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Diesel stains should be removed immediately as they are stubborn. The longer you wait, the more likely it is that the stain will remain. Here we explain which products can help you.
Removing diesel stains means acting quickly
If you discover a diesel stain on clothing, the floor, or asphalt, you need to act quickly. The sooner you remove the stain, the easier it will be to get rid of it.
- Washing machine: If diesel has dripped onto your clothing, it is best to put it in the washing machine immediately. Wash it as usual and the stain will probably disappear after washing. If the liquid has already dried, soaking is necessary.
- Pre-treat: If you discover a diesel stain, treat it immediately with a household remedy. The same applies to grease stains. The longer you wait, the more stubborn the stain becomes and in most cases cannot be removed. Apply some washing-up liquid, gall soap, or curd soap to the diesel stain. Mix it with a little water so that it spreads better and penetrates the fabric.
- Soaking: If your work clothes are stained with diesel, soaking is necessary. To do this, dissolve a small amount of gall or curd soap or rinse aid in warm water. Put the work clothes in the solution. Leave them to soak for at least half an hour.
- The more soiled the clothing, the longer it should soak. For thick fabrics such as jeans, it is worth soaking them overnight. Then wash the soaked clothing as usual, separately from other items of clothing.
Shoes, trunk, and more: How to get rid of diesel stains
Diesel stains don’t just end up on clothing, but also in the trunk or on shoes. Proceed as follows:
- Trunk and carpet: If diesel has landed on a carpet, sprinkle baby powder on it. This will absorb the liquid. Then brush off the baby powder. In the trunk, soak up the diesel with a sponge. Also sprinkle some sawdust on it to absorb the excess diesel. Finally, remove the residue with an all-purpose cleaner and a little water.
- Shoes: It is best to wash the diesel fuel out with a little shampoo or dish soap dissolved in water. To remove the smell, fill socks or bags with coffee beans and put them in your shoes. The coffee will neutralize the diesel smell.
- Paving stones: Remove diesel stains from paving stones by first sprinkling them with sawdust or wood shavings. The liquid will be absorbed within half an hour. Then sweep up the sawdust with a broom.
- Mix some gall soap with hot water and use it to clean the paving stones. Simply pour the soapy water slowly onto the oil stain.
