Suppose the odor persisted for 6–8 weeks and was incredibly intense during the first four. As far as we know, an enzyme-based “pet odor neutralizer” works very well on diesel splashed on clothing: spray it on and leave it for a day or two, and the diesel odor will disappear. In this guide, I will share tips on how to get rid of diesel smell in car.
How to Get Rid of Diesel Smell in Car
The most crucial point to remember is that clothes with diesel oil should not be washed with other products and if the diesel oil smell remains after washing. You shouldn’t dry these clothes.
This is because the excess heat generated by the dryer can ignite the oil, igniting the clothes and causing them to burst into flames.
If the spill is recent, the most advisable is to press over it with an old cloth to absorb all the diesel oil. If the spill takes a little longer to clean up, you should prepare a unique product for cleaning.
A simple solution can be prepared with half a cup of shampoo and 3 cups of tap water.
You can also mix vinegar, baking soda, and water in equal parts or dissolve some soap in water and use it instead of the baking soda. You can also use this method to clean the car’s interior and exterior in the same way. Open the windows for a few hours so that all of the diesel oil will evaporate, then vacuum cleaner everything inside and outside.
A very effective trick usually recommended is to rub some coffee beans on the diesel oil stain. After a week, the coffee is vacuumed, and the smell will have diminished. You can also apply dry baking soda or baby powder. Cat litter can absorb moisture and odors, which can also be a good solution.
One last possibility is to use a specific spray to remove the odor from the car. There is an excellent variety of them, and that can help us diminish the smell of diesel oil until it does not go away entirely with the cleaning.
Warnings
You can keep an old towel in your trunk if the container spills. You can then discard the old towel.
If you work with diesel fuel, you should use caution to avoid spills. Although spills can be cleaned up, the odor is extremely pungent. Typical air fresheners are ineffective in removing diesel odors. If your clothes are stained with fuel oil, it will take more than a regular detergent to remove the scent.
If your clothes contain diesel fuel, wash them with Listerine. This is the method firefighters use to remove the smoke odor from their clothing. If power has been spilled on the floor or car carpet, you may choose to scrub it with Listerine. Then, using carpet shampoo, clean it thoroughly.
You will need a clean, empty-gallon milk jug to make a solution of ammonia, washing soda, and vinegar. Be sure to shake the pitcher before mopping up the diesel leak thoroughly. This will disinfect and eliminate any scents from the area.
How can I get a diesel smell out of my car’s carpet?
Although diesel emits a pungent odor that can be difficult to remove from car carpets, some solutions can help mask the stench.
Mothballs
These can help eliminate unpleasant odors if you don’t have pets or children who have unsupervised access to your car.
Listerine for carpet cleaning
After the Listerine has settled, you’ll need to clean the carpet, so a carpet cleaner or soap and water are handy.
Consider making your solution with hot water, ammonia, baking soda, and vinegar.
Soaking and rinsing the car carpet in the solution should remove the odor.
Why Doesn’t the Washer Get Rid of the Diesel Smell?
Simply putting oil-stained clothes in the washing machine rarely does any good because many commercial detergents cannot altogether remove oil stains. Instead, a commercial degreaser, solvent-based stain remover, or natural deodorizer is needed.
So why does diesel emit such a strong and persistent odor? It is mainly because of its relatively high sulfur and nitrogen content.
Regular gasoline evaporates quickly and therefore does not leave a residual odor. It is also more refined than diesel and does not have as strong a fragrance.
Removing the sulfur and nitrogen particles that cling to your clothes or shoes is necessary to eliminate the diesel odor.
On its own, diesel odor can remain in your car or on your clothes for six to eight weeks.
Bottom line
Although diesel emits a pungent odor that can be difficult to remove from car carpets, some solutions can help mask the smell.
If you work with diesel fuel, you should use caution to avoid spilling any. Although you can clean spills up, the odor is highly pervasive.
It can persist for an extended time, and conventional air fresheners do not remove the diesel odor. If you get diesel stains on your clothes, you will need more than a standard detergent to remove them. If you have spilled fuel on the floor or car carpet, you can rub a little Listerine on it. Then, using carpet shampoo, clean it thoroughly. Diesel fuel has a robust and long-lasting odor because of its relatively high sulfur and nitrogen content.
I am an Automotive specialist. I graduated from Michigan with Bachelor in Automotive Engineering and Management. Also, I hold degrees in Electrical and Automation Engineering (BEng), Automatic and Industrial Electronic Engineering, and Automotive Technology. I have worked at General Motors Company for over five years as the Marketing Operations Production Coordinator. Now, I own my garage in Miami, Florida. I love cars and love to share everything about them with my readers. I am the founder of the Automotiveex blog, where I share everything about automotive, like car news, car mechanical issues, and anything else that comes up in my blog posts.
