this post was submitted on 15 Aug 2026
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Mildly Interesting

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My dog got spayed by a skunk like an hour or so ago.

I looked up recipes for cleaning skunk smell...first one that came up was 1qt peroxide to 1/4c baking soda and a tsp or two of soap.

I made up this solution to clean him....and figured I could just soak his collar in the same stuff because it stank like skunk too.

This is the result. I imagine maybe some natural wild yeast absorbed into the collar?

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[–] becausechemistry@piefed.social 4 points 32 minutes ago

Hey, I’m a chemist, and you’re getting some bad info from others in this thread.

Hydrogen peroxide decays into oxygen (and water) by itself over time, and certain things can speed that process up. What you’re seeing is oxygen bubbles that have been trapped by the soap.

Oxygen isn’t itself flammable, so trying to light those bubbles probably won’t do anything. You’d need to add some sort of fuel to the bubbles. I’ve seen hydrogen gas bubbled through soapy water and lit, and that is definitely exciting.

The mixture you’ve made is sort of on the way towards sodium percarbonate. You could get that more directly with some oxiclean (or a generic alternative). Probably won’t bubble because the peroxide is sort of locked up as part of the percarbonate, but it’ll still do its oxidizing thing. Oxidizing the chemicals that are a part of skunk odor makes them no longer smell.

Don’t use oxiclean or its equivalents on pets. Your best bet there is soap, water, and time.

[–] crank0271@lemmy.world 9 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

My dog got spayed by a skunk

I really, really hope this was a typo. (No shade. I'm sure it has been a stressful evening!)

[–] JasonDJ@lemmy.zip 3 points 34 minutes ago* (last edited 34 minutes ago)
[–] ThePantser@sh.itjust.works 14 points 3 hours ago
[–] remotelove@lemmy.ca 5 points 3 hours ago* (last edited 3 hours ago) (1 children)

I would try and light it outside, but with a long stick (like a wooden skewer). There is a high chance that those are O2 bubbles, if you were trying to make some Sodium Percarbonate which is a common additive to laundry detergent anyway.. It's supposed to be equal parts mix, but I suspect the excess of hydrogen peroxide is intentional as to have the best chance to convert all the sodium bicarb and still have plenty of liquid to soak something in. (Just a guess. Chemistry can be a weird science sometimes and I think there were a few reactions that could of happened here.)

Consumer grade hydrogen peroxide is dirt cheap, and so is the baking soda. I dunno if you saved money and a made a more effective solution for what you are trying to accomplish. A spoonful or two of regular laundry detergent may have masked smells a little better. Dunno. I like science but I also like efficiency, so whatevers! (Experiments are fun.)

[–] lettruthout@lemmy.world 2 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

Please send video if you try to light it!

[–] BlueEther@no.lastname.nz 9 points 4 hours ago

probably just the peroxide acting on any 'organic dirt'

[–] nieceandtows@programming.dev 2 points 3 hours ago (2 children)

Curious, is the dog bothered by the smell, or is it just the humans?may be they're bothered far more considering their sniffers

[–] JasonDJ@lemmy.zip 1 points 35 minutes ago

He's dumb as a sack of bricks and he likes bad smells anyway.

He was more bothered by having to take a bath. This skunk was probably out snooping for an egg since a couple of my hens like to lay them in weird places.

I smelled skunk outside and called for him to run in but he just kept on looking at me like "dad, do I have to come in, I just made a new friend!"

[–] Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe 2 points 2 hours ago

My experience is dogs aren't bothered by the smell usually.

I mean every one I've had just loved to roll in dead fish...

[–] artwork@lemmy.world 3 points 4 hours ago