Do you wash the gasoline spills on your clothes many times but the smell lingers? Don’t worry anymore! With this guide on how to get gasoline smell out of gloves, the odor will soon come off.
The rule of thumb is to not throw them in the washing machine and choose the harshest cycle you can find. That does more harm than good.
You should absorb the excess oil with baking soda before washing the gloves with a mild detergent. Then, rewash them with baby oil and white vinegar to get rid of the smell. Finally, hang them to dry in a ventilated place.
This procedure will also remove the gas stains and harmful residue, leaving your gloves brand new. Let’s get into it.
Table of Contents
What You Will Need
Grab the following to proceed:
- Laundry detergent or mild soap – If you work closely with gasoline every day, we recommend investing in a heavy-duty laundry detergent. Such detergents are more concentrated and offer more cleaning power to get rid of gasoline smell.
- Baby oil
- Baking soda
- White vinegar
- Disposable gloves (optional)
Always perform a spot test before putting a product on your gloves to ensure it doesn’t harm the fabric.
Steps to Get Gasoline Smell Out of Gloves
Gas residue is flammable, so don’t throw your gloves in the washing machine, dishwasher, or dryer. When meeting gasoline, the potential fumes and heat from the machines can combust.
Instead, leave the gloves outdoors or in a ventilated area until the gas evaporates completely. Also, wash the gloves alone so the odor won’t transfer to other clothes.
Step 1. Remove excess gasoline
Put a decent amount of baking soda in a zip lock bag and place the gloves inside. Shield carefully and let it sit for one to two hours. You can leave it overnight if the smell is really bad. Then, take the gloves out and shake off all the powder.
Step 2. Wash with detergent
Mix ¼ cup of laundry detergent with water. After that, soak the gloves in the soapy water and gently squeeze them. Remember to wear disposable gloves to protect your skin. Wait for three to five minutes. Now, scrub off the dirt with a soft bristle brush and rinse the gloves.
Step 3. Wash with baby oil
Mix one cup of baby oil with water. Then, soak the gloves in the solution and wait for 20 to 30 minutes. Baby oil can dissolve the gas smell and color stains. The mechanism is similar to how olive oil cleans kitchen greases. But baby oil doesn’t leave a glossy film behind.
Step 4. Wash with white vinegar
Now that the smell reduces, you can use the washing machine.
Otherwise, mix one cup of white vinegar with water. Then, soak the gloves in the solution. One hour should be enough but feel free to leave it for longer if the smell resists. White vinegar can kill bacteria and disinfect fabric effectively. Besides removing the remaining odor, this step will get rid of the harmful gas residue. Rinse the gloves thoroughly and squeeze them to remove excess water. Don’t wring or twist the gloves.
For details, watch:
Step 5. Dry
Finally, hang the gloves to dry naturally.
If you’re washing gasoline off leather work gloves, don’t soak them in water. Water will withdraw the leather’s natural oil and harden the material. Take these steps instead.
Steps to Get Gasoline Smell Out of Leather Gloves
Step 1. Remove excess gasoline
Sprinkle a small amount of baking soda on the gas-stained spot and leave it overnight. The powder will turn yellow as it absorbs the oil. Then, wipe or shake off the baking soda.
Step 2. Wash with mild soap
Mix mild soap or a leather cleaner with water, stir it, and use the lather to scrub the gloves. You should use a cloth or soft bristle brush to avoid damaging the leather. Scrub until the spot is clean.
Step 3. Clean with vinegar
Mix one part of vinegar with two parts of water. Dampen a cloth with the solution and gently dab the gas stain. Don’t apply excessive moisture on the gloves.
Step 4. Dry
You should allow leather gloves to dry naturally. Don’t use external heat sources as they can shrink the leather. As the gloves are drying, put them on and off several times so they can restore the original shape.
Precautions When Dealing With Gasoline Spills
Gasoline is a strong chemical. It can quickly deteriorate a pair of gloves and cause inflammation when contacting your skin. If you accidentally spill fuel on your gloves at the gas station, immediately remove them and wash your hands.
If you handle gasoline at the workplace, wear proper chemical-resistant gloves. Remember that prolonged contact with petroleum can cause irritation, rashes, redness, or blisters. Petroleum-resistant gloves include polyvinyl chloride (PVC), vinyl, and nitrile gloves. Gas stains on these gloves are also easier to clean.
Conclusion
Pumping at the gas station can get messy at times but you can always get gasoline smell out of clothes within five steps. The perk is you don’t need any expensive product to get the job done.
The earlier you wash the gloves, the easier the odor will come off. So, gather all you need and do it now. Don’t forget to save this article so you can refer back to it as you go. Thank you for choosing our guide on how to get gasoline smell out of gloves!
Veronica is our content editor. She is a talent in delivery. Her main work is editing and writing articles that are both informative and simple to follow. She is in charge of synthesizing our understanding of what personal protection equipment (PPE) is needed in each job, how to best apply it, and how to visualize that equipment.