How to Clean Up a Diesel Fuel Spill

Diesel fuel sometimes spills, no matter how hard you try to prevent it. This is unfortunate, because diesel fuel can cause permanent stains in concrete, can pollute the groundwater supply and can ruin clothing. It's hard to get out and it has a very unpleasant smell. The best way to deal with a diesel fuel spill is to prevent it from happening in the first place. However, if a spill can not be avoided, there are steps you can take to clean it up efficiently.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Enzymes

1. Buy a product specifically designed to remove diesel fuel from clothing. There are several of these on the market, and you can get them online, at many department stores and at some auto parts stores. These products will remove the fuel stain as well as the smell, helping you to preserve your clothing.
2. Get enzymes to clean up a diesel spill on concrete. There are many good products on the market that contain diesel-eating enzymes. These enzymes literally gobble up the diesel in the concrete, leaving it stain-free. Such products are ideal for those pesky diesel spills on driveways and sidewalks.
3. Bathe animals that have been covered in diesel. A long bath in warm, soapy water and some good scrubbing will remove any diesel fuel from fur or feathers. Environmental organizations do this with wild animals that have been affected by industrial oil spills.
4. Clean up diesel from the fabric on the inside of your car with a product designed for this purpose. You can find several products that will remove diesel from fabric at your local department store. You need to use these products on stains inside your car as soon as possible, in order to avoid any lingering smells.
5. Call on the experts for environmental spills. If you've spilled diesel fuel onto your yard or into a water supply, you need to call city authorities to let them know. Such spills may require intervention by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA has professional cleanup methods for these kinds of spills that you won't have access to on your own.

Tips & Warnings

• Sometimes, even the best efforts aren't enough to get a diesel stain completely out of clothing. If you've tried everything you can think of and the stain still remains, it may be time to discard the damaged item. You may also have to get rid of your clothing if the stain comes out but the smell remains. If you really want to keep your stained clothes, you could always convert them for use during yard work or auto maintenance.