You have several options for how to get the diesel smell out of clothes, and fortunately, they involve common household ingredients. We’ll look at a few easy remedies for this smelly problem.
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4 Options to Removing Diesel Fuel From Clothes
Diesel in the U.S. has a high sulfur content, which leads to the terrible smell that can cling to clothing and upholstery. Let’s take a look at a few ways to get it out.
Baking Soda and Vinegar
The first option is also the most natural. If you’re hoping to avoid chemicals, baking soda and vinegar should be your first line of defense.
Add ⅓ cup vinegar and ⅓ cup baking soda to your laundry along with your regular detergent and wash. You may have to wash your clothes more than once to completely remove the smell, making it a less-effective method than some others. However, it should get the job done in most cases.
Baking Soda and Coke
The second option is a bit unusual but surprisingly effective.
Add a cup of Tide detergent to a tub of warm water. Let your diesel-tainted clothes sit in the tub for a few hours before draining the water and rinsing the clothes. Refill the tub with clean water, a 2-liter bottle of Coke, and an entire box of baking soda. Mix everything well, add the clothes, and let them soak for at least 12 hours before running them through the wash.
Listerine
Some firemen use this method to remove the smoke smell from their clothing after fighting a fire. It also works on the diesel smell!
Add a half-cup of Listerine to your washing machine along with your regular detergent and wash. Not only will this help remove smells from your clothes, but it’ll also help clean your machine. If the smell isn’t quite gone after the initial wash, run everything through again with another splash of Listerine.
Fast Orange
Fast Orange is a great way to get diesel out of clothes. Technically, this product is for cleaning grease from your hands, but it can be used on clothing safely. It can be found on Amazon or at Walmart, it works consistently, and it removes both the smell and the nasty stains left behind by diesel fuel.
All you have to do is put a splash of Fast Orange in your laundry alongside your detergent, and your clothes will come out smelling and looking fresh.
More Tips and Tricks for Removing Diesel Smell and Stains
You may also find yourself with other diesel-related messes. Here’s how to get rid of diesel stains, plus how to get the diesel smell out of a vehicle.
Removing Diesel Stains
If you have a diesel smell in your clothes, there’s a good chance you have a stain or two as well. Rubbing Fast Orange on a stain and rinsing it should remove them. Shout and Biz stain removers will also work on diesel stains.
Grease Stain Don’ts
If you have diesel grease stains, there are a few things you should not do:
- Don’t use chlorine bleach on the stains.
- Avoid putting stained clothes in the dryer.
- Do not wash stained items with unstained items.
Cleaning Diesel Smell from a Vehicle
Sometimes, diesel is sneaky enough to make its way into your vehicle. This can stink up a whole truck in no time, making driving the vehicle absolutely miserable.
Fortunately, it is possible to remove diesel smells from vehicles. Fast Orange is, once again, our go-to for this. Find the spill, put some Fast Orange on a rag, and scrub the smell away.
Diesel smells and stains can be tough. But removing these smells and stains is possible. Using these tips and tricks will likely save several shirts during the lifetime of your vehicle!
