Removing Gasoline Odors
It is one of those inevitable facts of human-mechanism interaction that fluids don't always stay where they're supposed to be. Coolant gets into oil, washer fluid gets into the engine and some day you'll live to spill gasoline in your vehicle's trunk or interior. But whereas automotive gearheads may see the fragrant aroma of refined crude as more of an aphrodisiac than an annoyance, the sad fact is that some passengers may not feel the same way. While time and airflow will eventually evaporate the most obnoxious molecules, there are steps you can take to accelerate the process and fully eliminate the smell.
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Things You'll Need
- Rubbing alcohol
- De-greasing detergent
- Wet-dry vacuum
- Chamois cloth
- Something heavy
- Large ventilation fan
Instructions
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Open up the car door or trunk lid and remove everything that isn't bolted to the car. Place the ventilation fan over the stain, as close to it as you can; higher temperatures and lower barometric pressures will accelerate the lighter fuel molecules' evaporation.
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2
Mix a batch of nine parts rubbing alcohol and one part de-greasing detergent. Dish detergent works fine, but a specialized industrial cleaner works better. The rubbing alcohol will act as a solvent to break the fuel's heavier molecules apart, and the detergent will act as a surfactant to release them from the surface.
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Test the rubbing mixture in an inconspicuous place and allow it to sit for 20 minutes. Dry the area with a towel or chamois cloth to ensure that the alcohol hasn't damaged the surface. After making sure that it's safe, saturate the fuel stain with your cleaning mixture and scrub it lightly with a towel. Allow the mixture to sit for five minutes.
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4
Turn your wet-dry vacuum on high an press the hose top into the saturated area to remove the cleaner and dissolved fuel. Keep on with the vacuuming until the area feels only slightly damp to the touch.
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Place a double-layer of chamois cloth over the wet area and place something heavy on top of it. A brick will work for smaller spots and a cinder block or stack of books for a larger one. If the floor or upholstery has a curve to it, then wrap your heavy object in a few old towels so that it can conform to the shape.
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Allow the block and chamois to stay in position for about 20 minutes to absorb the remaining moisture. Remove the chamois, then place the fan back over the stain and allow it to sit for a while. Overnight is best, if you can, but the longer you leave the fan on the stain, the less time it will spend stinking up your car.
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References
- Photo Credit Goodshoot RF/Goodshoot/Getty Images
