Mercedes Mullins
Getting rid of the diesel smell from clothes can be a challenging task. While vinegar and baking soda are commonly recommended home remedies, their effectiveness is disputed. Other suggested solutions include using laundry detergent, dish soap, lemon juice, essential oils, and a product called Fast Orange. Some people also suggest using an ozone generator or pure undiluted orange oil to eliminate the smell.
Characteristics and Values Table
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Soak Time | 12-24 hours |
| Water Temperature | Cold or warm |
| Cleaning Agents | Dish soap, laundry soap, detergent, vinegar, eucalyptus oil, baking soda, lemon juice, degreaser, rubbing alcohol, diluted ammonia, mouthwash, cola, eucalyptus oil, mechanic's hand soap, borax, Fast Orange |
| Stains | Treat with baking soda, rubbing alcohol, Shout, Biz, or Fast Orange stain removers |
| Washing Machine | Wash separately, add vinegar, baking soda, or eucalyptus oil |
| Drying | Avoid putting stained clothes in the dryer |
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What You'll Learn
Soak in cold water and dish soap
Soaking your clothes in cold water and dish soap is an effective way to remove the diesel smell from your clothes. This method works because the chemicals in degreasing dish soap loosen and break down smelly oil or grease particles that are clinging to the fabric of your clothes.
To do this, fill a tub or bucket with cold or cool water, then add a few generous pumps of a degreasing dish soap like Dawn. Swirl the water until the soap mixes in, then add your diesel-smelling clothes. Let the clothes soak for at least 12 hours, or up to 24 hours. After soaking, run the garment through the washing machine as normal, washing it separately from other clothes in case there is a lingering smell.
You can also try adding a few tablespoons of baking soda to the cold water and dish soap mixture to further combat the diesel smell. If the diesel smell is particularly strong, you can also try pre-treating the clothes by spraying any affected areas with diluted dish soap before soaking.
While this method is effective for removing diesel smells, it may take some time and multiple washes to fully remove the smell.
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Use rubbing alcohol
Rubbing alcohol is an effective cleaner for removing diesel smells from clothes because it quickly evaporates when exposed to air, eliminating odours by removing moisture from the surface and inhibiting bacterial growth. To use it, pour half a cup (118 millilitres) of rubbing alcohol into a bucket, then add your garment and toss it in the alcohol until it's thoroughly covered. Leave the clothes to soak for 20 minutes, then run them through the washing machine as normal.
If there is a diesel stain along with the smell, sprinkle baking soda over the stain, then pour on the rubbing alcohol. Rub the resulting paste into the stain with a soft brush before washing. Avoid using rubbing alcohol on delicate or synthetic fabrics such as acetate, rayon, silk or wool.
You can also mix equal parts rubbing alcohol and baking soda to form a paste. Apply this paste to your clothes and scrub everywhere. Usually, it takes two to three times of repeating this process to get rid of the diesel smell from clothes.
If you are dealing with diesel-smelling hands, you can use hand sanitiser, which contains alcohol that kills bacteria on your skin.
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Vinegar and baking soda
To use this method, add equal parts of vinegar and baking soda to your laundry. For example, if you used 1 cup of laundry detergent, add 1 cup of baking soda and 1 cup of vinegar. You can also add a few drops of eucalyptus oil to the machine before the cycle starts. Put the smelly clothes in the washer by themselves, then begin a normal wash cycle with warm water.
If the diesel smell is particularly strong, you may need to soak the clothes in a mixture of vinegar and baking soda before washing them. To do this, fill a tub with water and add 14 oz of baking soda and half a cup of vinegar. Add your clothes to the solution and let them soak for a couple of hours before washing them as usual.
If the vinegar and baking soda solution does not completely remove the diesel smell, you can try adding Coca-Cola and baking soda to the wash cycle. This mixture can help to reduce the smell of diesel on your clothes.
It is important to act quickly if your clothes have a diesel smell. The longer you wait to treat the smell, the more difficult it will be to remove it.
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Mouthwash
To use this method, pour a generous amount of mouthwash directly onto the affected areas of the garment. Allow the clothing to soak for at least 15 minutes, and up to 30 minutes for more stubborn smells. After soaking, the clothing can be washed as normal, with the addition of a cup of mouthwash to the washing machine if desired.
It is worth noting that this method may not be suitable for delicate or synthetic fabrics, as the alcohol in the mouthwash may cause damage. In such cases, an alternative method, such as soaking the garment in cold water and dish soap for 12 to 24 hours, may be preferable.
Additionally, it is recommended to wash diesel-contaminated clothing separately from other items, as the diesel smell may transfer if the odour is not completely eliminated during the first wash.
Other household products that can be used to remove diesel odours from clothing include baking soda, vinegar, eucalyptus oil, and commercial degreasers or deodorizers.
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Ammonia
To use ammonia to remove the smell of diesel from clothes, it is recommended to first fill a bucket with warm water and pour in about ¼ cup (59 mL) of ammonia. The mixture should then be stirred with a large spoon or mixing stick (not your hands, as ammonia can burn) to evenly distribute the ammonia. The diesel-smelling clothes should then be soaked in the bucket for 25 minutes. After 25 minutes, the clothes should be removed from the bucket and run through a normal wash cycle.
In addition to ammonia, there are several other household products that can be used to remove the smell of diesel from clothes. These include:
- Baking soda: This can be added to the wash cycle or used to soak the clothes before washing. It helps to remove odours and stains from diesel-soaked clothes.
- Vinegar: Adding vinegar to the wash cycle or soaking the clothes in vinegar before washing can help to eliminate diesel smells and remove grease and oil stains.
- Dish soap: The chemicals in degreasing dish soap can help to loosen and remove smelly oil or grease particles from clothes.
- Rubbing alcohol: Soaking clothes in rubbing alcohol for 20 minutes can help to break down and remove diesel particles without leaving a scent.
- Mouthwash: Soaking clothes in mouthwash for 15-30 minutes can help to neutralise the diesel smell.
It is important to note that some of these methods may not be suitable for delicate or synthetic fabrics, and it is always recommended to test any new cleaning products on an inconspicuous part of the fabric first. Additionally, ammonia should never be mixed with bleach as it can create a toxic gas.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several household ingredients that can be used to remove the diesel smell from your clothes. These include vinegar, baking soda, laundry soap, and dish soap. Some products that can be effective are Fast Orange, Lestoil, and Listerine.
Vinegar can be added to the wash cycle along with laundry detergent. Alternatively, clothes can be soaked in vinegar and then washed.
Baking soda can be added to the wash cycle along with laundry detergent and vinegar.
Fast Orange is a popular choice for removing diesel smell and stains from clothes. It can be added to the wash cycle along with laundry detergent.
