Gasoline in the tank usually makes your car run, however, the gasoline smell inside your vehicle can be really annoying and irritating and also dangerous to your health. Because inhalation of its fumes can sometimes cause respiratory disorders and even death due to carbon monoxide poisoning.
According to the report of CBS News, around 70 percent of U.S. drivers have vehicles or currently own a vehicle that requires regular gasoline. And while performing car maintenance, gasoline is definitely the last thing that you want to spill in your car.
Because of that, it is really important to know how to get gas smell out of car carpet. And sometimes simple soap and water could not remove the scent of gasoline, and at that time you should not give up and allow yourself to breathe in lingering fumes.
In this article, we have shared a step-by-step guide on how to get gas smell out of car carpet to remove the odor completely. Also, here we have covered how you can clean a gas spill in your car trunk.
So, let’s get started.
Table of Contents
What You Will Need To Remove Gas Smell From Car Carpet
Before you start this process, you need to make sure that you have all the required equipment available for you. Also, you should wear a face mask to protect your mouth and nose from gas fumes.
And you should park your car in an open and well-ventilated area, such as a driveway or on your street before you start the removal process of the gas smell. Here is the list of tools and materials you need for this process.
- Rags
- Baby oil
- Coffee grounds
- Washcloth
- Hot water
- Dishwashing soap
- Vinegar
- Baking soda
- Paper towels
How To Get Gas Smell Out Of Car Carpet: 5-Step Easy Process
Gasoline spills in the car are usually common, particularly when you are transporting gas cans. That is why you must know how to get gas smell out of car carpet and here are the 5 steps to do it.
1. Cleaning The Car
You should start this process by cleaning your car thoroughly. First, you should remove the mats, seat covers, and other detachable items. Then, try to get rid of the trash and other unwanted things from your car.
Also, ventilation is one of the easiest methods when you are looking for simple solutions to getting the gas smell out of the car carpet. Keeping the windows down would help the fumes escape, however, it does not neutralize the odors completely.
So, if the smell of gasoline is lingering on your car carpet, then you should be careful about what you use to clean it up. And first, you can use one rag to soak up any residual liquid in the area where the gas spill occurred.
2. Apply Baby Oil On The Gas Stains
Now, you can apply some baby oil on the spilled gas stains on the car carpet and upholstery. Because baby oil can gently lift up stains and can also reduce the unpleasant smell of gasoline from your car.
Also, you can also use some natural odor absorbers such as coffee grounds to remove the gas smell from the carpet. Coffee grounds are a natural deodorizer and they can absorb smells and remove odors.
And if want to use coffee grounds to get the gas smell out of the car carpet, you can sprinkle a half-inch layer of coffee grounds across the carpet where the gas spilled.
After that, you should leave the coffee grounds on the stain for almost an hour, if possible you can leave it overnight, before sweeping the coffee grounds off the floor. You can also use a vacuum for cleaning the remaining coffee grounds from the car carpet.
3. Use A Washcloth And Wipe The Stain Clean
First, you need to use a washcloth and dip it in hot water. After that, just rub it on the gas stain. And you should throw away the washcloth that you used for the gas stain to prevent contamination of other areas.
Now, you should take another washcloth and also dip it in warm water. Then, rub this on the gas stains of the car carpets and upholstery. All types of loose debris and dirt can also be removed in this process.
And when gasoline gets soaked into car carpets or upholstery, the smell can be not only overpowering but also dangerous to our health. That is why you should clean the gas stain properly.
4. Use Some Dishwashing Soap
You can also put some dishwashing soap on a washcloth and then rub the cloth in circular motions on the stained area. Because this will help you to remove the gas stains and also the baby oil from the car carpets.
Also, in one bowl, you can mix a little hot water with vinegar, and in another bowl, you should mix hot water with baking soda to make a paste-like mixture.
Now you should first apply the vinegar and water solution to the area of the carpet that has the odor on it.
Then, use a rag to soak and clean up the affected area. After that cover the area with the baking soda and water mixture and use a rag again to wipe off and clean the spot. And you can repeat this process to get the desired results.
5. Remove The Soap Using A Washcloth
Finally, you should use a washcloth dipped in hot water to remove the dishwashing soap. And you need to repeat this step until all the soap is removed. After that, you should allow those areas to dry freely and thoroughly.
Also, you can rinse the area with plain water and lay several paper towels over it. Then, you should put a heavy object over the paper towels, so that they can fully absorb the liquid. Now, you need to allow the water to dry.
Then you can sprinkle some carpet powder on the car seats, carpet, and upholstery and vacuum it after ten minutes to easily get rid of the gasoline odor from your car. This can bring back the fresh smell in your car.
How To Clean A Gas Spill In Your Car Trunk: 5 Steps To Clean Your Car
There could be various reasons for a gas spill in your car trunk, but whatever the reason, you should never take the spill lightly, because it can make your car’s trunk messy. That is why here are 5 steps to clean a gas spill in your car trunk.
1. Use Old Rags To Soak Up The Gasoline
First, you should locate the gasoline spill. And then you can use some old rags and press them against those spots to soak up the gasoline. However, if you don’t have rags, you can also use paper towels or newspapers for this process.
And if it is an old spill, then you might have to locate the source by smelling it. Also, you can use your hands to feel for the wet spot, however, you need to make sure you wash your hands after it.
Also, you need to protect yourself from the harmful fumes of gasoline when you clean up the gas spills on your car’s trunk. Because of that, you should wear a face mask or any piece of clothing that you can use to cover your nose and mouth.
2. Spray Some Water On The Area
Next, you can spray some water on that area by using a spray bottle filled with water to dampen it, because water and gasoline don’t mix well. So, the water would definitely help loosen the gasoline molecules.
After that, you should apply a thin layer of salt or cornmeal over the stain. Because these are absorbent materials that can help draw out the gasoline spill from the trunk. Now, you should allow it to sit for around 30 minutes.
And then wipe everything away completely. After that, you should try to clean the gas stain. There are many cleaning solution options available for cleaning a gasoline spill, so you can choose one according to your preference.
3. Clean The Gas Stain Using A Cleaning Solution
In this step, you need to clean the gas stain using a commercial cleaner or a homemade cleaning solution. For that, you can use carpet shampoo and mix it with adequate warm water as per product instructions.
And then you can apply it to the stain. You can also use some household items to clean the gasoline stain. To make your own household cleaning product, you can mix equal amounts of vinegar, baking soda, and dishwashing solution.
Then, just pour the cleaning solution onto the gas spill and scrub it properly with a nylon brush. And if you don’t have a nylon brush, then you can use a towel or sponge for scrubbing gasoline stains from the trunk.
4. Allow The Trunk To Air Dry
After scrubbing out the gasoline stains, you should wipe them with clean and unused rags. Then, just open the door and allow the trunk to air dry. If want to speed up the drying process, then you can use a fan.
Also, you can park your car accordingly to let sunlight enter the trunk. After that, check if the stain is removed properly or not. If you don’t get the desired result, you can continue the cleaning and drying process.
Now, you might be thinking that cleaning a gas spill in your trunk is actually a lengthy process. However, it is all worth it for the sake of your and your family’s health. In the next step, you should try to remove the annoying smell.
5. Use A Commercial Car Air Freshener To Get Rid Of The Gas Smell
Now to get rid of the gas smell from your car, you can use a commercial car air freshener. Also, you can try household remedies to remove the odor.
So, if want to use household remedies, then you should know that baking soda is an excellent odor remover.
And it can effectively remove the unpleasant smell of gasoline in your car. You just need to sprinkle some amount of baking soda in your trunk, then allow it to sit for a few hours, and finally vacuum it.
Also, some car owners use coffee grounds, however, instead of a few hours, you should allow it to stay for at least a week before you vacuum it.
You can also find other DIY methods on how to clean a gas spill in a car trunk and pick a technique that is suitable for you. After trying all these methods, if your car still smells like gasoline, then we recommend you to replace your trunk’s carpeting.
Wrap Up On How To Get Gas Smell Out Of Car Carpet
It is really important to learn how to get gas smell out of car carpet to restore the natural smell of your car’s interior. Because gasoline is so strong that even a tiny spill can make your house or car smell very unpleasant until you completely clean the spill.
And it is also possible to restore the condition of your carpet and remove the gasoline smell using these above-mentioned natural odor fighters. However, if you do not have enough time to do all this, you can always take the services of professionals.
We hope that our detailed article has helped you to find out how to get gas smell out of car carpet and easily get rid of gasoline odor from your car.
If you have any doubts or questions about any of these steps, then please let us know in the comments below.
FAQ: How To Get Gas Smell Out Of Car Carpet
When gasoline gets inside your car, it generally leaves a strong odor for a long period of time. That is why many people have some common questions in their minds and we have tried to answer a few of them here.
Q1. How Long Does It Take For Gas Smell To Go Away In The Car?
Ans: You can leave your car open in a sunny area, so it will dry out the spot and draw the gasoline into the air. And you should try to leave it open for at least 4 to 5 hours.
Q2. What Happens If You Smell Gas Fumes For Too Long?
Ans: Breathing gasoline vapor generally causes headaches, nausea, and dizziness and extremely high levels can also cause fainting and even death. Also, gasoline in the air can irritate your eyes, nose, and throat.
Q3. Is Gas Flammable When It Dries?
Ans: Gasoline is a liquid that will generally evaporate in the open air, which means that when it is dried there is no gasoline left to catch fire. So when it is dried up, it could not catch fire because it is not present there anymore.
