This one goes out for all the mechanics out there! Hey, what about the others? Okay, this article will most probably interest every person who owns an automobile. And what about people who sport motorcycles or, for example, gasoline-powered lawnmowers? Alright, this goes out for, well, just about everyone!
Now that we’ve realized our target audience is anyone who can read, it’s time to see what’s the subject for today. We’re going to talk about ways you can remove gasoline out from your clothes.
Firstly, remove the excess gasoline using paper towels. Afterward, pretreat the clothes by soaking them in a mix of vinegar and hot water. Next, you’ll put them in the washing machine. If the odor’s not gone after the wash, soak them in a mix of water and baking soda overnight. Lastly, dry the clothes in the open air.
You’ve got nothing to worry about! Removing gasoline stains from clothes is by all means doable! Read the text below to see why getting gasoline out of clothes isn’t a task that demands special powers.
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Does gasoline demand special attention?
Yes, it most certainly does. As you probably already know, gasoline is flammable. You don’t want to go full DIY here and figure out how to clean it using the usual trial & error tactic. For example, if you put gasoline-stained clothes in the dryer – you risk starting a fire.
Why would someone put gasoline-stained clothes in the dryer?
Let’s give you an example. Imagine person X washed their gasoline-stained clothes in the washing machine. Of course, person X just threw them inside the machine, without any “preparations”. After the machine has done its job, person X puts the soaked clothes in the dryer.
Little did person X know that the gasoline was not entirely washed out of his clothes. Person X didn’t know that just a regular wash isn’t enough. It’s hard to assume what happened later, but let’s hope person X didn’t burn down their home.
As you can see from the sad story of person X, this task requires you to ask for advice. That’s where we come into the picture.
Except for flammability, is there anything unusual about gasoline stains?
There are a few things that make gasoline stains the worst of ’em all. Here they are:
- Gasoline stains are oily. That means they can’t be washed the regular way.
- They have a certain smell (we’re all familiar with it). If your car smells like gas, visit this page.
- Washing gasoline-stained clothes with the rest of your wardrobe isn’t a good idea. The stain will most probably migrate to other pieces of clothing.
Now that we’ve got that covered, it’s time to see how to properly remove gasoline out of clothes. Towards the end of the article, we’ll also show you how to get rid of the infamous gasoline smell. Stay tuned!
How to get gasoline out of clothes?
Are you ready? Here’s how you’ll successfully remove gasoline from your clothes in a step-by-step tutorial.
Step #0: Obtain cleaning supplies
Okay, first let’s see the material and tools you’re going to need for this ordeal. Make sure you obtain these essentials:
- Water (well, of course).
- Stain remover stick, spray, or gel (choose your weapon).
- Liquid natural laundry detergent (you might even use dishwashing detergent).
Now, here are the materials that are optional:
- Baking soda.
- Vinegar.
- Ammonia.
- Orange cleaner.
When it comes to the tools (or equipment, if you want), make sure you get these items:
- Paper towels.
- Washing machine (well, of course).
- Soaking basin and soft-bristled brush (optional).
Got everything ready? Alright, let’s begin!
Step #1: Carefully remove the excess gasoline
Get those paper towels! You’ll want to blot the clothes using them to remove any excess gasoline. After you’re done with that, dispose of the towels you’ve used for this safely. Another way of doing this is to put baking soda on the spot with excess gasoline. Apply it with a paper towel and let it sit for 5 minutes until you clean the spot.
Baking soda will also help you with getting rid of the awful gasoline smell, but more about that down below.
How to dispose of the paper towels you’ve used?
Let them dry out in the open, as the air will absorb flammable gas fumes. Once they’re dry, find a sealable metal tip and put the towels inside. You’ll want to wet the material until it’s completely damp. Afterward, seal the container and throw it in the trash.
Step #2: Prepare your clothes for a washing session with a stain remover
After you’ve done getting rid of excess gasoline, it’s time to treat your clothes with a stain remover. Use a solvent-based stain removal product like Shout or Spray’n’Wash. Let it sit for about 15 minutes and your clothes will be ready to be thrown into the machine. Now, that was easy, wasn’t it?
Alternate step #2: Soak your clothes in a mix of vinegar and hot water
Here’s an alternative to the previous paragraph. To prepare your gasoline-stained clothes for washing you can soak them in a mix of hot water and vinegar. You can use the sink or a washtub for this. Anyway, make sure the mixture is equal parts hot water and vinegar. Let them soak for about half an hour.
Here’s an additional tip: the same combo you can use to clean gasoline stains off vinyl furniture.
Oh, and we almost forgot. The water should very hot, as hot as you can make it without damaging the fabric. Also, if the stain is a big one, let the clothes soak in the mixture for a full hour.
Step #3: Put the gasoline-stained clothes in the washer
Now that you’ve prepared your items for a washing session, it’s time to put them in the washing machine. It’s very important you don’t wash anything else alongside the stained apparel. As we’ve mentioned earlier, gasoline stains can spread to other pieces of clothing.
You’ll want to think about using a natural laundry detergent for this. The chemical ones might damage your clothes. Not only that, but scented detergents can sometimes make your clothes smell worse. Experts say that a natural detergent will only continue the work of its predecessor – vinegar. If you’ve used vinegar as a way to pretreat your gasoline-stained clothes, that is.
If it’s necessary, repeat this process twice. The third time you can cycle your clothes in the washer only using hot water. Do not add any detergent.
Alternate step #3: Handwashing, anyone?
If you don’t own a washing machine, that’s not a big enough reason to panic. You can handwash your gasoline-stained clothes.
How do I do it?
You’re gonna need some liquid dish soap or a heavy-duty laundry detergent. Some experts note that Dawn dish soap works wonders for this. If you don’t have it in you’re home, it’s no biggie. You can try an enzyme-based heavy-duty liquid detergent as a substitute. Anyway, use a soft-bristled brush and some hot water to handle the task.
Step #4: Dry your clothes in the open air
We already mentioned this issue, but it’s good we repeat it. You’ll want to be safe when handling gasoline-stained clothes.
Never should you put your gasoline-stained clothes in the dryer! Dry them in the open air, because otherwise, you’re risking starting a fire.
Step #5: Check for odor
You’ll want to check your clothes for odor after they’ve been washed. As long as you smell it, the job isn’t finished. Here we’ll show you how to get rid of it.
Solution A: Baking soda
Firstly, try making a baking soda paste. Mix two parts baking soda and one part hot water. Spread it directly onto the stain. Dry it out in the open air and brush off the baking soda when done. Repeat the whole process until the odor’s gone.
There’s an alternative to this solution. You can soak the gasoline-stained clothes overnight in water with a cup of baking soda added. Repair until the odor’s history. Also, baking soda is fantastic for getting gasoline out of your car’s interior. Just soak up the spot with baking soda once you’re done cleaning it.
Solution B: Vinegar
Our old buddy, vinegar. Soak your clothes in a mix of vinegar and water for 30 minutes, then check if the odor’s still there. Of course, repeat if necessary.
Solution C: Ammonia
If nothing from above works out, you might want to give this a try. Ammonia is great for removing exceptionally tough odors.
Soak the clothes in the washer filled with mildly hot water and household ammonia. Let it sit overnight. Also, you’ll probably want to shut the lid, since the smell is a bit nasty.
Last but not least, a safety disclaimer. Never should you mix ammonia with chlorine bleach or detergents containing chlorine. This combination is known to produce toxic fumes.
Solution D: Orange cleaner
Now, you might want to add a bit of orange cleaner to the wash load. It will help you break down the gasoline stains. Also, it will help remove the gasoline smell from your clothes.
How to get gasoline out of clothes? – a quick recap
So, that’s about it, folks. Let’s do a recap before we finish this one. Here’s a quick step-by-step tutorial:
- Obtain cleaning supplies. Most of the essentials you already have in your household.
- Carefully remove the excess gasoline. Use paper towels for this and dispose of them safely.
- Use a stain remover or vinegar to pretreat the clothes. If you’re going all-natural, vinegar is a better solution.
- Wash your clothes in the washer or use your hands. If you’re using the washer, don’t wash any other clothes with the gasoline-stained ones.
- By all means, avoid using the dryer. Dry your clothes in the open air.
- If the odor’s still there, you’re not done yet. Try a vinegar, baking soda, ammonia, or orange cleaner solution.
That’s all there’s to it! Hopefully, this article will help you remove gasoline from your clothes. As a matter of fact, we’re completely certain it will!
