How to Remove a Diesel Fuel Smell From Pants

Just like gasoline, heating oil, fuel oil, kerosene and other petroleum products, diesel fuel has a strong, lasting smell to it. Anytime you get diesel fuel on your pants from a splash or a spill, you'll have to deal with the stain and the odor both. The stain is rather stubborn because it's an oil-based stain. The oil needs to be dissolved to be removed. Once you completely remove the diesel fuel stain, the smell will be gone as well.

Things You'll Need

• Degreasing, heavy-duty laundry detergent
• Clothes washer and dryer

Instructions

1. Pretreat the diesel fuel stain with liquid laundry detergent. Or, mix powdered detergent with just enough water to make a runny paste. Rub the detergent into the stain.

2. Wash the pants separately with additional laundry detergent in hot water, if possible. Wash them in a regular-size load with the correct amount of laundry detergent for such a load. Check the fabric care tag to find out what temperature is recommended.

3. Remove the pants from the washer. Check to see if the diesel fuel stain and smell are gone. If there are any traces left, repeat the process to remove a diesel fuel smell, says dbs.extension.iastate.edu.

4. Place the clean pants in a clothes dryer or line-dry the item. Never place pants that still smell like diesel fuel in a dryer.

Tips & Warnings

• Diesel fuel is flammable. Do not smoke while you handle the soiled clothing. Keep the pants away from sparks and open flame.

References

• Dbs.extension.iastate.edu: AnswerLine, Iowa State University, University Extension