How to Get Gasoline Smell Out of Clothes

It can be a pain to spill gasoline on your clothing while pumping gas. While it can feel like you'll never get rid of the smell, there are actually some tips and tricks that can remove the odor. First, hose down your clothes and air dry them. Do some light hand washing before throwing them in a washer on a high heat setting. If stains remain after washing your clothes, these can be treated with things like baby oil or dishwashing detergent. With a little bit of elbow grease, you can get rid of an unwanted gasoline odor on your clothes.

Washing the Smell of Gas Out of Clothes

Rinse out as much gasoline from your clothes as possible. Place the gas-soaked clothes in a washing machine alone on the highest heat setting the clothes can tolerate. Add 1/4 cup (59.15 mL) of ammonia or 1 cup (240 mL) of vinegar to the wash. Hang your clothing to air dry.

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Treating the Clothes Before Washing Them

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    Take your clothing outside and hose it down. Try to rinse out as much gasoline as possible. This is especially important for clothing that's very saturated in gasoline, as it can be a hazard to wash gasoline-soaked clothing in a washing machine. [1]
    • If you don't have a hose, you can rinse clothing under a faucet.
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    Find a place to hang the clothes up outside, such as a balcony or clothesline. Hang the clothing on the line and let it air outdoors for 24 hours. [2]
    • Check the forecast. If it's going to rain, wait until the weather clears up to treat your clothing.
    • If you absolutely cannot hang the clothing outdoors, a well-ventilated room in your home should do the trick. Hang the clothes there until they're dry.
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    Before throwing your clothing in a washing machine, pick up some mechanic's hand soap at a hardware or department store. Use this to lather any particularly oily or greasy spots before throwing your clothes in the washer.
    • Look for mechanic's soap that has lanolin listed on the ingredients label for the best results.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Washing the Clothes

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    Do not put any other clothing in the washing machine with gasoline-soaked clothing. This could cause other clothing to absorb the smell of gasoline or become stained. [3]
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    Look at your clothes' manufacturer's label. To best treat the smell of gasoline, you should use the highest heat setting the clothes can tolerate. [4]
    • If you're unsure how high of a heat setting your clothes can tolerate, search the fabric type online and look at washing guidelines.
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    You can purchase ammonia at most supermarkets and hardware stores. Add a quarter cup of ammonia and a little extra detergent to the laundry. This should help wash out the gasoline smell. [5]
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    Do not place your clothing in the dryer after washing it. Instead, hang your clothing to dry outside or on a drying rack. It's very dangerous to put clothing that's been soaked with gasoline in the dryer, as gasoline is combustible. [7]
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Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Removing Set-In Stains

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    If there are stains on your clothing, they may harbor a smell. Before attempting to wash out the stains, sprinkle baking powder or coffee grounds on the stains. This will help neutralize the odor. Let the coffee grounds or baking soda sit on the stain for a few hours before brushing them off and washing the stain. [8]
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    Liquid dishwashing detergent that's made to target grease can help remove gasoline stains. Gently rub the detergent into the stains until they lift. Then, rinse the garment and wash it in the washing machine as usual. [9]
    • Remember you should always hang-dry clothing that came into contact with gasoline.
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    Baby oil can also help lift gasoline stains. You can pour baby oil directly on the stains and rub the stains out. You can also toss rags soaked with baby oil into the washing machine with your gasoline-stained clothes. [10]
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    Unfortunately, sometimes the gasoline smell remains on your clothes despite your best efforts. While this can be frustrating, professional services can help. If you can't get stains or smell out of your clothes at home, contact a local dry cleaner. You can find dry cleaners online. If your clothing has been very stained or damaged by gasoline, professional dry cleaning services may help treat your clothes.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What can I wash my clothes with to get rid of the gasoline smell?
    Susan Stocker
    Green Cleaning Expert
    Susan Stocker runs and owns Susan’s Green Cleaning, the #1 Green Cleaning Company in Seattle. She is well known in the region for outstanding customer service protocols — winning the 2017 Better Business Torch Award for Ethics & Integrity —and her energetic support of green cleaning practices.
    Susan Stocker
    Green Cleaning Expert
    Expert Answer
    When you're dealing with strong odors, use a cup of white vinegar in your wash. Vinegar is a natural, amazing deodorizer that is highly effective!
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  • Question
    How do I remove the gas smell from tennis shoes?
    Community Answer
    You will probably want to soak them in water and vinegar for 30 minutes and then repeat. Another suggestion for exceptionally heavy odors is to soak the shoes in warm water and 1 cup of non-sudsing household ammonia.
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      Warnings

      1. Do not use bleach with ammonia immediate before, during, or after use in the washing machine as the mixture can create a toxic gas.
      2. Do not use a machine dryer on clothing that may have gasoline contact due to the increased risk of combustion.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/hints-from-heloise-getting-gas-smell-out-of-clothes/2013/04/02/9802eeb8-9bcf-11e2-9bda-edd1a7fb557d_story.html?utm_term=.aa1d2c8f703f
      2. ↑ https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/hints-from-heloise-getting-gas-smell-out-of-clothes/2013/04/02/9802eeb8-9bcf-11e2-9bda-edd1a7fb557d_story.html?utm_term=.aa1d2c8f703f
      3. ↑ https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/hints-from-heloise-getting-gas-smell-out-of-clothes/2013/04/02/9802eeb8-9bcf-11e2-9bda-edd1a7fb557d_story.html?utm_term=.aa1d2c8f703f
      4. ↑ https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/hints-from-heloise-getting-gas-smell-out-of-clothes/2013/04/02/9802eeb8-9bcf-11e2-9bda-edd1a7fb557d_story.html?utm_term=.aa1d2c8f703f
      5. ↑ https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/hints-from-heloise-getting-gas-smell-out-of-clothes/2013/04/02/9802eeb8-9bcf-11e2-9bda-edd1a7fb557d_story.html?utm_term=.aa1d2c8f703f
      6. ↑ Susan Stocker. House Cleaning Professional. Expert Interview. 8 November 2019.
      7. ↑ https://www.yellowpages.ca/tips/how-to-get-rid-of-gasoline-smell-from-clothes/
      8. ↑ https://www.yellowpages.ca/tips/how-to-get-rid-of-gasoline-smell-from-clothes/
      9. ↑ https://www.yellowpages.ca/tips/how-to-get-rid-of-gasoline-smell-from-clothes/
      1. ↑ https://www.yellowpages.ca/tips/how-to-get-rid-of-gasoline-smell-from-clothes/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To get gasoline smells out of clothes, start by hosing them down and allowing them to dry outside for 24 hours to let the smell dissipate. Next, put the clothing in the washing machine by itself so that other clothes don’t absorb the smell. Then, wash the laundry on the highest heat setting, adding a little extra detergent and 1/4 cup of ammonia to help rinse out the gasoline smell.Once the clothes are clean, hang them outside to dry for a second time. For tips on how to get rid of set-in gasoline stains, read on!

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      • Karen Lund

        Jan 5, 2019

        "My husband spilled gas all over his work clothes. I hated to throw them away, but the smell was overwhelming. It ..." more
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