Diesel Shower… how to get my new blipshift shirt not smelling like a Cummins

[unclebilly]

I was filling up the tractor yesterday afternoon and got splashed with diesel. All over my jacket, brand new blipshift shirt, and newish jeans and shoes… fack.

I used dawn dish soap on the diesel splotches immediately and washed the clothes, then I washed them all again this morning using normal laundry detergent. Then I let them dry outside in the wind… they still sorta have a diesely aroma.

Any ideas to get them smelling fresh again without using a scented detergent or fabric softener? My skin reacts badly to that sort of crap.

[look 171]

Hey sorry to hear about the diesel splashing. I have nothing to for you but maybe add baking soda and vinegar?

Again, thanks for the coffee and it was fun talking about old cars. I am about to buy a set of headers for my 2.7 motor. 1 3/4" is too big for street use.

[p911dad]

Good luck, it will eventually fade. I ruined a new pair of leather dress shoes fueling a VW diesel back in 80's, they went into the trash.

[id10t]

Try some of the scent killer spray or soap from the hunting section of walmart, bass pro etc

[onewhippedpuppy]

I used to be a diesel tech. Those clothes smelled like diesel no matter how many times they were washed.

[GH85Carrera]

My in laws had a Mercedes 300 Turbo Diesel. We took it to Colorado to go skiing. Fantastic fuel mileage, and we had skis on the roof, and enough luggage to fill the motel room.

We stopped to get the proper diesel for the mountains, and it was long before the days of regualr gas stations having diesel, so we had to stop at truck stops. Those pumps are like a fire hose, as trucks fill up 300 gallon tanks.

The ground was sticky with diesel, and I put on rubber gloves. Everyone else stayed in the car as I filled up, and my wife drove the car up to the convenience station to pay. I took off those shoes, and the gloves and put them in a plastic bag in the trunk. I washed my hands and still reeked of diesel.

I knew right then, I would never own a diesel powered vehicle. It was a great car, but used the wrong fuel for my preference.

And those shoes became my mow the lawn shoes. Some stinks, like diesel are a real challenge to get rid of. You might try taking them to a dry cleaner and see if that does it.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

acetone but probably only when first wet

[rfuerst911sc]

I would mix a 1/4 cup of Dawn with a 1/4 cup of Pine Sol in a 5 gallon bucket . Maybe add 3-4 gallons of water . Soak the clothes in the mix overnight . Then throw them in the washer . I have never tried this so proceed at your own risk .

[unclebilly]

Here is what Chat-GPT suggested when I posted my original post into chat gpt…

Got it — you want to actually remove the diesel smell without loading your clothes up with heavy scents or chemicals that might bother your skin.

Here’s a diesel-specific, low-irritant method that should work:
1. Soak in vinegar and baking soda:
Fill a tub or big sink with warm (not hot) water.
Add 1–2 cups of white vinegar and half a cup of baking soda.
Fully submerge your clothes and let them soak for 1–2 hours.
(This helps break down the oily diesel residues without leaving a perfume.)
2. Wash again normally — but add washing soda:
Use your regular skin-safe laundry detergent, but also throw in ½ cup of washing soda (NOT baking soda — washing soda is stronger and sold near detergents).
Washing soda boosts detergent performance and helps strip residual diesel oil molecules.
3. Rinse with another vinegar cycle if needed:
After the wash, if there’s still a faint smell, run a short rinse cycle with just white vinegar (no soap).
4. Dry outside again:
Diesel smells cling — open air and UV light (sun) help break it down naturally.

⸻

Important:
• Don’t use hot water early on — it can “set” oil stains and smells into fabric.
• Don’t throw them in the dryer until the smell is gone — heat will bake it in permanently.

⸻

If after all that there’s still a whiff, a Vodka mist trick works too:
Put plain cheap vodka in a spray bottle and lightly mist the clothes, then air dry. Vodka evaporates and pulls odors with it, leaving no residue or scent.

⸻

Would you like me to also suggest a totally scent-free detergent booster that’s even stronger (but still gentle)? I can if you want.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Starting to look like an awful lot of work…

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by unclebilly

Here is what Chat-GPT suggested when I posted my original post into chat gpt…

Got it — you want to actually remove the diesel smell without loading your clothes up with heavy scents or chemicals that might bother your skin.

Here’s a diesel-specific, low-irritant method that should work:
1. Soak in vinegar and baking soda:
Fill a tub or big sink with warm (not hot) water.
Add 1–2 cups of white vinegar and half a cup of baking soda.
Fully submerge your clothes and let them soak for 1–2 hours.
(This helps break down the oily diesel residues without leaving a perfume.)
2. Wash again normally — but add washing soda:
Use your regular skin-safe laundry detergent, but also throw in ½ cup of washing soda (NOT baking soda — washing soda is stronger and sold near detergents).
Washing soda boosts detergent performance and helps strip residual diesel oil molecules.
3. Rinse with another vinegar cycle if needed:
After the wash, if there’s still a faint smell, run a short rinse cycle with just white vinegar (no soap).
4. Dry outside again:
Diesel smells cling — open air and UV light (sun) help break it down naturally.

⸻

Important:
• Don’t use hot water early on — it can “set” oil stains and smells into fabric.
• Don’t throw them in the dryer until the smell is gone — heat will bake it in permanently.

⸻

If after all that there’s still a whiff, a Vodka mist trick works too:
Put plain cheap vodka in a spray bottle and lightly mist the clothes, then air dry. Vodka evaporates and pulls odors with it, leaving no residue or scent.

⸻

Would you like me to also suggest a totally scent-free detergent booster that’s even stronger (but still gentle)? I can if you want.

or just buy a new shirt

[Arizona_928]

I've seen the UV break down DRO. Heat to vaporize the DRO. My grandmother would wash rags in gasoline (use as a solvent)...

[vinny c]

Pinesol 2x!

[Dixie]

Just have it dry cleaned

[cabmandone]

Nick-GPT agrees with Chat-GTP on soaking in vinegar and baking soda. I was going to suggest just that before reading the comments. Vinegar can get a lot of stink out. I'd probably soak in a something like dawn dish soap, rinse, then soak in the vinegar and baking soda mix and rinse, then wash.

The ONLY thing I can think of that is harder to get rid of the odor from is 80/90 gear lube. Good grief that stuff lingers forever.