Whether you work on cars often, or just happened to get some gasoline on your hands while filling up, you’ll want to fully remove the matter from your clothes and skin.

We’ve all been there — that’s why we’ve gathered some very helpful tips and tricks for ridding of gasoline and its pungent smell!

Even when you can’t smell the gasoline on your hands, someone else likely will… The substance often leaves a thick film of oil on your hands, making the smell challenging to remove, even long after the initial contact.

Not washing your hands immediately after getting gas on them can significantly damage your skin, as well; it’s known to cause chemical reaction, burning, or in some cases, skin lesions. Not cool!

6 Tips for Eliminating the Smell and Residue of Gasoline from your Hands:

1. Tip #1: When washing your hands, try scrubbing in water for at least 2 minutes before adding any soap; make sure to get under each fingernail and in each crevice!
2. Tip #2: Try using an anti-grease soap. Scrub the soap into your hands with a dry towel first. Use a toothbrush to get the soap underneath your nails. After you’ve scrubbed your hands, go ahead and rinse the soap off.
3. Tip #3: If you do not have a heavy degreaser — and scrubbing isn’t quite working — try pouring some hydrogen peroxide onto your hands. Or, if you’d rather not use hydrogen peroxide, you can dip into some common household ingredients, instead… baking soda and vinegar! Scrubbing these two components into your hands can greatly remedy the situation. Be sure to rinse it all off after a few minutes.
4. Tip #4: Whether you have more sensitive skin or looking for a more natural method, try cutting a lemon and rubbing your hands with the lemon slice. The acid in the lemon deteriorates the grime and build-up of the oil.
5. Tip #5: If you have tried all of these tips and nothing seems to be getting the smell off, try purchasing a mechanic hand soap, made specifically to eliminate odors, and get rid of the grease!
6. Tip #6: Although getting gasoline on your hands is sometimes inevitable, try using gloves as often as you can. This not only protects your hands, but it will make clean-up easier, as well. And your skin will thank you later!

Accidentally wiped your gasoline-covered hands onto your shirt or pants? Oops.

Advice for Dealing with Oil or Gas-Stained Clothes:

1. Tip #1: Try purchasing a laundry detergent that’s meant to eliminate odors and fight against harsh stains. Please ensure that you’re washing the stained clothes alone. Gasoline residue can stain any clean materials that are added into your wash load, so keep them separate!
2. Tip #2: Try soaking your clothes in a mixture of vinegar and hot water for 30 minutes before washing. The vinegar counter-reacts to the oil and eliminates the odor — while breaking down the gasoline residue. The vinegar also keeps the gasoline from getting into your washer, which will make sure the gas does not stain your next load of laundry.
3. Tip #3: Before putting your clothes in hot water and vinegar, you can scrub each gasoline stain with baking soda. The baking soda should help deteriorate the build-up of oil.
4. Tip #4: Don’t let the stain sit for long! Try to wash your clothes immediately after they are stained with gasoline. Like your skin, you do not want the gas and grease sitting on your clothes long; as time passes, the stain becomes harder and harder to remove.

You can also try our degreasers to help eliminate the amount of gasoline and grease residue on your hands.

Not only will our Berryman® B-12 Chemtool® Cleaner keep your auto parts cleaner, but it’ll also save your skin from severe damage — and your clothes from tough stains! Check out our products page to learn more.