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Got Gasoline Stink Everywhere? Here’s How to Clear the Air

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Even a little spill of gasoline is enough to burn nose hairs, and its epic staying power means, for most of the day, all you smell is gas. Since the smell is hard to ignore for you and others, making it go away should reach number one on your to-do list.


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According to BobVila.com writer Manasa Reddigari, if your apparel is sopping with gas, it’s time to say good-bye to those items because gasoline is just too flammable a substance. But, there is hope if the gasoline spill is minimal. Reddigari recommends that the affected items be air-dried outside for 24 hours—if the gas smell is overwhelming, it’s a good idea to soak the items in vinegar for at least 60 minutes before hanging them to line dry.

Then, once the smell has completely dissipated from the fabric, Reddigari says to vacuum the spot and rub a mild dish soap into it; throw the item(s) into the washer (sans other gas-free clothes); and “wash normally on the hottest setting that’s safe for the type and/or color of fabric.” After the cycle runs, your clothes should be stink-free.


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If in the process of moving gas cans in or out of your car, a spill has occurred inside your vehicle, mix up a potion of baking soda, hot water, and white vinegar to soak up as much as the contaminant as you can, advises the experts at DoItYourself.com; then wipe off the affected surface with a cloth or rag.

To prevent a gasoline spill on your garage floor from becoming a permanent stinky mess, you have to move quickly, according to Reddigari, who recommends dumping clay cat litter on the mess and letting it absorb the liquid for about one to two hours. Be sure your garage door is open while you collect the saturated litter into a dustpan; then place the altered litter into a sealed bag or lidded container. Reddigari also advocates that before trashing the muck to check with local laws and requirements on how to dispose of the “contaminated cat litter.”

With these tips, there’s no reason to cry over spilled gas.

News Source: Bob Vila, DoItYourself.com