How to get rid of skunk smell on humans tomato juice

Have you ever been sprayed by a skunk or had your dog get into a fight with a skunk? Stories abound about how to control and prevent skunks and the concoctions for getting rid of their odor range from tomato juice to beer to liquid detergent. What really works for skunk smell?

Myths vs. Facts

Popular myth says tomato juice will get rid of skunk spray. Unfortunately, it doesn't really work. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, tomato juice seems to work because at high doses of skunk spray the human nose quits smelling the odor (olfactory fatigue). When this happens, the odor of tomato juice can easily be detected. Essentially, a person experiencing this fatigue will think the skunk odor was neutralized by the juice, but the truth is as soon as the smell of the tomato juice is gone - or one leaves the room - the skunk odor will return.

Instead, try this home remedy developed by Paul Krebaum and published in Chemical & Engineering News back in 1993:

  • 1 quart 3% hydrogen peroxide
  • 1/4 cup baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon liquid detergent

Mix in a large, open container and use immediately. According to the Statewide IPM Program, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California, it can be safely used on people, pets, clothing, and furniture.

Warning

The mix cannot be covered or stored because it can explode a closed container. To get rid of the leftover solution, dilute it heavily with water, and pour down the drain.

The Spruce / Almar Creative

Retail Products

One recommendation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture is to use over-the-counter products that contain neutroleum alpha to get rid of skunk smells on pets. These products are available at many pet stores.

De-skunking Tips

  • Try to remove the smell from people, pets, and items as quickly and thoroughly as possible. The longer the odor is on anything, the more difficult it will be to remove.
  • If you can, work outside so you don't bring the smell into the house or get the oil on the carpet, furniture or other household items.
  • Shower thoroughly with hot water after using any de-skunking solution.
  • If clothing or other items have been heavily sprayed by the skunk, you may want to simply discard them, as the fabric can hold skunk odor for a very long time.

The Spruce / Almar Creative

Indoors

If people or pets come into the house before being de-skunked, you may find that the smell lingers in the air. To get rid of it, boil vinegar in a pan. The home will now smell like vinegar, but once that smell is gone, the skunk odor should also be gone.

Cleaning Buildings and Decks

To get skunk smells out of buildings, wooden decks and porches, etc., mix 1 cup of liquid bleach in a gallon of water. Be careful because it can bleach surfaces. Try it on a small spot first, if there is concern about discoloration.

The Spruce / Almar Creative

The Final Word

It is unlikely that any solution will completely eliminate the smell the first time. It may take several times or a length of time for the smell to completely dissipate.

Life Science

-asks Travis Harr-Connole from Loveland, CO.

July 26, 2006

How to get rid of skunk smell on humans tomato juice

This stinker fears no fruit. [CREDIT:SIR FROG]

Nothing is quite as jarring as the smell of a skunk, especially if you’re the one who’s been sprayed. But contrary to folklore, bathing in tomato sauce or juice won’t wash away the stench.

Tomato juice simply masks the skunk smell. It does not eliminate it. People are very sensitive to the sulfur compounds in skunk spray, called thiols, and we can detect them at very low concentrations (10 parts per billion). Anyone who is sprayed by a skunk eventually gets used to the smell because of olfactory fatigue, which is when your nose is bombarded with a scent for so long that it stops detecting it.

If you are sprayed, a shower is your best first defense. If your pet was sprayed, a better solution is to mix a quart of three percent hydrogen peroxide with a quarter cup of baking soda and a teaspoon or two of liquid detergent, according William Wood, a chemistry professor at Humboldt State University. This will neutralize the smell, Wood says, which is much better than masking it. Don’t store this magic potion, however, because the oxygen buildup could blow off the top of the container, and it could also bleach your dog’s fur.

In days gone by, people believed that tomato juice could neutralize skunk stink. But since then, chemists have found that in order to deodorize you or your dog, you must change the chemical composition of the malodorous compound.

Skunk spray, which is also known as skunk musk, can be harmful to an animal or person at high concentrations. People who are sprayed may experience burning eyes or nausea.

If you weren’t sprayed, but find that after washing a sprayed pet, the clothes you wore absorbed some of the smell, a regular wash with a dash of ammonia should get rid of any lingering odors. Until, that is, your dog pursues his curiosity again. Maybe you should remind him of what killed the cat.

——

Got a question for us? ASK!

Does tomato juice remove skunk smell?

A popular myth is that bathing an animal in tomato juice will eliminate or neutralize skunk odor – it does not.

How long do you soak in tomato juice for skunk?

Dry him off, then cover him in tomato juice, saturating the coat completely. Let the juice soak for 10 to 20 minutes before rinsing it out.

What neutralizes skunk smell?

Chemist Paul Krebaum discovered a solution that changes the odorous thiols into odorless acids, thereby chemically neutralizing the skunk odor. The formula is: 1 quart of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide (fresh bottle), • ¼ cup of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), and • 1-2 teaspoons of liquid dish soap.

How long does skunk smell last on skin?

The smell from skunk spray can linger for two to three weeks, so if you're the unfortunate recipient you need to act fast. Skunk spray is pungent, oily and hard to remove. The longer you wait, the more difficult it is to neutralize.