OT smelly clothes

TGIN

Well-known Member
I got sprayed with diesel fuel when changing fuel filters the other day. Didn't think about it and thru my clothes in in the washer with the rest of a load. Now everything smells like diesel. I have washed them 4 times now and can still smell it, the last 2 times I put some vinegar in it but didn't help. I have had this problem before but don't remember what I did. Anyone have a good home remedy to get rid of the smell.
 
Not sure what to tell you, but I know what you mean about smell. When I was at Vo-Tech for Farm Diesel mechanics we worked on fuel injection pumps. After a couple of days I could even taste the fuel on my tongue. Wouldn't go away for a long time. Not the most pleasant thing.
 
One thing that you most likely have is "splash" up under the machine cover or top. You need a very thin knife to unlock the clips that hold the lid. Every machine is different. If you can stop and ask at your local appliance repair place how to do it. Clean every thing up with this stuff. Lesstoil does wonders on that heavy oil and grease. Stinks like a pine tree for a couple of loads. Getting your clothes clean after a super oil job...you want to get a 5gal bucket and pre treat. I have access to the stuff they use in commercial dish machines. Made by Ecolab and is a cartridge that has a screw lid. It is straight oakite And is VERY powerful. The next thing you should be able to find is straight Lye. Hardware stores and some super markets. Fill bucket with COLD water about 1/2 full. You must be VERY VERY careful with this stuff. Get all of your skin good and wet with water before you start and keep a bottle of vinegar at hand. If you get any of that stuff on you take a towel and wipe with the vinegar to stop the chemical reaction. I wipe down every time at home or work. You can smell the hair on your arm burning! The lye makes a chemical reaction and gets hot. Half a cup mixed in and then your oiled clothes. Sqiush them down and around and let them set over night. I wash the clothes in my machine three times to remove all of the lye and make sure nothing is left. Not an every day cleanup but it sure works for me. Another BETTER way to do your clothes after you get the stink out of your machine is this. Take them to a coin op and use the lye there. The tumble washers do a great job! Place them in a big plastic trash bag after and do them twice again at home. "no cost" Hope this helps you.
 
Some forty five years ago I was etationed on a nuclear submarine. Like all subs, we had a diesel engine as a backup. I also had a sweater that I wore if I felt somewhat chillly. I still have it, and it still has the odor of diesel in it. It's faint- but it is there. You may have to buy Mom a new washer and take that one to the shop....
 
Try soaking the clothes in Dawn dish washing soap, does a good job on any oil or grease and helps take care of the smell.
 
Would it do any good to try to clean out the residual diesel fuel by cycling the washer empty on the hot water setting with a grease cutting detergent like TSP (short for tri-sodium-phosphate?) ?
 
I'd try the Dawn dish soap and the letting them hang in the sun to dry idea. UV rays do a lot of good when it comes to getting rid of oders.


Is this a conventional washer or a front loader? Front loaders use a lot less water and don't get the stink out of anything.
 
Cant remember what its called but the hand cleaner that comes in a tub and looks like mayo. A handful of that takes care of mine. Might try dividing that load up too. You might have one or two items hanging on to it and transferring to the rest in the spin.
 
It's a top loader. I got them soaking in borax , baking soda and vinegar now, we will see how that works.
 
The dew point and humidity has been so bad here that I think my wife would welcome the smell of diesel over the the smell of sweat :lol:
 
Wash them in dawn and hang outside in sun for a few days. Run dawn thru the machine a couple of times, all will be good.
 

get a citrus based degreaser or even some hand cleaner f you have that. It has D limonene solvent which will break down the fuel.
 
Diesel smell in clothes, what's wrong with that? Splash it on in the morning and wear it all day like a man... 8)
 
agree on hanging them outside...a time of sun/rain/sun will be quick.
Your washer...lol..might be toast BTDT
try going hard with bleach for a few empty loads.
Work on stuff a lot? get 2 washers.
forgetting once and dumping ancient gear oil soaked clothes in the washer will make the missus very, very, unhappy. not good
 
(reply to post at 06:52:54 08/04/15)
I wash not only smelly clothes but also my shop wiping cloths in the home washer with no residue on the machine or repercussions from my wife.
 
If you just take GOJO, and rub it in a bit then wash them you will be grease free with clean clothes. My wife will use that on really greasy ones. As for the smell it will help keep the skeeters away. The smell will never come out of clothes that have gotten fuel on them if it has soaked in for the days use.
 

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