The Most Effective Way to Remove Terrible Gasoline Smells from Anywhere

A few years ago, one of my nightmares happened to me. I was at the gas station, put the pump in my car, and notched the handle up so gas would flow while I went into the shop. Sadly for me, the auto-stop wasn’t working, and I came back out to gasoline spewing out of my tank and all over the side of my car, the ground, and me when I stopped the pump and pulled the handle out. 

I didn’t know what to do, so I wiped down the side of my car with paper towels, climbed in, and drove back home with the window cracked. Thankfully I’m safe, but the gas smell lingered. If you want to be more prepared than I was, whether you’ve had a gasoline spill at home, in your car, or elsewhere, read on to find out how to get rid of gasoline smell from your belongings.

Safety is always first! Rhonda Wilson, quality lead cleaner at FreshSpace Cleaning, says to forget about the spill itself until you’ve made sure your area is properly ventilated. So open windows if you’re in an enclosed space. Next, you want to turn off anything that could spark, causing a fire. That means appliances, pilot lights, or anything running on electricity. 

Below, find out how to clean up gasoline spills on the floor, ground, or clothes.

If you’ve spilled gasoline on your floors, you’ll want to contain the spill so it doesn’t get under any appliances or anything else. Wilson suggests trying to absorb it with thick kitchen paper, old clothes or rags you planned to throw out, or even cat litter. Clean up the floor with a mixture of warm water and dish soap. Then, seal everything in a bag and dispose of it according to your local guidelines for hazardous waste. 

According to Wilson, if you’ve spilled gasoline on dirt or soil, use a shovel to scoop up the top layer before the gasoline can seep in further, then replace it with fresh topsoil. Give it a week or so before you replant anything, just in case.

On pavement, block the edges of the spill so it doesn’t leak into your grass or plants — you can use sand, dirt, or old rags to create a barrier. “If you’re worried about the remaining gas affecting your plants, sprinkle activated charcoal or garden lime over the area to help break down the toxins,” Wilson says. Dispose of the contaminated dirt or rags like you would for any hazardous waste. 

No matter what, don’t toss those clothes straight into the washing machine! “Gasoline fumes are flammable, and running it through your washer or dryer could be dangerous,” Wilson says. “It can even leave a stubborn smell or residue in the machine.” Instead, take the clothing outside and let the fumes air out for a few days in a shaded and well-ventilated area. Once the smell is gone, hand-wash your clothes.

Follow the steps below to get rid of any lingering gasoline smells. 

1. Take whatever you spilled on, outside, if possible. This is especially important for fabric, because the smell can settle in and any remaining gasoline can cause skin issues.
2. Let the items you took outside air out in a shaded and well-ventilated area (this can take a few days).
3. Once the smell is gone, hand-wash your items.
4. Wilson suggests using Borax (technical grade) to help remove any remaining smell. Follow the product instructions.
5. Air-dry.
6. If you’ve spilled on a hard surface, clean up the space with a mixture of warm water and dish soap. Then, go over the same spot with vinegar or baking soda to neutralize the smell. Air-dry and repeat as needed.