Oil & Fuel Oops, spilled diesel in the wife's car-help

[nhman]

Was getting some fuel for my Tractor and the diesel container tipped over. Spilled about a pint before I could get to it. I have cleaned it, but need to clean it again as it smells pretty strong. Any suggestions for how to best clean it to completely get the smell out....she's out of town, so I got to get this fixed today...

 

[Solo]

Try some Simple Green on it. It is a degreaser and won't hurt the fabric.
Solo

 

[zjohnson]

Wish I could offer advice - Its very had to get diesel washed out of clothing. Perhaps a ton of spray carpet cleaner + vacuum. Its just going to be one of those things thats going to cost ya Hope your wife is understanding (or at least, a poor shot).

 

[ToddW]

There was a good thread about this a while ago on TBN, I believe that the answer was Simple Green as Solo stated. Good luck, and let us know what you find that works best for you.

 

[ronjhall]

Here are 2 threads on the subject.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30443&highlight=diesel+wife
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=64392&highlight=diesel+wife
Looks like you may be in big trouble no matter what you do to remove the smell.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Ron, have I mentioned lately that I still wake up in the middle of the night screaming due to the nightmares of THAT event Thanks for finding the links because my fingers lock up when I try to do a search for this topic.

LESTOIL will remove the diesel, and leave a mild stink all its own. SIMPLE GREEN will remove the rest of the diesel and get rid of the LESTOIL smell. I would suggest you go to a do it yourself car wash, take a large bottle of Lestoil and a large bottle of Simple Green with you. First try to suck out as much of the diesel as you can with the car wash vacuums. Scrub the carpet first with Lestoil, use lots of disposeable rags, towels, etc. Then using different rags, do the job again with Simple Green. Use the high powered vacuums at the car wash to suck out any of the residue of the Lestoil and the Simple Green.

Then don't use your wife's car to transport diesel in the future.

 

[ronjhall]

Ron, have I mentioned lately that I still wake up in the middle of the night screaming due to the nightmares of THAT event

I have been of accused of stinking up the cars with diesel.
Now I always carry some of them bed pads in the back of each of our vans to set the cans on. When I unload the diesel cans. They get thrown away. No more smell.

 

[California]

I carry the diesel jugs in a tray similar to a kitty litter pan but three times the size, and rigid. If I used a rag to wipe dribbles around the filler cap, that goes in the tray too.

The pan is also useful for bagged mulch, concrete rubble, etc that you don't want spilled in the car.

As for getting that smell out - maybe call a carpet cleaning service??

 

[texbaylea]

I use the heavy, gray plastic "bussing" pans that resturants use to clear tables in the back of our Suburban. Two 5 gal. plastic diesel fuel cans fit cross ways and tightly. I got mine from Sam's Club. I originally got them to catch drips from a roof leak before it was repaired - easy to place in the attic and to siphon the water out.

If I spill a little while filling the pans catch it and I run the A/C with outside air on the way back - no smell.

Vernon

 

[jinman]

Was getting some fuel for my Tractor and the diesel container tipped over. Spilled about a pint before I could get to it. I have cleaned it, but need to clean it again as it smells pretty strong. Any suggestions for how to best clean it to completely get the smell out....she's out of town, so I got to get this fixed today...

If all else fails, burn it. That normally works.