Dog Sprayed by a Skunk? How to Clean the House, Car and Fabrics

When a dog gets sprayed by a skunk, the dog is only the start of the problem. It runs inside, shakes off on the sofa, lies on its bed, rides home in the car, and within minutes the smell is in your fabrics, floors and air. This guide covers cleaning up the house, laundry, furniture and car after a skunk encounter, and what does and does not work on the smell.

It follows the skunk odor guide from University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension and the advice of Humane World for Animals. It is about cleaning your home, not about your dog’s health: if your dog was sprayed in the face, keeps rubbing its eyes or seems unwell, call your veterinarian.

Why skunk smell is so hard to get rid of

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension describes skunk spray as a yellow-tinted, oily liquid that can permeate clothing and the environment for many days. Most of its ingredients are sulfur-containing thiols, and people can smell them at concentrations as low as 10 parts per billion. Because the spray is oily, plain water just moves it around. It has to be washed off with soap or changed chemically.

First: keep the dog out of the house

Keep your dog outside or in one easy-to-clean room, such as a garage or a tiled bathroom, until it has been washed.
Wear rubber gloves and old clothes while you handle the dog and anything it touched.
Open the windows and run fans. UNL Extension lists ventilating the area with fresh air as one of the first steps.
Close doors to rooms the dog has not been in.

Washing the dog: follow Humane World’s recipe

Humane World for Animals gives a remedy it describes as safe for dogs and cats as well as humans: mix 1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of liquid dishwashing soap, and, wearing rubber gloves, wash with it straight after the spraying. Do not get the solution in the eyes. Humane World also warns not to store the mixture or make it ahead of time, because it could explode. UNL Extension gives the same caution: mix it in an open container, use it immediately and never keep it in a closed container.

Follow the full instructions on the Humane World page, and ask your veterinarian first if your dog has skin problems or you are unsure.

Clothes, towels and dog bedding

UNL Extension’s laundry advice:

Use laundry detergent. Soap and water dissolve the oils in skunk spray.
Do not pour the peroxide mixture directly on clothing, as it may discolor the fabric. If you use it, add it to the wash during the wash cycle so it is diluted.
Wash the items a second time, then hang them to dry, preferably outdoors. Do not put them in the clothes dryer.
Bleach or other cleaning fluids can also be used on fabrics, but in separate steps, never together, and only after testing on a hidden part of the fabric.
Follow the care label for each item.
Items you cannot wash or dry-clean, such as shoes, can be hung outdoors so fresh air carries the smell away over time.

For dog beds, follow the label and see our dog bed cleaning guide. If your washer smells afterwards, see pet hair and odor in the washing machine and dryer.

Sofas, rugs and other upholstery

Blot, do not rub, any spot where the dog lay or rubbed itself.
Remove and wash covers if the care label allows it, following the laundry steps above.
Clean the fabric with a cleaner that suits its cleaning code. Soap and water help dissolve the oily spray on water-safe fabrics. Our guide to pet stains on upholstery and couches explains the W, S, WS and X codes.
Test anything stronger on a hidden area first. UNL Extension warns that some products may discolor fabrics and other materials.
Air the room well and let everything dry completely.

Floors and hard surfaces

Wash floors, walls, door frames and crates the dog rubbed against with warm water and a cleaner suited to the surface. Mild soap helps cut the oil.
For wood or concrete outdoors, where the skunk actually sprayed, UNL Extension suggests one cup of bleach in one gallon of water, used only on the sprayed spot, and warns that bleach may stain surfaces.
Porous materials such as drywall, concrete and unpainted wood may need several treatments, according to UNL Extension, and sometimes removing the contaminated material is the only solution.

The car

Air the car out with all doors open, in the sun if you can.
Take out and wash seat covers, blankets and any crate pad, following the laundry steps above.
Clean the seats and carpet with a cleaner suitable for car upholstery, blotting rather than soaking, and wipe leather or vinyl with a product made for it. Check your owner’s manual.
See our guides to cleaning a pet accident in the car and removing pet hair from a car for seat cleaning steps.

The air

Fresh air and time do most of the work. UNL Extension lists ventilating, washing the source and using air fresheners to mask the residual smell in the air. It also notes that skunk odor may come back in high humidity, so a faint smell on a damp day does not always mean you missed a spot. If the smell does not fade in a week or two, a skunk may have sprayed again or died nearby.

What does not work

Tomato juice. UNL Extension says tomato juice is ineffective in neutralizing skunk odor. It only seems to work because your nose has stopped noticing the skunk smell and picks up the tomato instead.
Ozone generators and ionizers. UNL Extension lists both as techniques to avoid, citing questions about the safety and effectiveness of ozone generators.
Mixing products. Never mix deodorants or cleaners unless the label says you can. Never mix bleach with ammonia or acids.
The clothes dryer for anything that still smells. UNL Extension says to hang it dry instead.

Keep pets and people safe while you clean

UNL Extension advises special care to avoid exposing children, pets and plants to cleaning chemicals, using deodorants in ventilated areas and following every product label. Keep your dog away from wet, freshly treated surfaces and store cleaners out of reach.

Keep cleanup supplies ready

Our Pet Cleanup Kit is made for urine, vomit and other pet messes, not skunk spray, but its gloves and absorbent powder are useful for the cleanup. For lingering everyday pet smells once the skunk odor is gone, see how to get rid of dog smell in the house.

Frequently asked questions

How long does skunk smell last in a house?

UNL Extension says odor from skunks can last several weeks and typically declines over that time. Washing the sources and airing the house speeds it up. It may seem to come back in humid weather.

Does tomato juice get rid of skunk smell?

No. UNL Extension says tomato juice is ineffective in neutralizing skunk odor; it only masks it while your nose is overwhelmed.

How do I get skunk smell out of clothes?

Wash them with laundry detergent, wash them a second time, and hang them to dry, preferably outdoors, as UNL Extension advises. Do not put them in the dryer, and do not pour the peroxide mixture straight onto the fabric.

Can I store the peroxide and baking soda mixture?

No. Both Humane World and UNL Extension warn that it must be mixed fresh in an open container and used immediately, because a closed container could explode.

Sources

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Skunk odor (NebGuide)
Humane World for Animals: What to do about skunks

This guide is general cleaning information. Follow the product labels and care labels, test cleaners on a hidden area first, and ask your veterinarian about your dog’s health.