First steps
Start here
- Get into fresh air and ventilate the area.
- Wash the sprayed spot with soap or detergent and water as soon as possible.
- Plain water can't lift the oils, so clean the spot soon rather than waiting.
Skunk spray on siding is an oily, yellow-tinted liquid, so plain water does little on its own. Soap and water are what break the oil down, which is why a gentle detergent wash comes before anything stronger. Vinyl, wood and fiber cement don't all handle the same way, so the material decides how much scrubbing and cleaner you can use.
Keep rinsing as you go so the wash water doesn't dry on the surface and leave a film. If you're trying to remove a skunk stain from vinyl siding, use a soft brush and let the soap do most of the work. When an odor hangs on after the wash, an odor eliminator is the thing to reach for.
Before you start
What siding, roof & exterior can take
Safe to use2
- Water
- Oxygen bleach
Use with care5
- Soaking
- Chlorine bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
7 items
What you'll need
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- Garden hoseRinses the spray loose before and after the wash.
- Mild dish detergentDissolves the skunk oils when mixed with water. (opens Amazon)
- Soft brush or clothScrubs vinyl and fiber cement without damaging the finish. (opens Amazon)
- Stiff synthetic-bristle brushScrubs wood along the grain. (opens Amazon)
- Oxygen-bleach cleanerTreats mildew or organic growth on wood or vinyl. (opens Amazon)
- Mildew-specific cleanerThe right choice for mildew on fiber cement.
- Plastic drop clothProtects nearby plants from the cleaning. (opens Amazon)
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Ventilate and clear the area
Get out of the spray zone and into fresh air before you start. Ventilate the area around the wall, then work upwind so the smell stays behind you.
Step 2 of 6
Sweep debris and protect plants
Sweep away leaves and debris from the base of the siding. Cover nearby plants with a plastic drop cloth, then spray them with water to dilute any overspray.
Step 3 of 6
Test on a hidden spot first
Try your cleaner, and any pressure washer setting, on a small area nobody will see, like behind a downspout or under a ledge. Check it once it dries to make sure the siding looks the same.
Careful. Skipping this test means finding out about damage after it's done.
Step 4 of 6
Rinse, then wash with detergent
Rinse the siding with a garden hose first to loosen the spray. Mix mild dish detergent into water, then scrub with a soft brush, working one section at a time.
Tip. Keep the hose close so you can rinse each section right after scrubbing.
Step 5 of 6About 15 minutes
Treat mildew with oxygen cleaner
If the spots look like mildew or organic growth, apply an oxygen-bleach cleaner in sections on wood or vinyl siding. Keep it wet for the label's dwell time, about 15 minutes, then scrub gently and move to the next section.
Tip. Mist the patch with a hose if it starts to dry before the time is up.
Step 6 of 6
Rinse everything off completely
Rinse the whole area thoroughly with the hose, working from the top down so the runoff carries everything away. Check for soap film or streaks, and rinse again wherever you see them.
Careful. Never let the cleaner or soap dry on the siding.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for skunk spray on siding, roof & exterior
Look for an oxygen-bleach cleaner labeled for siding or decks, and follow its dwell time. For fiber cement, choose a mildew-specific cleaner instead.
Nature’s Miracle Dog Stain & Odor Remover, Enzymatic Cleaner, 32 oz
Nature’s Miracle Advanced Dog Stain & Odor Eliminator, Severe Mess
Armor All Fresh FX Rapid Odor Eliminator
OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover Powder
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on siding, roof & exterior, 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. 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.
A smell that keeps coming back needs the longer treatment.
If the smell lingers →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
The smell fades as the oils wash away, so check by smell once the siding has dried. Expect it to ease with time and fresh air rather than vanish the moment you finish.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your siding, roof & exterior
Vinyl siding
Vinyl can't take several common cleaners, so check before you reach for one. Skip organic-solvent cleaners, undiluted chlorine bleach, liquid grease remover, nail polish remover and furniture polish.
Never aim a pressure washer upward at vinyl, and keep to the hose and brush for the everyday wash. For mildew, the oxygen-bleach cleaner is the only step beyond soap, applied per its label.
Wood siding
Wood can take a stiff synthetic-bristle brush, used along the grain. If you use a pressure washer, choose the lowest pressure that cleans, a fan tip, and spray with the grain.
For reddish-brown tannin bleed or rust streaks from nails, use an oxalic-acid wood brightener per its label. It also neutralizes oxygen cleaners, so rinse the oxygen cleaner off fully first.
Weathered, grayed wood
Commercial deck cleaners, brighteners or restorers remove mildew and dirt so the wood's own color shows. If all the natural color has leached out, the wood stays silver when dry, and those fibers should be left in place.
Old stain or sealer comes off with a stain and sealer remover. Neutralize it with a brightener, then lightly sand once dry.
Fiber cement siding
Use a soft brush or cloth, since hard metal brushes and abrasive sponges can damage the finish. For mildew, use a mildew-specific cleaner instead of the oxygen-bleach cleaner.
Keep a high-pressure power washer away from it. Never use bleach on it, since it can damage the surface and finish. Acid is off limits too, so stick to the hose and soft cloth.
If the smell lingers
Spray that has sat on the siding for days is harder to remove, because the oils have had more time to cling. Give the spot a second wash with mild dish detergent in water and a soft brush instead of trying anything stronger.
If the spot has dried, rewet it with the hose before you scrub so the soap can loosen the oils again. For mildew, the oxygen-bleach cleaner kept wet for about 15 minutes is the next step up.
A faint smell that returns in humid weather is normal, and it should keep easing over time. If it gets stronger over a week or two, a skunk may have sprayed again or died nearby, so check the area.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on skunk spray on siding, roof & exterior?
Plenty of home remedies get suggested for skunk spray, but most don't belong on siding. Most of these don't belong on siding, so a hose rinse and mild dish detergent do the job.
Works2Skip4
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't mix bleach with ammonia
Bleach mixed with ammonia, or with a detergent containing ammonia, forms a toxic gas. Keep each product in its own step and rinse the first one away before you use the next.
Don't use steel wool or wire brushes
Leftover iron from steel wool or wire reacts with the natural extractives in wood and leaves stains. A stiff synthetic-bristle brush is the safe choice on wood.
Don't power wash soft wood like redcedar
Power washing and caustic cleaners remove wood from the surface of soft woods like western redcedar. Use the hose and a soft brush on those boards instead.
When to call a professional
Pressure washing can damage siding in the wrong hands, so if you're unsure about the setting, a professional can handle that part. If the boards are cracked or the finish is failing, get an assessment before you scrub any harder.
Questions
Does skunk spray stain vinyl siding?
It can leave an oily film and a strong smell on vinyl, and it gets harder to clean the longer it sits. Wash it off soon with mild dish detergent in water and a soft brush.
Will the skunk smell go away on its own?
It usually fades with time and fresh air, but it won't vanish the moment you finish washing. Odor that returns in humid weather is normal. If it grows stronger over a week or two, a skunk may have sprayed again or died nearby.
Does tomato juice help?
No. Tomato juice is ineffective against skunk spray.
It only masks the smell while your nose is overwhelmed, so the spray is still on the siding. Wash the spot with mild dish detergent in water instead.
Can I use chlorine bleach on skunk spray on siding?
Leave it out. Vinyl can't take undiluted chlorine bleach, and the detergent wash handles the oils without it. For mildew, the oxygen-bleach cleaner covers the job instead.
Should I pressure wash skunk spray off siding?
Start with the hose and brush, since they handle most spray. A pressure washer only belongs on wood, at the lowest setting that cleans.
Is the cleaning different for wood and fiber cement?
Yes. Wood takes a stiff synthetic-bristle brush along the grain, while fiber cement takes a soft brush or cloth and a mildew-specific cleaner.
What about skunk spray on a car seat or carpet?
Those need their own method, because spray soaks into fabric and cushions in a way it doesn't on siding. Follow the Car Seats, Carpet & Rugs guide for those surfaces.
Skunk Spray on other materials
Other stains on siding, roof & exterior
Start from the bigger picture
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.