How to remove diesel fuel smell from clothes?

Hey guys, 

My job revolves around maintaining diesel generators. Almost everything I own has at least a hint of diesel fuel to it. What is the best way to get rid of the smell, or at least cut down on it? Because between this and the battery acid holes, my wardrobe is pretty terrible. 

Keep them separate from everything else, in Rubbermaid tote or something to stop cross contamination. Add charcoal to the tote to cut down on the smell staying there. Washing with baking soda and or 20 mule team borax helped some. Let them sun dry whenever possible. 

Warm water better than cold? 

In reply to Mazdax605 :

I wash everything in cold water, warm might be better, but I have an irrational fear of shrinking my clothes. 

Years ago my job was keeping water pumps fueled up, gas and diesel, from 5 gallon cans. I wore a lot of fuel, but still have some of the jeans from back then.

That permatex laundry soap ain't too bad to get smells and imbedded in grease out. You then can use the foo foo smell good detergent. 
Oh and do not put in the dryer until you're satisfied with the smell.

Dip them in gasoline.  That'll cover the diesel smell.

Or, old gear oil should work too.

We use vinegar when we wash something with a bad smell (like cat pizz) haven't tried it with diesel. We wash everything in cold FWIW,

Don’t forget to clean your washer. A little tip from your friendly neighborhood appliance tech. Use Affresh. Don’t use tide’s version. If you’re on septic use Lemishine. 

NO, bleach does not work. And, NO, vinegar does not work (to clean your washer out). Urban legends all of them. With a clean washer, all clothes come out smelling good. 

Kerosene should get the diesel right out of there

I once spilled some diesel fuel in the truck of my car, a 5 gal. jug tipped over and leaked.  I hit the carpet/mat with a strong degreaser 3 times before I got it clean enough that I didn't smell diesel everytime I got in the car.  The smell does go away over time but I didn't like the smell and the car is a diesel!

jimbbski said:

I once spilled some diesel fuel in the truck of my car, a 5 gal. jug tipped over and leaked.  I hit the carpet/mat with a strong degreaser 3 times before I got it clean enough that I didn't smell diesel everytime I got in the car.  The smell does go away over time but I didn't like the smell and the car is a diesel!

I had a 5 gallon bucket with a couple of gallons of diesel fuel and filters from an engine service I had done. Apparently I didn't have it secured quite as good as I should. Had to hit the brakes fairly hard at one point and the bucket tipped over. Scrubbing for a few days got rid of most of it, but the van still smells like diesel. I think the two sweatshirts I had on the passenger seat smell because of this even though they didn't get fuel on them directly. It sucks!! 

In reply to _ :

Will confirm, lemishine is amazing. Vinegar works for standard stinky clothes, but not much more. The cream style hand degreaser makes a good spot remover too.

Time. The only luck I've ever had getting diesel out is time.

Appleseed said:

Time. The only luck I've ever had getting diesel out is time.

Time ...and fire.

Try washing in Simply Green about 1/3 Cup.

So diesel fuel is a light oil, for oils and grease I always go to ammonia to get them out.  If its just natural body oil built up on the collar or pits of a shirt I'll throw 1/2-1 cup of ammonia in with the wash.  For something that is absolutely covered because I've spent the day crawling around inside an engine bay I'll throw the clothes in a 5 gallon bucket and soak them with about the same amount of ammonia, some detergent, and water.  

I can't remember if it is just a really effective detergent, or if it actually helps to break the oil down, but its hard for me to find something that works better.

I once had to fix fuel lines on my old diesel truck in the winter. So I soaked a few layers of clothes. I feel your pain. 

What did work was after I washed them a few times, I left them to bake in the sun outside (in the spring). The sun was far more effective than anything else I tried - hot water, cold water, vinegar, degreaser, baking soda, etc. Not sure if I tried ammonia. Not sure what about the sun was so effective. I had tried them in the dryer, and that didn't really work, so it's more than just evaporation due to heat. 

I think at one point I had this happen to me where I was just covered in diesel or regular fuel.  My wife is a naturalist and likes essential oils.  She ended up using lemon oil and another type of oil both in the wash and dryer and it worked really well.

Shotgun?

Stefan (Forum Supporter) said:

Shotgun?

Best solution yet. Should I be wearing said clothing when applying your method?

AAZCD said:

Appleseed said:

Time. The only luck I've ever had getting diesel out is time.

Time ...and fire.

Yes!  I should think fire would work very well.

Wait, why are we talking about remove the sweet scent of diesel?  

11110000 said:

Wait, why are we talking about remove the sweet scent of diesel?  

 

As a kid, when we would take a trip into say, NYC or Philly, I would always look forward to the smell of diesel bus exhaust.   I just assumed everyone liked the smell.