Spilled some gas on yourself accidentally? While petrolheads may be okay with the odor, most of us may not want the smell to linger. Here’s what you should do to get the gas smell off your hands!
Whether you spill some gas on yourself at the station, while working on the car, or while filling up a container, gasoline can leave behind an unpleasant odor. The pungent smell may stay for a while unless you know exactly how to wash it away!
In this post, we break down a few ways you can scrub yourself clean of the gas smell in just a short time!
What do you do if you spill gas on your hands?
If you’ve spilled some gas on your clothes and skin, don’t panic. The chemicals in gasoline are not easily absorbed through the skin and so are not toxic – at least not immediately. Remove your clothes and rinse the parts of the body that came into contact with the gas under running water for around 15 minutes.
You will have better results if you use an anti-grease soap and scrub your hands well for a few minutes. While this may help wash away most of the gasoline, you’ll still need other agents to get rid of the pungent smell, which can irritate your nostrils.
How long does gasoline smell linger?
Depending on the material it spilled on, the gasoline smell can linger for anything between two days to a week.
- Skin does not absorb chemicals in gas easily. That means it can be easily washed away under running water, while the smell can be removed by agents like vanilla extract or lemon juice
- Absorbent materials like clothes can absorb gas and retain the smell for up to a week unless treated with specific detergents.
What takes the gasoline smell off your hands?
Here are some effective ways to rid yourself of the pesky gas smell.
Baking Soda and Vinegar
The chemical reaction between vinegar and baking soda produces foam with carbon dioxide, sodium ions, and acetate ions. It is very effective at removing all types of grime – including the smell of gas.
- Simply take a palmful of baking soda in your hands, put a teaspoon of vinegar in it, and start scrubbing vigorously.
- Apply it on the parts of your body where gasoline spilled and do the same.
- Rinse with water.
Vanilla Extract
This is preferred by many folks due to the pleasant smell it leaves in the aftermath. Once you’ve finished with the initial scrubbing with running water, do the following:
- Pour a few drops of vanilla extract into a cup of water
- Rub your hands together, and also apply it to the other areas where gas has spilled
- Rinse your hands again after about a minute of applying the vanilla extract
Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is high in citric acid, has a low PH, and has several anti-bacterial properties. This makes it excellent to get the gas smell off your hands. The best thing is you don’t need fresh lemons – even old ones will do.
- Take half a lemon and squeeze it into a cup of water.
- Rinse your hands well using the lemon juice extract, rubbing it into your pores until it overcomes the smell of the gas.
- Rinse your hands with soap and water in the end.
Hydrogen Peroxide
It is a strong oxidant, which means it acts as a powerful disinfectant and cleaner and is great to get the gas smell off your hands. Simply take a bit in your palms, rub them together, and apply it all over the spilled area. Once done, ensure you rinse the area under running water.
Salt and detergent
Besides using a powerful cleaner like detergent, you can add salt to it to help exfoliate away the gas smell off your hands.
- Take some detergent in your hands and start scrubbing the areas that have gas spilled over them.
- Add a few spoons of salt, which will scrub away the smell of gasoline
- Finally, rinse your hands with running water and smell them to check if the gas smell still persists. Repeat once again if it does.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does gasoline penetrate the skin?
No, gasoline does not readily absorb gasoline spilled on the skin into the body. However, it’s best to wash and clean the area with running water within an hour. Prolonged exposure can cause mild skin irritation, and the pungent odor can irritate your nose as well.
Will water wash away the gas smell off your hands?
Running water alone will not wash the gas smell off your hands – you need a powerful cleaner or oxidizing agent that will break down the chemicals in gasoline. You can also use a pleasant-smelling agent like vanilla extract or lemon juice to rid yourself of the smell.
Is it safe to wash clothes with gasoline on them?
If you are planning to wash clothes stained with gasoline, you can do so safely in your washing machine. However, ensure you do not put any other clothes along with them in the washer. Also, try to use a stronger detergent and hot water to ensure they are well-cleaned.
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