Removing the smell of diesel from carpet

V

Volvonaut

New member
I had a container not entirely meant for fuel tip over in my Volvo's carpeted trunk. It spilled only at a slow rate and managed to soak almost entirely into my favorite shirt rather than directly into the carpet. It's not a lot really, but enough to keep the smell alive and induce a headache.



The other side of the story is what it took to get the smell out of my washer... loads of degreaser, simple green, and actually baking soda and coca cola was the breakthrough. If it took all that to salvage the washer, what's it going to take to get the odor out of my carpet?
 
Try white vinegar. If that doesn't work, a little trick to getting out smells is to get some NATURAL charcoal, not the square kind, and place it in a bowl in the trunk. It'll soak up odors better than baking soda. But if you're going to be driving around it might make a mess so I'd suggest a lid on the bowl with some holes punched into the top.
 
For the smell the charcoal is the best answer. You could also mask it a bit with a citrus smell. It;s usually powerful enough to cover it for a bit. But usually time is the best option. When not driving (if you can) keep the trunk opened up. Let as much air in as possible. In a few days it should disapate pretty much on it's own.
 
jimmie jam said:
new carpet. i don't think that you will be able to get it out.
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+1.



And de-grease the area underneath prior to installation of the new carpet.



(I've gotten diesel fuel on a pair of pants. The odor was never removed regardless of how many times the pants were washed. I threw them away - - there was nothing to be done.)
 
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That smell will always come back on a hot day...

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmie jam

new carpet. i don't think that you will be able to get it out.
Click to expand...



Posted by Tom P.

+1.



And de-grease the area underneath prior to installation of the new carpet.



(I've gotten diesel fuel on a pair of pants. The odor was never removed regardless of how many times the pants were washed. I threw them away - - there was nothing to be done.)
Click to expand...



I had a pair of pants from set of my firefighter turnout gear that got soaked in transmission fluid (I slipped in a puddle of it at a fire in an auto repair facility)



Per the manufacturer's recommendations, I tried degreasers, pressure washing and numerous washings in an extraction machine to no avail... The smell and the stain remained, the pants were replaced.
 
diesel is oil the smell is petroleum based fumes.



i have done diesel work for years an all my pants come clean an smell free. wash with regular soap an add a can of coke to the wash an just think people drink that crap lol an clean an smell free.



for carpet i would do what i do on my truck i pull carpet up if can an steam under 1st than lay plastic down.

if no steamer use what ever you do to clean.

than i lay carpet back mask off area so nothing gets anywhere it don't need to be. i wash with clean foam only let the foam do the work while damp i use dust less cat litter or backing soda but depending on carpet backing soda can stain let is soak an throw away.

repeat if you have to than steam clean or use wet/dry or extractor an your done.



now sometimes i have gone as far to use coke than work it in than steam an vac out or use cat litter depending on size of stain the color of carpet.

cause once you use coke you can not stop take lunch come back or it is a ***** to get out with the soap an sugar mixed needs to be done one step after another.



this is my work truck not a Lamborghini so try on a spot 1st.

i have used these methods on regular an high end cars but use caution an care an once you start don't stop till finished so nothing has time to sit or settle.



hope this helps.
 
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