How to Get Rid of Skunk Spray (Pet or Outdoor)
Keep the peroxide formula away from the pet's eyes, nose, and mouth. If eyes were sprayed by the skunk, flush with plain water only.
Do not seal the mixture in a bottle. The reaction produces oxygen gas.
What You'll Need
- 1 quart
- 1/4 cup
- 1 tsp
- 1 pair
- 1 set
Step-by-Step Method
In a large open container (not a sealed bottle), mix 1 quart hydrogen peroxide (3%), 1/4 cup baking soda, and 1 tsp dish soap. Mix gently. Use immediately as the reaction loses potency quickly.
For pets: wearing gloves, work the solution into the fur, avoiding eyes, nose, and mouth. Let sit 5 minutes. For clothes or outdoor surfaces: apply generously and let sit 10 minutes.
Rinse the pet with lukewarm water. For clothes, rinse and wash normally. You may need to repeat the process 2-3 times for full odor removal.
Pour any remaining solution down the drain. Do not store it. It loses effectiveness within hours and the gas buildup makes it unsafe to bottle.
- NEVER store the mixture in a sealed container (gas buildup can cause it to burst)
- Do not use tomato juice (this is a myth that only masks the odor temporarily)
- Do not use this mixture on your own skin near eyes or mucous membranes
- Do not let hydrogen peroxide sit on dark-colored pet fur for more than 5 minutes (mild bleaching)
- This formula works because the hydrogen peroxide oxidizes the thiol compounds (sulfur-based molecules) in skunk spray that cause the smell. Baking soda catalyzes the reaction. Dish soap breaks down the oily carrier.
- Tomato juice does NOT work. It causes olfactory fatigue (your nose gets used to the tomato smell and you stop smelling the skunk). The skunk smell is still there.
- If you cannot get supplies immediately, plain dish soap and water removes some of the oily carrier but does not neutralize the thiol compounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Tomato juice is a persistent myth. What actually happens is olfactory fatigue: the strong tomato smell overwhelms your nose so you temporarily stop detecting the skunk odor. The skunk smell is still present and other people will notice it. The hydrogen peroxide formula is the only effective home remedy because it chemically converts the thiol compounds into odorless sulfonic acids.
Sources & Methodology
The hydrogen peroxide de-skunking formula was developed by chemist Paul Krebaum. Skunk spray contains thiol compounds (mercaptans) that are oxidized by hydrogen peroxide into odorless sulfonic acids. Published in Chemical & Engineering News.
Last reviewed: March 20, 2026