Splashing gasoline clothes when refueling at the gas station can be a problem. Perhaps you are convinced that you will never be able to get rid of the smell, but know that there are some tricks and remedies to do so. First, rinse your clothes with a garden hose and hang them to air dry; then proceed with a delicate hand wash before putting them in the washing machine with a very hot water cycle. If stains remain, you can treat them with baby oil or dish soap. With a little elbow grease, you can get the nasty gasoline out of your clothes.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Treatment Before Washing
Step 1. Rinse gasoline-soiled clothing using a garden hose
Take them outside and wet them to get rid of as much fuel as possible. This step is especially important with really impregnated garments, as it is very dangerous to put them directly in the washing machine.
If you don't have a garden hose, you can proceed under the sink faucet
Step 2. Wait for them to air dry for 24 hours
Find a place to hang your clothes outside, on a drying rack or line, and wait 24 hours.
- Check the weather forecast; if there is a risk of rain, wait until conditions improve before treating the fabrics.
- If it is absolutely impossible for you to hang them outside, choose a well-ventilated room in the house and wait until the clothes are dry.
Step 3. Scrub them with mechanic soap
Before putting them in the washing machine, pre-treat them with specific soap that mechanics use to wash their hands and that you can find in most hardware stores; foam any oily or greasy stains before transferring the clothes to the machine.
For best results choose a product that contains lanolin
Part 2 of 3: Washing
Step 1. Wash these clothes yourself
Do not put other laundry in the washing machine drum with gasoline-stained fabrics, otherwise the odor or greasy stains may transfer to all items.
Step 2. Set the wash cycle to the highest possible temperature
Read clothing labels and use the hottest water that fabrics can handle. this is the best way to get rid of the stench of fuel.
If the labels do not contain complete information, search online by typing the type of fiber the garments are made of
Step 3. Add extra ammonia and detergent
You can buy the first product in all supermarkets (about 60 ml is enough), and then pour a little more soap into the appliance tray; by doing so, you are more likely to get rid of bad smells.
Step 4. Hang your clothes to dry
Do not put them in the dryer after washing, but hang them out in the open air on a wire or a drying rack. Exposing gasoline-soiled fabrics to high temperatures in the dryer is very dangerous, as fuel is flammable.
Part 3 of 3: Eliminating Stubborn Stains
Step 1. Neutralize stains and odors using ground coffee or baking soda
If there are any spots left, they may smell; if so, before trying to wash them off, sprinkle them with baking soda or ground coffee. This simple remedy neutralizes odors; let the substance work for a few hours before brushing it off and washing the fabrics.
Step 2. Get rid of stains with dish soap
This product is formulated to dissolve grease and consequently is also useful on gasoline stains. Rub it gently on the fabrics until you have eliminated all traces of dirt; then rinse the clothes and wash them as usual in the washing machine.
Remember that clothing that has come into contact with fuel should always be hung out to air dry
Step 3. Give baby oil a try
This product is useful for lifting gasoline stains; pour it directly on the area and scrub. You can also put a rag soaked in this product in the washing machine along with the clothes to be treated.
Step 4. Take your clothes to a dry cleaner
Unfortunately in certain circumstances, despite all your efforts, the stench remains; although it is a frustrating situation, a professional can help. If you can't get rid of the dirt and odor, you can go to your neighborhood dry cleaner or find one online. If the fabrics have become severely soaked with gasoline or have been damaged, a professional who specializes in the field could fix the problem.
Warnings
- Do not use bleach in combination with ammonia immediately before, after or during washing, as this will develop a toxic gas.
- Do not put gasoline-soiled clothes in the dryer, as there is a high risk of fire.
