How to Get Rid of Kerosene Odor

Kerosene is natural gas and carries with it an easily recognizable strong odor. If you use kerosene as a heating fuel you must keep it properly stored in safe containers to prevent any leakage or spills. If you smell kerosene in your home you need to find the source. Hopefully it's just an odor issue that can be easily fixed. If there is a leak in a gas pipe, or too much kerosene is in the lamp, it could pose a serious threat. Turn off the lamp immediately, and call a professional to fix a leaking pipe

Things You'll Need

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup distilled white vinegar
• Paper towels
• Isopropyl alcohol
• Spray bottle
• Cloth
• Detergent with bleach

Instructions

1. Clean up any spill immediately paper towels. Rinse the towels in cool water before disposing of them. If the spill is on your carpet try to absorb as much of the kerosene as possible. It's important to get rid of any kerosene spills before controlling the odor.

2. Pour the water and distilled white vinegar into a spray bottle and mix well. Spray the area where the kerosene odor is and then leave it alone for a least one hour.

3. Spray the vinegar mixture to the area again if the smell still persists. Sprinkle baking soda over the area. Allow at least an hour for the baking soda to absorb the vinegar, and then vacuum the area to pick up any excess baking soda. If the odor remains, continue to Step 4.

4. Add isopropyl alcohol to the area of the kerosene odor. Use a small amount as to not soak the area. Allow it to sit for five minutes or more and then soak the area with a damp cloth. Dry the area with paper towels.

Tips & Warnings

• If there are any leftover hints of the smell, place the detergent in a water bottle and spray the area of the odor. Use a scrub brush to work the detergent into the carpet.

• If the smell is in your clothes you should wash them immediately with a strong detergent that includes bleach.

• Wash any clothes that have kerosene on them separately from other clothes. It's best to use a detergent that has a strong scent or deodorizer added to it.

References

• How to Remove Kerosene from Fabric
• Eliminating Gasoline Odors
• How to Get Rid of Gasoline Smell