Regan Brown
If you've ever worked with diesel, you know that its sickly sweet smell can be hard to get rid of. Even after a wash, diesel-soaked clothes can retain traces of the fuel, and its toxic hydrocarbons can cause nose, eye, and skin irritation, and even enter the bloodstream. To avoid this, you can use household products such as vinegar, baking soda, mouthwash, or cola to remove the smell from your clothes. So, if you want to know how to get diesel fuel off your clothes, read on.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Soaking Time | 12-24 hours |
| Soaking Solution | Cold water, dish soap, mouthwash, diluted ammonia, vinegar, lemon juice, cola, baking soda |
| Wash Cycle Additives | Vinegar, eucalyptus oil, baking soda, lemon juice, detergent, salt, toothpaste |
| Detergents | Fast Orange, Arm & Hammer, Dawn, Borax |
| Other Methods | Ozone generator, hydroxyl generator, vacuum, ground coffee |
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What You'll Learn
Soak clothes in cold water and dish soap
Soaking clothes in cold water and dish soap is an effective way to remove diesel fuel from clothes. This method works because the chemicals in degreasing dish soap loosen smelly oil or grease particles 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. Swirl the water until the soap mixes in, then place your diesel-smelling clothes in the tub. Let the clothes soak for at least 12 hours, and up to 24 hours. After soaking, put the clothes through a normal wash cycle in the washing machine, washing them separately from other clothes in case there is a lingering smell.
If the diesel smell is particularly stubborn, you can also try adding a cup of baking soda to the wash cycle, or soaking the clothes in a mixture of warm water, a 2-litre bottle of Coke, and a box of baking soda for at least 12 hours before washing them. Alternatively, you could try using a different type of soap, such as a mechanic's degreasing hand wash, or a different cleaning agent, such as mouthwash, ammonia, or rubbing alcohol.
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Use vinegar and baking soda
Vinegar and baking soda are effective in removing diesel fuel from clothes, especially if the smell is faint. The combination of vinegar and baking soda breaks down diesel oils and greases, thereby neutralizing the odour.
To use this method, start by filling your washing machine with water. Then, add equal parts vinegar and baking soda to the water—for instance, if you use one cup of detergent, add one cup of baking soda and one cup of vinegar. You can also sprinkle the baking soda directly onto the fabric and let it sit for a few minutes before adding the vinegar. Spray the vinegar onto your clothes using a spray bottle, ensuring it gets between the fibres. The baking soda reacts to the vinegar, releasing carbon dioxide and breaking down the diesel odours.
Once you have added the vinegar, you can add your diesel-smelling clothes to the machine and begin the wash cycle. Add your regular laundry detergent to the mixture and run the full wash cycle once or twice. Take your wet clothes outside and dry them. Once they are dry, you can check if the pungent smell of diesel has gone away.
If the diesel smell is too strong, you may need to repeat the process several times. You can also try adding a few drops of eucalyptus oil to the machine before the cycle starts.
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Mouthwash and laundry detergent
To get diesel fuel off your clothes, you can use a combination of mouthwash and laundry detergent. Mouthwash, such as Listerine, is great for removing smells from clothing. First, soak the affected areas of your garment with a generous amount of mouthwash for 15-30 minutes. Then, put the clothing item in the laundry and wash it as normal. If the smell is particularly stubborn, you can add a cup of mouthwash to your washing machine, along with your regular detergent.
If you are using a laundry detergent, it is recommended to use a stronger, commercial-grade detergent that contains enzymes to tackle stubborn stains. You can also add non-chlorine bleach to the wash cycle. During the rinse cycle, you can add a fabric softener, although this is not necessary.
You can also add a scoop of baking soda to your laundry, along with your regular detergent, to help remove odours and stains. If the diesel smell is persistent, you can also try pre-washing your clothes in a mixture of vinegar and lemon juice, or soaking them in vinegar before letting them dry and then washing them.
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Lemon juice
To start, you should remove any excess diesel fuel from the clothing with absorbent paper. Then, you can apply lemon juice to the stain. One method is to soak a cloth in lemon juice and use it to dab the stains. You can also squeeze lemon juice directly onto the stain and rub it in.
After applying lemon juice, you should soap your coat with a few drops of dishwashing liquid and rinse it. With your barely damp Marseille soap, rub the remaining stains to form a kind of crust. Leave this on for an hour, then wash the clothing by hand or in the washing machine.
You can also add lemon juice to your regular laundry routine to eliminate diesel smells. Add lemon juice to your hands and rub them together until they are coated in juice. Let the juice sit for about 5 minutes, then rinse your hands with warm water.
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Rubbing alcohol
Firstly, if there is a visible diesel stain, sprinkle baking soda over the stain. Then, pour the rubbing alcohol on top. Take a soft brush and gently rub the mixture into the stain. Finally, wash the garment as normal.
If you are trying to remove the smell of diesel without a visible stain, there are a few methods you can try. One way is to soak the garment in a mixture of water and rubbing alcohol for 20 minutes. Then, put the clothes through a normal wash cycle. Alternatively, you can pretreat the clothes with rubbing alcohol before washing. Simply pour some rubbing alcohol onto the affected area and scrub it gently before washing.
It is important to note that rubbing alcohol should not be used on delicate or synthetic fabrics such as acetate, rayon, silk or wool.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several household products you can use to remove diesel fuel from your clothes. You can pre-treat your garments by soaking them in cold water and dish soap, or a mixture of water and degreasing detergents like Fast Orange, before washing.
Other methods include using baking soda, vinegar, eucalyptus oil, lemon juice, toothpaste, or mouthwash. You can also try using an ozone generator, which will eliminate the smell.
It is recommended to soak your clothes in a mixture of water and dish soap for 12 to 24 hours.
If you have diesel fuel on your hands or skin, you can scrub them with detergent and salt, lemon juice, or a mechanic's degreasing hand wash.
