How To Get Rid Of Gasoline Smell? | Easy & Effective Methods

If you were filling gasoline in your vehicle or handling a gasoline-filled container, accidentally spilled it on your clothes, hands, or in home, and are now bothered by its lingering smell, don’t worry. You can easily get rid of it using a few simple yet effective methods. In this article, we will teach you exactly that – how to get rid of smell of gasoline in the easiest way possible. 

So, if the gasoline smell is stuck in your hands, clothes, home, or even car, look no further. Go through this comprehensive guide to help yourself deal with the smell of gasoline.

How Do You Get Rid of The Gasoline Smell On Your Hands?

Do your hands smell like gasoline? Don’t fret about it. Use any of the methods mentioned below to restore the natural smell of your hands.

1. Use salt and Detergent

Follow the steps given in order to use the mixture of salt and Detergent to eliminate the gasoline smell. 

1. Add 1-2 teaspoons of salt in a small cup.
2. Now, put some detergent on your hands and begin scrubbing.
3. When your hands get soapy, pour some salt on them and start scrubbing again. 
4. Now, simply wash your hands under running water. If the gasoline smell is still there, repeat the process. 

2. Try Lemon Juice

Yes, lemon juice can also help you banish the gasoline smell you have on your hands, here’s how:

1. Add equal parts of the lemon juice and water in a bowl.
2. Pour it on your hands and start rubbing it into your fingers and palms for a few minutes. 
3. Wash your hands using soap and water or solely water. 
4. You will likely notice the smell going away after implementing the method. However, if you do not, repeat the process.

3. Use Vinegar and Baking Soda

Here’s how you can use vinegar and baking soda to remove gasoline smell from hands

1. Pour a small amount of baking soda and a tablespoon of vinegar on your hands. 
2. Begin rubbing them together for at least two minutes. 
3. Rinse your hands once there’s no more gasoline smell.

How Do You Get Rid of the Gasoline Smell In Your Home?

If you can sense the smell of gasoline in your home, never take it lightly. There can be many sources that might be causing it and all of them can lead to numerous serious problems.

So, before you begin the process of removing the gasoline smell from your home, you first have to determine the source of smell. Also, please avoid using matches or lighter until your home is free of gasoline smell. 

Turn off all the gas appliances and also pilot lights if the smell is coming from a leakage line. It will help prevent the situation from worsening. 

Instruct every house member to go outside as soon as possible and open all the windows or doors if possible. After that, call the fire department or plumber to handle the situation.

There can also be some sources that might be causing gasoline smell in your home, for instance, the garage attached to your house. A cloth with gasoline stains can also be one of the causes of gasoline smell in your home (if that’s the case, jump to the cloth’s section below).

Once you have identified the source of the gasoline smell, it’s time to eliminate the smell that is lingering in your home. Here are some of the best methods that you can opt for:

1. Allow The Fresh Air In Your Room

This is one of the simplest, yet effective ways to eliminate gasoline smell from home. You simply have to leave your doors and windows open and let the fresh air come in. Fresh air circulating in your home will reduce the intensity of the gasoline smell. Turn on the ceiling and room fans to speed up the process. 

Also, when using this method, stay in your yard because inhaling gasoline smell can cause numerous complications. 

2. Use Cat Litter

This is for people with gasoline spilled in their home or garage. 

Simply take a good amount of cat litter, place it on the spilled gasoline, and let it stay for at least 1-2 hours. It will soak all the spilled gasoline on the floor. 

Once it is done, put the soaked cat litter in a sealed bag and dispose of it in a safe place. Ensure to get familiar with the local laws before you do that. Lastly, keep in mind that using gloves is essential when handling the cat litter so that it doesn’t affect your skin or clothes. 

3. Opt For a Homemade Odor Absorber

You can also create odor absorbers with the help of numerous household ingredients to eliminate the gasoline odor from your home. Here’s how you create it:

• Add one cup of water to a bowl, one cup of vinegar or lime juice, and one cup of baking soda. Mix these ingredients properly. That’s it, your odor absorber is ready.

You can either leave the mixture in your room and let it absorb the gasoline odor. Or, you can also go one step further and put the mixture in a spray bottle and spray it in different areas of your home.

4. Close The Doorways and Windows Of The Garage

If the gasoline smell in your garage is filling your home, close the windows and doors to the garage tightly. There’s a high possibility that odors can easily seep from adjoining windows and doors. Hence, place a towel at the crack under your door. It will prevent the gasoline smell from entering your sweet home.

5. Turn To Professionals

If you have tried all the methods mentioned above, but the smell of gasoline is still stuck in your home, you should consider getting help from professionals. 

They have the right knowledge, advanced techniques, and equipment that will help remove gasoline smell from your home effectively. 

How To Get Rid Of Gasoline Smell In Your Car?

You can get rid of the gasoline smell in your car easily as there are numerous methods to help you. But before that, it is a must for you first to determine the source that is causing the smell.

Generally, there could be numerous sources like leakage of the gas tank, the residue left from a gas container you were transporting in your car, or spilled by you accidentally during the refilling session. Also, look for signs like wet spots and leakage around the fuel lines and gas tank. 

Once you have figured out where the gasoline smell is coming from, you can begin implementing the methods mentioned below to eliminate the gasoline smell from your car. 

1. Ventilate Your Car

Open all the windows and doors of your car and allow the fresh air to circulate. It is advised to park your car outside for a few hours in this condition. It will assist you in eliminating the strong smell of gasoline from your car. 

2. Use Odor Eliminator Products

There are many odor-eliminator products that you can opt for to remove the gasoline smell from your car. 

It is advised to choose a product labeled as an ‘odor eliminator’ as they are specifically made to tackle strong odors like gasoline. 

If you have tried all the methods mentioned above but still find the gasoline smell lingering in your car, then chances are that the problem is in the cabin air filter of your car. It plays a crucial role in purifying the air circulating within the car. 

Therefore, replacing your cabin air filter may help you in getting rid of the gasoline smell.

3. Use Baking Soda 

• Sprinkle some amount of soda in the affected areas of the vehicle, like the floor mats. 
• Leave it overnight or for a few hours and allow it to observe the gasoline’s odor. Then, remove all of the baking soda using a vacuum. If the odor is still there, repeat the process.
• However, if you do not have baking soda at home, don’t worry. You can also use the other ingredients that work in a similar way, for instance, charcoal or coffee grounds. 
• Simply add a decent amount of charcoal or coffee ground in a bowl and place it in your car. Leave overnight or even for a few days for it to observe the gasoline odor properly. Make sure that you discard the charcoal or ground coffee once you are done using them. 

How Can You Remove The Gasoline Smell In Your Cloths? 

Follow these simple five steps in order to get the  gasoline smell out of your clothes.  

Step 1: Get Rid Of The Excess Gasoline

Place a paper towel on gasoline stain on your cloth, and press it gently. Avoid rubbing as it won’t do any good. 

Keep doing it until the paper towel has absorbed all of the excess gasoline on your cloth. 

Step 2: Use Baking Soda

Sprinkle some amount of baking soda on the stained area of your cloth. Let it stay there for a day and allow the baking soda to do its work. Once the time has passed, wash it away. 

Step 3: Utilize Stain Remover

Now, you will need to use a solvent-based stain remover in order to saturate the gasoline stain on your cloth. Leave it for 10 minutes so that it can soak it easily. If you are still noticing the gasoline stain on your fabric, apply a thin layer of dish soap to the stain and let it soak for 10 minutes.

Step 4: Soak Your Cloth

Fill a bucket with warm water and soak your clothes in it for at least 30 minutes before you begin hand washing them. 

Step 5: Hand Wash Your Clothes

Fill the basin or sink with warm water, add some mild detergent, and swirl your clothes to hand wash them. 

Note – Please remember that clothes with gasoline stains should never be washed in the washer or dryer because there’s a risk of fire hazards. It is highly advised to always wash your gasoline-stained clothes by hand to stay on the safer side.

Conclusion

So, removing the smell of gasoline is not rocket science. You simply need to follow the steps we mentioned above, and you will surely be able to get rid of it very soon. Once you have eliminated the gasoline smell successfully, ensure to take proper precautions from now on, for instance, handling gasoline carefully so that you do not face the same problem again in the future. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is Gasoline Smell Harmful To Health?

According to the Illinois Department Of Public Health, inhaling small amounts of gasoline vapor can cause numerous health problems like headaches, throat and nose irritation, vomiting, nausea, confusion, and breathing problems. 

2. Can Air Fresheners Help Remove Gasoline Odor? 

No. It will not remove the gasoline odor but only masks it temporarily. If you want to eliminate the gasoline odor completely, then it is advised to focus on getting rid of the source causing the smell. 

3. How Long Does It Take For The Gasoline Smell To Go Away?

You can expect the odor to go away within a few days or weeks. However, it also depends upon the cleaning method you used, ventilation, and the amount of gasoline spilled.

4. Can Gasoline Fumes Damage The Lungs?

Yes. It is one of the main risks that gasoline fumes bring along.