Spilled Gasoline in the Car!!!

Updated on January 19, 2012
K.H. asks from Massillon, OH
14 answers

Hello moms! I hope someone can help me with this one! My dear husband filled a gas can at the gas station and spilled it while he was driving back home. We have a minivan, and the back seats were folded down flat. It spilled on the back of the seat but I'm sure it probably also went into the cracks, and therefore also on the fabric of the seats. Does anyone have any idea how to clean it up and get rid of the horrible fumes? We are supposed to have a carpet cleaner steam clean it tomorrow but I can't be sure this will work. I refuse to put my children in the car until it is cleaned up and fume free, yet we need to get to school and other places. Arrggg!!! Thanks for any help!

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So What Happened?

Well, it has been a few days now. We have had it professionally steam cleaned, put two pans of baking soda in it, a bunch of charcoal and a product called air sponge. We have also let the van air out for the first two days and now we have closed it up with all of these products in it. The fumes have lessened considerably but we can still smell it. I am hopeful that this will clear up in a few days. We'll see. Thank you to all who have responded...I am willing to try anything to get this resolved!!! By the way, we will also be trying the ground coffee as well! Thanks again moms!

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A.K.

answers from Cincinnati on

A steam cleaning and a big pan of charcoal briquettes left overnight in the car with the windows rolled up for a few nights eventually worked for us. It does take some time. We were lucky not have kids yet when this happened to us. Good luck.

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B.R.

answers from Columbus on

K.,

I did the same thing and it took a lot of doctoring and a lot of time to get the smell completely out.

First I covered it in baking soda. After a day I removed the old and covered it with a new box. I did this again several times, increasing the days between changes. During this time I opened the windows and sprayed air freshener, perfume, etc.

After this, I started shampooing the carpet. I tried different kinds, but the very best was ArmorAll apholstery shampoo in the spray can. You might want to try this after one box of baking soda. It was good stuff. It took me a good six months before I stopped getting a whiff of gasoline, but maybe ArmorAll at the beginning might speed up the process for you.

Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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C.B.

answers from Columbus on

Hi K.~

I work from home with a wellness company. They have natural products (cleaners, vitamins, bath/body, laundry, etc.) If you'd like, I'd be happy to share the info with you so you can see if you'd like to try them. They have a product that I have used before to take gasoline off my hands ...works great! Just go to: www.KidsNeedMomHome.com and fill out the "get info" form and it will come right to my email inbox and I'll get in touch with you. No pressure, just free info and if you like what you hear, I'll help you set up an account so you can shop with them. Not sure where you are but if you're anywhere local I'd be happy to share my cleaners with you to help with the gasoline spill til you can get your own.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.C.

answers from Fort Wayne on

Yikes!! I would call a car detailer and see if they'll clean it up for a fair price.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.P.

answers from Indianapolis on

This happened to me the week before I delivered my son! The only thing better about my situation is that it was July so we drovew & left the windows down for several days. The only thing going to take out the fumes is time. We tried everything as I was to bring my newborn son home in this car!

1 mom found this helpful
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D.H.

answers from Toledo on

this just happened to a friend of mine here's what worked coffee. The web said to use dried coffee but she brewed it and poured in on all the rugs after pulling them out of her car then she repeated it until smell was gone. Then she washed them . I was in her car last night and I couldn't smell anything.

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M.P.

answers from Indianapolis on

AFter it has been cleaned up as good as you can (I would use carpet cleaner and HOT water), then open car doors put a fan in to blow fumes out. After that, tear strips of newspaper and put on the seat and floor- they absorb odor quite well, change them every other day. Charcoal does too- you can wrap some charcoal in newspaper and lay on the floor of the car. Gasoline does evaporate over time, so it will go away eventually!

1 mom found this helpful
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A.F.

answers from Columbus on

Hi K. - put some baking soda on the spots. Even if they aren't sodden, over time, the baking soda will pull it up and should absorb some of the smell. You could also try cat litter. I believe there's also a granule product used in garages to sop up oil and gas spills from cars. You might call an auto parts store and ask. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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D.G.

answers from Columbus on

The fumes should evaporate in a few days, but it will take a good cleaning to make it non flammable again.
Use his car and let him smell it until you get it cleaned.If you have a safe nieghboorhood I would leave the windows down so it can air out.

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S.L.

answers from Cincinnati on

gas will evaporate in just a few hours, leave your windows open for and hour or two it will go away..

1 mom found this helpful
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K.L.

answers from Canton on

Kitty littter works great for that. pour it on affected area then let sit for a wile then vaccume. Good Luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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C.W.

answers from Cincinnati on

Try charcoal for the fumes. I am also not sure the carpet clenaers can get it out. Hey try calling one of the corp gasoline companies. I am sure your not the only one to have this happen. You may need to sprinkle something on the carpet to try to pull it up and then vacum it out. Also there is not going to be much short of taking the van apart to remove it from the craks. Good luck. I got gasoline on some clothes once and washed them in the washer. Nasty oil stains were left and I dried them in the dryer couls have burned the house down. After all it's the fumes that burn. You would have thought I would have known that my dad use to own a full service gasoline station.

1 mom found this helpful

W.T.

answers from Detroit on

OK, this is dangerous! gasoline smell can be nauseating and is know to cause drowsiness, do not travel in your vehicle with windows closed unless you get rid of the gasoline spill. For the first action pour some water in the place were gasoline was pilled to reduce its mixture, the next step is to get steam cleaning http://www.detailxperts.net/hand_car_wash_exterior_steam_.... DONOT wait for this get it done.

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J.H.

answers from Chicago on

Cleaning the stain is the hardest part, but what people don’t realize is while the stain is gone the odor isn’t. Room Shocker is the best product I have used to handle nasty odors. It’s an odor eliminator so it doesn’t cover the smell with perfumes; it actually kills the smell at its source. Rooms Shocker is easy to use; it doesn’t have any harsh chemicals, and it work, works, works! Any odor you have Room Shocker will get it out and the smell will never come back. Check it out at http://www.biocidesystems.com/roomshocker1.html

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