Of course it's annoying when we spill gasoline on clothes while refueling. Even if you think the lingering gasoline smell will never go away, there are actually a few tips and tricks to get rid of the smell. First, rinse the clothes and dry them in the sun. Wash clothes by hand before putting them in the washing machine in hot water. If the gasoline stain remains on the clothes, you can remove it with baby oil or dish soap. With a little effort, you can get rid of that unwanted gasoline smell on your clothes.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Cleaning Clothes Before Washing them in the Washing Machine
Step 1. Rinse the stained clothes with a hose
Take soiled clothes outdoors and flush them with water. Rinse off as much gasoline as possible. This is important, especially for clothes that are covered in a lot of gasoline because washing clothes that are exposed to gasoline using a washing machine is dangerous.
If you don't have a hose, you can rinse your clothes using tap water
Step 2. Dry the clothes for 24 hours
Find a place to hang clothes outside (eg a balcony or clothesline). Hang clothes and dry outside for 24 hours.
- Check the weather forecast. If rain is expected, wait until the weather clears before you clean the clothes.
- If you can't hang clothes outside, find a room with good ventilation. Dry the clothes in the room to dry.
Step 3. Clean the clothes first using a special hand soap ("mechanic" soap)
Before putting your clothes in the washing machine, use a special hand soap that you can buy from a hardware store or supermarket. Rub soap on oily or dirty areas before putting the clothes in the washing machine.
Look for soap products that contain lanolin as a base for best results
Part 2 of 3: Washing Clothes
Step 1. Wash clothes separately
Do not put other clothes in the washing machine with clothes that have been exposed to gasoline. Otherwise, gasoline odors and stains can stick to other clothes.
Step 2. Use the hottest water setting
Check the labels on clothes. To effectively deodorize gasoline, use the hottest water setting as indicated on the clothing label.
If you don't know the temperature limit that your garment can “tolerate”, search the internet for information on the type of clothing fabric and read the washing instructions for that type of fabric
Step 3. Add additional ammonia and detergent
You can buy ammonia at most supermarkets and hardware stores. Add 60 ml of ammonia and a little laundry detergent. Both of these materials can eliminate the smell of gasoline on clothes.
Step 4. Dry the clothes to dry
Do not put clothes in the dryer after washing. Hang clothes outdoors or on a clothesline. Since gasoline is flammable, it can be dangerous to put clothes that have gasoline on them in the dryer.
Part 3 of 3: Removing Sticky Gasoline Stains
Step 1. Neutralize stains and odors using ground coffee or baking soda
If the gasoline stain is on the clothes, sprinkle baking soda or ground coffee on the stained area. Both ingredients help neutralize the smell of gasoline. Let the coffee or baking soda sit for a few hours before you throw it away and rinse off the stain.
Step 2. Remove the stain using dish soap
Dishwashing soap formulated to remove grease can remove gasoline stains. Apply the soap on the stain until it lifts. After that, rinse the clothes and wash in the washing machine as usual.
Remember that you should always dry clothes that are exposed to gasoline by drying them in the sun
Step 3. Use baby oil
This product can lift gasoline stains. You can pour the oil directly on the stain and rub it in. If you want, put a patchwork soaked in baby oil in the washing machine, along with the gasoline-stained clothes.
Step 4. Take the clothes to a dry cleaning service provider
Unfortunately, sometimes the smell of gasoline lingers on clothes, even if you try to get rid of it. This can be frustrating, but a professional laundry service can usually help. If you are unable to remove the stain or gasoline smell on your clothes yourself, contact the nearest dry cleaning service provider. You can find information on this service from the internet. If the clothes are heavily soiled or damaged by gasoline, a dry cleaning service provider can help with the proper handling of the clothes.
Warning
- Do not mix bleach with ammonia before, during, or after using the washing machine because the mixture of these two materials produces toxic gases.
- Do not dry clothes in a tumble dryer to avoid the risk of fire.
