If you’ve ever spilled gasoline on your hands, you know how hard it can be to get the smell off. It seems to follow you wherever you go and no matter how much you wash your hands, the smell won’t disappear. But don’t worry, there are some easy ways to get rid of the gasoline smell from your hands.
In this article, we go through six different methods with six different products that most people have at home. So with no further ado, let’s get that smell off your hands!
How To Get Gas Smell Off Hands
The best way to get the gasoline smell off your hands is by using an odor neutralizer or masker, such as baking soda and vinegar, vanilla extract, lemon juice, a combination of detergent and salt, or mechanic’s soap. Rub the chosen product or mixture on your hands for about a minute, then rinse off with water and soap.
1. Use a Good Old Mechanic’s Soap
This is not something everyone has lying around at home. But mechanics are known for dealing with tough grime, grease, and oil stains daily, including gasoline. So what is their secret? How do they get the gasoline smell off their hands?
Well, they use something called mechanic’s soap. It’s typically a heavy-duty soap specially made to remove these kinds of tough grime, grease, and oil from hands and skin and usually takes care of any odor.
You simply use it like a regular soap. However, many, but not all, mechanic’s soaps contain abrasive ingredients such as clay or pumice to help scrub away dirt more effectively. So if you have sensitive skin, you may want a mechanic’s soap formulated for it.
Commercial mechanic’s soap is often sold in large bottles or bulk containers. But you should be able to find it in appropriately sized bottles at most automotive supply stores and online automotive retailers, perfect for storing in your garage. But you may even be able to find it in your local hardware store, or at least a good substitute.
However, there are plenty of recipes online on how to make your own mechanic soap at home. It’s something that many people do to keep a more natural but effective soap close to hand for dirty moments.
2. Rub Your Hands in Baking soda and vinegar
Now, if you don’t have mechanic’s soap lying around at home, you may have baking soda and vinegar.
These two household staples are known for their powerful cleaning and deodorizing properties. Plus, they’re natural, non-toxic, and safe. Not to mention, they’re also super effective at banishing other strong odors, such as gasoline smell.
- Simply pour a palmful of baking soda into your hand.
- Take about a tablespoon of vinegar and start rubbing it together.
- Rub and scrub every inch of your hands for about two minutes.
- When the smell is gone, rinse your hands with water.
The only downside to this method is that vinegar also gives off a strong odor. For most people, this may not be a concern, but for others, they may not be able to stand the smell of vinegar either. If so, you should try our next method instead.
3. Clean Your Hands With a Mixture of Vanilla Extract and Water
If you can’t stand the smell of vinegar, this one might be a better choice for you. But when trying to find a solution on how to get rid of gas smell from your hands, you don’t think about vanilla extract, do you?
But except for making you crave a warm slice of vanilla bean bread, vanilla extract can actually help remove the gasoline smell from your hands. At least it makes your hands smell much more pleasant when you’re done.
- Scrub your hands with water and soap first and rinse it off.
- Take a few drops of the vanilla extract and mix it with about half a cup of water.
- Scrub the mixture into your palm and fingers for about a minute.
- Rinse your hands off with warm water. Repeat if necessary or try another method.
4. Clean Your Hands With a Mixture of Lemon Juice and Water
Thanks to its citric acid and low pH levels, lemon juice is an effective and natural way to help remove strong odors such as gasoline smell off your hands and make them smell nice and fresh. So if you have any lemons sitting in your fridge, you should definitely give this method a try.:
- Take half a fresh lemon or the bottled kind and squeeze (or pour) equal amounts of lemon juice into equal amounts of water and stir it together.
- Take the mixture and generously rub it into your hands for one to two minutes.
- Rinse your hands off with warm water and soap. Be careful not to get the lemon juice in your eyes, as it can be stinging.
5. Use a Combination of Detergent and Salt
Did you know that detergent is exceedingly good for cleaning oily hands and removing strong odors like gasoline smell? If not, this might be the time to give it a try! But there is a way to make it even more powerful with the help of salt.
The detergent effectively breaks down and removes grease, oil, and gasoline smell. You can probably get rid of most of the smell by scrubbing your hands with only detergent and a little water.
But salt, on the other hand, acts as an abrasive and helps to scrub away the remaining smell of gasoline right out of your pores. Together, the two make an effective method for removing any scent from your hands.
- Start by pouring a small amount of detergent into the palm of your hand.
- Take about a tablespoon of water and thoroughly rub it with the detergent into your palms and fingers.
- Once your hands are covered in soap, have someone pour one or two teaspoons of salt on top of your hands.
- Again, thoroughly scrub your hands together. But don’t scrub too hard – the salt will do most of the work for you.
- Rinse your hands off with warm water.
6. Rub and Scrub With Hydrogen Peroxide
Finally, you can try hydrogen peroxide. This powerful chemical compound is often used at low concentrations in households to disinfect and clean surfaces. But thanks to its many uses, it’s also a great cleaning agent when you want to get rid of gasoline smell. Make sure you use a low concentration of 3 or 5%.
- Carefully pour a small amount of hydrogen peroxide on your hands.
- Rub and scrub your hands and fingers together for a minute or two.
- Rinse and wash your hands with warm water.
However, make sure you use 3% or 5% concentration, and if you have dry hands, you may want to try a different method as it may cause mild skin irritation. Also, it may bleach the material if it gets on your clothing.
So the next time you spill gasoline on your hands, don’t worry. Just choose one of these methods and you’ll be able to get rid of the smell in no time.
What Happens If I Get Gasoline on My Hands?
Gasoline is a toxic and flammable liquid that is used as fuel for many vehicles. While it is necessary for transportation and other purposes, it is important to handle gasoline with care and avoid contact with it as much as possible.
If you do happen to get gasoline on your hands, it is important to wash it off as soon as possible with soap and water. This helps to remove the substance from your skin and reduce the risk of irritation or other negative effects, such as redness, rashes, or swelling. It is especially important if you know you have sensitive skin.
In addition to washing your hands, you should avoid inhaling too much gasoline vapor. It can irritate your nose and throat and lead to symptoms such as headaches, dizziness and even more severe symptoms such as breathing issues.
If you accidentally swallow any gasoline, it’s important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Swallowing gasoline can be dangerous and can cause damage to your digestive system and other organs.
If you work in an environment where you frequently come into contact with gasoline, it is important to take extra precautions to protect yourself. This may include wearing protective clothing, such as gloves and eye protection, and following proper safety procedures to minimize the risk of accidental exposure.
Remember, gasoline is a powerful and potentially dangerous substance, so it is important to handle it with care.
A Few Tips When Handling Gasoline
No matter if you accidentally spill a little gasoline when pouring too quickly or if the gasoline container is leaking, it surely sometimes seems impossible to avoid getting it on your hands. But in most cases, you can take a few precautions to minimize the risk.
1. First of all, use a funnel or spout when pouring gasoline. This will help to minimize spills and splashes and usually doesn’t take up much space. If you don’t have any at home, you can use a clean old plastic bottle by cutting it in half, for example, a coca cola bottle.
2. Always wear gloves when handling gasoline, or other similar substances for that matter. Latex, nitrile, or other types of disposable gloves can provide a barrier between your skin and the gasoline.
3. Make sure to properly close and seal containers that hold gasoline. This can help to prevent accidents and spills that can occur if the container is bumped or knocked over.
4. Wipe up any spills immediately. If you do spill gasoline, be sure to wipe it up as soon as possible. Gasoline is highly flammable and can be dangerous if left unsecured.
5. Finally, if you get any gasoline on your hands, make sure to thoroughly wash your hands with any of the methods mentioned above. This will help to remove any residue and reduce the risk of skin irritation and lingering gas smell.
FAQ
What Neutralizes Gas Smell?
To neutralize the gas smell, such as after spilling gas on your hands, you quickly want to take action and use an odor neutralizer such as vinegar and baking soda, lemon juice, vanilla extract, detergent, hydrogen peroxide, or mechanic’s soap. Rub and scrub the chosen product thoroughly and rinse with warm water after.
Will Soap Remove the Smell of Gasoline From my Hands?
Yes, soap can help to remove the smell of gasoline from your hands. However, regular soap may not be strong enough to do the work. Instead, you want a stronger soap specially made for heavy-duty hand cleaning to remove tough dirt, oil, gas smell, or similar substances, such as mechanic’s soap.
How Long Does It Take for Gasoline Odor to Go Away?
In general, the smell of gasoline should dissipate within a few hours to a day if the area is well-ventilated. However, if the gasoline is spilled on a porous surface, such as carpet or upholstery, the smell may linger for a longer period of time. In these cases, it may be necessary to use an odor neutralizer or to remove and replace the affected materials.
How Long Does Gasoline Smell Last on Skin?
Gasoline is a highly volatile substance, which means that it evaporates quickly when exposed to air. This means that the smell of gasoline on your skin will generally only last for a short period of time and likely dissipate within a few hours unless you are continuously handling gasoline or are in an environment where the smell is present for an extended period of time.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know the most effective ways how to get gas smell off your hands, your hands will be nice and fresh in no time. Use the method that suits you depending on what products you have at home. It’s a good idea to have a bottle of mechanic’s soap close to hand for dirty moments, and if you want you can even try to make your own heavy duty soap. Thanks for reading!
