How to Get Gas Smell Off Hands (& Clothes) 11 RVer Tips
Refilling generators, boat motors, and ATVs are common tasks while camping. And it can be hard to keep the smell off your hands and clothes. Here’s how to get rid of the smell of gasoline from your clothes and hands.
To get the gas smell off your hands, try mechanics soap, vinegar, baking soda, baby wipes, or orange peel water. And if your clothes smell like gas, try special laundry detergent, coffee grounds, baking soda, or lemon juice/vinegar. It’s easy to remove the smell of gas with these common cleaners.
This article will look at six ways to get rid of the smell of gasoline from your clothes and six ways to remove it from your hands.
How to Get Smell off Hands: 5 Tips
Getting rid of a gasoline smell from your hands can be tricky. This is especially true if you don’t have access to soap specifically made to remove the smell of gasoline.
But, if you’re in a pinch, there are a few things you can do to try to get the smell out as much as possible.
1. Use Anti-Grease Hand Soap
If you happen to have anti-grease (mechanics) hand soap available, you can use it to remove the gasoline smell from your hands.
This type of soap is beneficial if the gas has gotten underneath your nails and you can’t seem to get the smell out. Wash your hands with the anti-grease hand soap as you would any other soap, and the gasoline smell should start to disappear.
There are lots of options for this mechanics hand cleaner. One popular option is Grip Clean – it’s all-natural and has dirt (bentonite clay) as an abrasive and absorbent.
If you’ll be handling gas often, it’s not a bad idea to have mechanics soap around.
2. Use Baby Wipes or Hand Sanitizer
If you have baby wipes or hand sanitizer available, you can use them to remove the gasoline smell from your hands.
Wipe your hands with wipes or sanitizer, and the smell should start to dissipate. You might have to use soap and water after using baby wipes to be sure that the smell is completely gone.
3. Use Vinegar or Lemon Juice
If you don’t have baby wipes or hand sanitizer, you can try using vinegar or lemon juice. First, soak a paper towel in vinegar or lemon juice, and then rub it over your hands.
You can then wash your hands with soap and water to remove the vinegar or lemon juice.
One thing to be careful of, especially when putting lemon juice on your hands, is not being out in the sun too long. Doing so can cause your hands to become sunburned, especially when already exposed to lemon or lime juice.
4. Use Baking Soda or Cornstarch
Another way to remove the smell of gasoline from your hands is to use baking soda or cornstarch.
Rub either one of these onto your hands and then wash them with soap and water. The baking soda or cornstarch will help to absorb the gasoline and remove the smell.
5. Soak Your Hands in Orange Peel Water
If you have a little time, you can try soaking your hands in orange peel water (link opens pdf). This is a simple solution that can be made by boiling orange peels in water for a few minutes. Once the water has cooled, soak your hands in it for about 15 minutes.
The citrus oils in the orange peel water will work to get rid of the gasoline smell on your hands and leave them feeling soft and smelling great.
How to Get Smell off Clothes: 6 Tips
It’s one thing to get rid of the smell of gasoline on your hands. But if your clothes smell like gasoline, it can be another challenge.
So here are six ways to get gasoline out of your clothes.
1. Use Special Laundry Detergent
There are laundry detergents specifically designed to remove the smell of harsh chemicals and stains from clothes. If you can find one of these, use it to wash your clothes.
You might have to wash the clothes multiple times depending on how strong the smell is.
Laundry detergent should be able to remove the scent entirely after a few washes.
2. Use Vinegar or Lemon Juice
If you can’t find a special laundry detergent, you can try using vinegar or lemon juice. Add a cup of either vinegar or lemon juice to your washing machine and the laundry detergent you normally use.
The acid in the vinegar or lemon juice will help break down the gasoline molecules and help remove the smell.
Be sure to wash the clothing on a hot cycle to ensure the scent is eradicated.
3. Use Baking Soda
Another option is to add a cup of baking soda to your washing machine and your normal laundry soap.
The properties of baking soda make it absorb the gasoline and remove the smell, while the detergent will help to rinse away the baking soda.
Another way to use baking soda is to put it directly on the gasoline stain and let it soak into the fabric before washing the clothing.
Doing this can help to remove the stain as well as the smell.
4. Use Coffee Grounds
If you have coffee grounds available, you can rub them into the gasoline stain and let them sit for a few minutes.
Once the coffee grounds have had a chance to absorb the gasoline, brush them off the clothing.
You can then wash the clothing as usual. While this method may not remove the smell altogether, it can help lessen it.
When combined with another method, such as vinegar or lemon juice, it can be more effective.
5. Use Talcum Powder
In a similar usage to coffee grounds, you can use talcum powder to absorb the gasoline and remove the smell. Rub the talcum powder into the gasoline stain and let it sit for a few minutes. Once the talcum powder has had a chance to absorb the gasoline, brush it off the clothing and wash as usual.
Many people prefer talcum powder to coffee grounds because it is less likely to leave a stain on the clothing. However, it is not as effective at removing the smell as other methods.
6. Don’t Let the Stain Sit For Very Long
If you have a gasoline stain on your clothing, it’s essential to treat it as soon as possible. The longer the gasoline sits on the fabric, the harder it will be to remove. So, if you can, try to treat the stain right away.
If you can’t wash your clothes right away,l try to remove the gasoline by blotting it with a cloth.
When handling gas cans while camping, means transporting them in your vehicle. And you might spill a little once in a while.
Here’s how to get the gas smell out of your car.
See more tips and guides for RV Living.
Your Turn
Having your clothes or hands smell like gasoline can be unpleasant. If you find yourself in this situation, there are a few things you can do to try to remove the smell.
By using these tips above, you should be able to minimize the smell of gasoline from your hands (and clothes) in no time.
What worked for you? Have a method for removing the smell of gas that isn’t included? Please share it below!
