Asked on Jul 06, 2013

HELP! How to get rid of skunk smell?!

Tomorrow we're having 20 people over for a party, and wouldn't you know a SKUNK sprayed the side of our home! So now our garage and the rest of our house smells like skunk. ;-( I know how to remove the scent from a dog, but how would I neutralize it in my home? And QUICKLY? Thanks so much!
  16 answers
  • Patricia Cleveland Patricia Cleveland on Jul 06, 2013
    what works for pets is two regular bottles of hydrogen perox and a small box of baking soda mixed with about a teaspoon of dish soap-don't know how it works on siding etc.
  • Carrie MakingLemonade Carrie MakingLemonade on Jul 06, 2013
    Thanks, Patricia! I'm so desperate to get rid of the smell I just might try that. It's all throughout the downstairs now, too-- thanks to the 90+ degree weather, it's not going anywhere. I'm thinking about setting out pans of baking soda overnight and if it's still really bad, lots of candles and such!
  • Carrie MakingLemonade Carrie MakingLemonade on Jul 06, 2013
    I'm not sure exactly where it sprayed, otherwise I'd totally wash it down with hydrogen peroxide. That's a great suggestion.
  • Connie R Connie R on Jul 06, 2013
    Pinesol. We live on a ranch and have a alot of skunks. When someone or something gets sprayed I get out the Pinesol. You need to use the original scent. It takes the smell out of clothes also. Put it in a spray bottle.
    • Diana Latella Diana Latella on Mar 07, 2018

      Do you use straight pine-sol out of bottle or do you dilute in water? If so, what is the ratio? Thanks

  • Carrie MakingLemonade Carrie MakingLemonade on Jul 07, 2013
    Thank you, Connie R! Right now I've used Febreze on the whole house, but if I find where the skunk sprayed I'll use Pinesol. That's a great tip.
  • Therese C Therese C on Jul 08, 2013
    Don't worry about finding exactly where it sprayed Carrie. Just put a pesticide sprayer tank on your garden hose and fill it with Pine-sol, then spray down that entire side of the house. It will only take a short time and the smell will be gone.
  • Terri S Terri S on Jul 08, 2013
    any hints on how to keep skunks away? We've noticed one in our backyard several times recently, and we live in a small subdivision. Very unusual for one here.
  • Therese C Therese C on Jul 08, 2013
    As much as I hate the smell, moth balls are very good for keeping stray animals away. Cayenne Pepper under shrubs works well too.
  • April E April E on Jul 08, 2013
    I always use a orange oil based product (my dogs think skunks are play toys I deal with this at least once a year) in a pressure sprayer and spray the house the patios and the ground around the area and as my dogs are not allergic to orange oil I dip them too (this happens 2-3 times a year sigh) and instantly the smell is gone the brand I use is TKO it is available online I will look up the link and post in a bit and in many garden centers its pricy but is a consintrate and goes a long way 1 T per gallon and is safe on plants and pets that are not allergic (always spot test a critter to check for allergies some dogs it can really hurt most its just fine)
  • April E April E on Jul 08, 2013
    http://www.tkoorange.com/ this is where u can get tko
  • Carrie MakingLemonade Carrie MakingLemonade on Jul 08, 2013
    Terri S., I did find this online. There's a skunk repellent that I might try. Though it's made from fox urine, ugh, not sure which smell is worse! Here's the article: http://www.squidoo.com/howtokeepskunksaway
  • Carrie MakingLemonade Carrie MakingLemonade on Jul 08, 2013
    April, THANK YOU, Orange Oil sounds WAY more appealing than the fox urine they're selling online! I appreciate this!
  • Terri S Terri S on Jul 09, 2013
    thanks for the ideas. We have a stockade fenced yard and we checked and cannot find how it's getting in, but we double checked and added a little more dirt around so maybe I won't need these ideas. Might help with the rabbits who eat my flowers too!
    • DORLIS DORLIS on Aug 10, 2015
      @Terri S Maybe instead of dirt at the base of the fence, dig down about 6" or more and put down old shingles and cover with dirt. Make sure the shingles extend above the soil line. A friend has chickens and racoons were getting in. He did this and it kept them out. When they get to the shingles, they think they it is solid and give up. He also added a second fence about 16" out from the first because they would reach in and grab baby chicks and then mangle them trying to pull them through the fence. 16" is longer than their arms so they can't reach the chickens.
  • Lai2028314 Lai2028314 on Aug 02, 2015
    When our dog kept forgetting to stay away from skunks, I finally found a way to calm the odor down. Try scented shampoo mixed in some warm water.
  • Janetcooke Janetcooke on Mar 15, 2017

    A mixture of16 oz. hydrogen peroxide, large box of baking soda, and 3 Tablespoons of Dawn dish detergent to form a paste. Rub on dog and let sit a couple of minutes. Rinse dog well. Use gloves. It helps to have someone whose sense of smell is weak or missing.

  • Mar16513585 Mar16513585 on Mar 19, 2017

    I"be always heard that tomato juice was the neutralizer for skunk smell.