First steps
Start here
- Move the sprayed items outdoors or into fresh air, and ventilate the room.
- Rinse sprayed fabric in cold water to dilute the spray.
- Wash with soap or detergent and water as soon as you can.
- Air out anything you can't wash, like shoes, outdoors; the odor fades if it isn't re-exposed.
Skunk spray is an oily, yellow-tinted liquid, and its sulfur compounds can be smelled at tiny concentrations, so even a faint trace on fabric gets noticed. Plain water does little against the oil, and the smell can linger long after the spray itself looks gone. A fresh spot responds well to detergent and a second wash, while a smell that has set in may need more time and air, and whether the item is washable or dry-clean only shapes what you can do.
Furniture hit by skunk usually needs an enzyme pretreater on the worst spots, not stronger detergent. Leather needs a test on a hidden patch first, since a wrong product can leave a mark. If the odor has lasted for days, an odor eliminator beats repeating the same wash.
8 items
What you'll need
Tap an item to get it on Amazon, or tick what you already have.
- Liquid laundry detergentDissolves the oily spray and does the main work. (opens Amazon)
- Cold waterDilutes the spray before anything else touches it.
- 3% hydrogen peroxideThe mild antiseptic strength from the drugstore, for the optional boost; not the stronger hair-bleaching kind. (opens Amazon)
- Baking sodaGoes into the optional peroxide boost. (opens Amazon)
- Liquid dish soapOne to two teaspoons go into the boost to help dissolve the oils. (opens Amazon)
- Open containerHolds the boost while you mix it.
- Household chlorine bleachOnly for the last-resort wash on white, bleach-safe cotton or linen. (opens Amazon)
- Outdoor drying spaceAir drying in fresh air finishes the job.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
7 steps
How to get skunk spray out of clothes
Step 1 of 7
Rinse the spot in cold water
Hold the sprayed area under cold running water, working from the back of the fabric so the spray moves out instead of deeper in. The cold rinse dilutes the oily spray so the detergent can reach it.
Tip. Aim the water at the spot from a short distance so the spray doesn't spread.
Step 2 of 75 minutes
Cover the spot with liquid detergent
Pour liquid laundry detergent onto the sprayed area and cover it completely. Let it set for 5 minutes so it can dissolve the oils before the wash.
Tip. Work the detergent in gently with your fingers so it reaches the fibers.
Careful. Bar soap sets many stains, so use liquid detergent only.
Step 3 of 7
Mix the optional peroxide boost
For a stronger treatment, mix 1 quart fresh 3% hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup baking soda and 1 to 2 teaspoons liquid dish soap in an open container. Use the mix right away, while it is still fresh.
Careful. Don't pour the mix straight onto the fabric; it may discolor it.
Step 4 of 7
Wash on the hottest allowed setting
Put the clothes in the washer and add the boost during the wash cycle so it is diluted as it runs. Set the water to the hottest temperature the care label allows.
Tip. If the care label is missing, don't guess: wash in cool water without the boost and check the item before using anything stronger.
Careful. Don't over-soak or exceed the recommended amounts; misuse can leave yellow stains that can't be removed.
Step 5 of 7
Wash the items a second time
Run a second full wash at the same temperature the care label allows. Only move on to drying once this wash has finished.
Tip. Give the items a sniff while they are still damp; if the smell is there, wash again rather than drying.
Step 6 of 7
Hang the items to dry outside
Hang everything to dry, preferably outdoors in fresh air. Check the smell once the items are fully dry, before you bring them back inside.
Tip. Choose a shady, breezy spot so the items dry evenly.
Step 7 of 7
Use bleach only if odor remains
If the odor is still there after the washes and drying, white, bleach-safe cotton or linen can take household chlorine bleach in its own wash. Rinse everything out first, test a hidden area, and follow the care label before you start.
Tip. Keep bleach away from any colored items in the same load.
Careful. Never use bleach at full strength; dilute it first, since undiluted bleach can weaken fabric so it tears sooner.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for skunk spray
A commercial skunk odor product works best as an extra step after the detergent wash, not in place of it. Follow its label, and test a hidden spot before you use it.
OdoBan Odor Eliminator & Disinfectant Concentrate
Clorox 2 Laundry Stain Remover and Color Booster Powder, 49.2 Ounces
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on this fabric, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light before using any heat. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
See what to do for what you're seeing →A smell that keeps coming back needs the longer treatment.
If the smell lingers →When to call a professional →Pick what it is on
Skunk Spray on every material
No match. Try the main search for anything else.
How to tell it's working
A weaker smell after the first wash, and a neutral smell once the items are dry outdoors, means the steps are working. If the smell is still there after both washes, wash again instead of drying.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your fabric
Whites and white shirts
White, bleach-safe cotton and linen can take the full sequence, including the bleach step if the odor stays. This is the only card where the bleach step applies, and it still needs to be diluted and run in its own wash.
Keep the bleach away from anything with color, even a small trim or print, and never use it on wool or silk. Everything else in the steps stays the same.
Colors and denim
Colored fabric and denim can't take the chlorine bleach step, so skip it completely. The cold rinse, detergent, hottest allowed wash and outdoor drying still apply.
Use the peroxide boost only on colors that are colorfast, and test a hidden seam first to find out. If the color bleeds in that test, leave the boost out and rely on the detergent washes.
Silk, wool and delicates
Wool, silk and other delicates can't take chlorine bleach, hot water or enzyme detergent, and the peroxide boost is out too, since oxygen treatments are not allowed. Use a mild liquid detergent without enzymes, and rinse in cool water instead.
Don't rub a stain on silk or wool, since rubbing damages silk and agitation makes wool felt and shrink. Press the water out gently in a towel, then hang the item to dry away from heat, and skip the iron.
Dry-clean-only items
Skip the washing steps completely for anything labeled dry-clean-only, including the boost and the bleach. Air the item outdoors in fresh air and take it to a dry cleaner, telling them it's skunk spray.
Don't use oxygen cleaners or bleach on it, since those products are for washable fabric. Hang it outside while you wait, and don't try a stronger product on it at home.
If the smell lingers
For spray that has soaked in and gone old, run the peroxide boost wash again, using the same amounts and temperature as before. Count on the second wash from the start rather than treating it as a backup.
If the items have already dried with the smell still there, wash them again rather than drying them a second time. Let them air out outdoors between washes, since time and fresh air both help.
Odor that comes back in humid weather is normal, and it fades again as time passes. If it grows stronger over a week or two, the skunk may have resprayed or died nearby, so check the area before washing again.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on skunk spray?
Many home remedies float around for skunk smell, and most of them don't touch the oils. Liquid detergent and a wash on the hottest setting the label allows do the real work.
Works3Skip2Avoid1
Chemical safety
Never mix these
Some products in this guide react dangerously with each other. Use them one at a time and rinse with water in between.
Chlorine bleach + Hydrogen peroxide (3%)
Washington State's health department says bleach reacts with hydrogen peroxide, and Clorox says not to mix bleach with other household chemicals.
If they mix by accident: Don't use the mixture; ventilate the room and avoid breathing fumes or touching it; call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for disposal advice or if anyone feels unwell.
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't rely on tomato juice
Tomato juice is ineffective on skunk odor. It only masks the smell while your nose is overwhelmed, and the spray is still in the fabric.
Don't store the peroxide mix
Mix the peroxide boost fresh in an open container and use it right away. A sealed container may burst, so never keep any leftover mix closed.
Don't mix bleach with other products
Chlorine bleach must never be combined with the peroxide mix, ammonia, vinegar or other cleaners. Keep it for its own wash, and only after everything else has been rinsed out.
Don't put the items in the dryer
Keep the items out of the dryer until the odor is completely gone. Check them after they air dry outdoors, and only then decide whether they're done.
Don't mix deodorants with other chemicals
Do not mix a deodorant with other chemicals unless its label permits it. Stick to the steps above, and read the label of any product you add before you use it.
Troubleshooting
If the stain is still there
Pick what you're seeing:
The smell is still there after the first wash.
Wash the load a second time on the hottest temperature the care label allows, then hang it outdoors. Two washes are needed, so the second one isn't optional.
You want the peroxide boost but worry about discoloration.
Do not pour it on the garment. Mix 1 quart fresh 3% hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup baking soda and 1-2 teaspoons liquid dish soap in an open container, use it right away, and add it to the washer during the wash cycle. Test a hidden spot first.
The smell comes back on humid days.
That is expected and does not mean the wash failed. If it grows stronger over a week or two instead of fading, the skunk may have resprayed or died nearby.
White cotton still smells faintly.
If the fabric is bleach-safe white cotton or linen, household chlorine bleach is one listed option. Use it in its own wash, and never mix it with the peroxide mixture or other cleaners. Test a hidden area first and check the care label.
When to call a professional
If the smell survives both washes and outdoor drying, or the item is dry-clean-only, a dry cleaner is the next step. Tell them it's skunk spray so they can choose the right treatment.
Questions
How do I get skunk smell out of a couch, mattress or bedding?
Washable bedding and removable covers can go through the washing steps, using the detergent, the peroxide boost and a second wash. Upholstery and mattresses can't go in the washer, so air them out outdoors in fresh air and let time work on the smell. The odor fades over time when the item isn't re-exposed to skunk.
Can you get skunk smell out of leather or a leather collar?
Leather is off-limits for chlorine bleach and oxygen cleaners, and the washing steps here aren't made for it. Air leather items outdoors in fresh air and let the odor fade, and run a fabric collar through the washing steps instead.
Does skunk spray stain clothes?
Yes, it can. Skunk spray is a yellow-tinted oil, so it can leave a yellowish mark on fabric along with the smell. Treat it as soon as you can with the steps above.
How do you get skunk spray off painted surfaces?
Start with soap and water, since soap dissolves the oils, and rinse the spot before trying anything stronger. Keep oxygen cleaners off painted surfaces, and don't use bleach on paint, since bleach can stain. Test any product on a hidden spot first.
How do you get skunk smell out of a garage or wood floors?
Ventilate with fresh air and remove the source first. On wood or concrete, use 1 cup bleach per gallon of water on only the spot that was sprayed, and test a hidden area first, since bleach can stain the surface.
How do you get rid of skunk smell on a porch or tires?
Rinse the porch or tires with cold water to dilute the spray, then wash the area with soap and water, since soap dissolves the oils. Keep bleach off the surface unless you have tested a hidden spot first. If the spray got inside a car, the Car Seats guide covers that surface.
How do you get skunk smell out of shoes?
Shoes that can't be washed or dry-cleaned should be aired out outdoors in fresh air, since the odor fades over time when it isn't re-exposed. If the shoe can get wet, wipe the spray off with soap and water first, then let it dry outside.
Do store-bought skunk odor products work?
A store-bought one is optional, since liquid detergent and a cold rinse do most of the work. If you do use one, follow its label and test it on a hidden area first.
Odor guides
Still smells?
Related
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.