot water and as much soap and shampoo as you can handle. Like your clothes, washing your skin as soon as you are able is more likely to wash off the permeating skunk stench. You may have to wash multiple times, or try adding some tomato juice to your bath if you must. While often touted as THE home skunk remedy, it’s possible that the natural acid in the tomatoes will neutralize the smell by dissolving the oils.

Step 4: Final Cleanup

Lastly, spray or wash everything that came in contact with the smell, like your car, front door, couch, bath mat, etc. A spray odor neutralizer works well. Bleach also works due to the fact that it oxidizes and removes odor quickly. By using this approach, the smell is broken down, and the long-chain oily molecules (again, sciency-stuff) get separated. This approach also gets the smell away from adsorbent surfaces like wood, hair, or even any fabric.

We hope that this helps you eliminate a skunk odor from yourself, home, pet, car, or other foul smelling area you have. It’s “chemical” free, and works wonders. Let us know what you think in the comments!