How to Get Skunk Smell Out of Clothes

It might happen to any of us. You take your trusted four-legged friend out for a walk, and then it suddenly encounters a skunk. The skunk and the dog get into a skirmish and before you know it, the dog, as well as the skunk, get on the attack. The dog barks and the skunk unleash a fury of a not-so-great odor. The dog gets away and returns to you. The dog is super excited to see you and jumps on you immediately. You notice a smell and fear the worst.

If you have skunks on your property and want to have them removed quickly and ethically, contact the technicians from Skunk Control right away!

The skunk smell goes on your clothes and won’t come out no matter what you do. So you probably wonder how to get the skunk smell out of the clothes? Before getting to the solution, it is important to understand what the skunk smell is. The skunk smell comes from the skunk spray which is secreted from glands located under the skunk’s anus. As this gets secreted the skunk spray latches on every possible surface.

Laundry for skunks
Washing your clothes with several products can help a great deal with getting rid of the skunk smell!

This is because the skunk spray is actually an oil. The oil is made out of chemical compounds such as N-Butyl mercaptan it is a compound that is primarily made out of sulfur which is responsible for the very strong and lingering odor that is so characteristic of skunk spray. 

Skunk spray can be dispersed in mainly two ways. Through a cloud that covers more ground or through a direct aim which is meant just for one predator. They can direct their aim as far as 6 feet!

So, finally, how to get them out of your clothes?

  1. It is a very common household solution to soak your clothes in tomato juice. Yes, this may seem strange, but it does a good job of masking the smell. The downside is that stains may even be left on the clothes. Depending on the value of the clothes, you might want to rethink this method.
  2. Washing your clothes in very hot water will do the trick. Make sure to use the strongest detergent available. Do not dry the clothes in the dryer, but let them soak enough natural sunlight. In case the sun is out of service, it will not hurt to dry them outside as fresh air will also take care of the scent.
  3. White vinegar and water. Mix white vinegar and water. 4 parts of water and one part vinegar and let it soak for a couple of hours. Then wash it off using a washing machine and dry it off using a dryer.

A skunk encounter is never pleasant unless you admire them from a safe distance. They really are cute critters. If you have a skunk on your property and want to get rid of it, contact Skunk Control for professional help done by licensed and certified technicians! Call our customer service representatives for a free consultation and to book your next appointment!