Whether you struggled with the gasoline hose at your local service station or you tripped when adding gas to your lawnmower, take off any garment that is wet with gasoline as soon as possible and wash your skin wherever it came into contact with the gas. If the garment is saturated with gasoline, toss it out. If a small stain is the extent of the damage, take steps to salvage your outfit. Warning: Do not put a garment that smells of gasoline into a clothes dryer; it could cause a fire.
Things You'll Need
White or apple cider vinegar
Laundry detergent
Laundry degreaser
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Step 1
Leave the garment outside in the fresh air for 24 hours before trying to launder it. Sunshine and air-drying can reduce or eliminate the smell of gasoline.
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Step 2
Saturate the garment with water from your garden hose if it still smells like gasoline after air-drying for 24 hours. Leave it outside and wait for it to air-dry again.
Step 3
Add a cup of white or apple cider vinegar to your washer along with your regular laundry detergent. Add only the garment and wash as you normally do. Do not wash it with any other clothing. Do not put the garment in the clothes dryer.
Step 4
Repeat the washing process if the garment still smells of gasoline. This time add a laundry degreaser to the stain. Do not put the garment in the clothes dryer.
Step 5
Test the garment to see if it still smells of gasoline. If it does, toss it out. If not, air-dry the garment or put it in the clothes dryer on low heat.