A strong gas smell in car will spoil your driving experience. Moreover, it could be dangerous to your health. Gasoline is made up of various volatile organic compounds (VOCs). And these compounds have strong odors that can be overwhelming and unpleasant. Even a small amount of spilled gasoline can quickly fill the interior of a car with its odor as it evaporates. So, if you need to know how to get gas smell out of car, address the problem promptly with our step-by-step guide and car interior detailing tips.
Also, if you’re interested in professional and planet-friendly car care, download our Eco Wash Benefit Guide:
Steps on How to Get Rid of Gas Smell in Car
To effectively remove the smell of gas from your car interior, you’ll need a combination of cleaning products and car interior detailing tools. For example, car vacuum, microfiber cloths, an all-purpose cleaner and baking soda. Then do the following:
Why Does My Car Smell Like Gas?
First, locate the source of the gas smell in car. It could be from spilled gasoline someone has tracked into the car on their shoes. Or it could be a leaking fuel line or even a loose gas cap. If you suspect a gas leak, get a qualified mechanic to inspect your car as soon as possible. However, if it is gasoline spill in the car, continue with the next steps.
Air the Car
Next, let the fresh air into your car. Opening the doors and windows to ensure proper ventilation is important whenever you want to know how to get bad smell out of car. Letting air circulate will help lessen the gas smell.
Although using car cologne or air fresheners at this stage is tempting, this quick fix only masks the problem. You may even end up with another overpowering odor to deal with. If this happens, see our tip on how to get air freshener smell out of car.
Remove Car Mats and Items From Car
Next, clear out your car. A clutter-free car is easier to vacuum and clean. Also, you might be able to remove the source of the gas smell. For example, car mats, especially those made of carpet or fabric materials, can absorb liquids like gasoline. And these stains can result in lingering odors.
Blot Gas Spills
If you’ve spilled gasoline in the car, use paper towels to blot as much of the spill as possible. Avoid using car detailing cloths for this step as traces of gasoline will soak into the cloth fibers, causing lingering odors.
Remember to check car pedals. You may have to clean them if you have tracked gasoline into your car. The same applies to car mats – see our guide on how to detail a car interior when you need to know how to get gas smell out of car carpet and mats.
Pre-Treat the Stained Area
Use the best car interior detailing products to pre-treat the gas stain. Apply the cleaner directly to the carpet or car seats and leave it for a few minutes to allow it to work.
Use a soft-bristled car wash brush to scrub the pre-treated area. Be careful not to scrub too hard, as this could damage upholstery or car carpet fibers.
Rinse
After scrubbing, rinse the area thoroughly with clean water to remove the cleaning solution and any remaining gasoline residue. Blot the area with microfiber car cloths for car interior to absorb excess moisture.
It might take several attempts to remove the stain. For stubborn marks, see our comprehensive guide on how to remove stains from car seats.
Clean Surfaces
If you get gasoline on your hands, you may have accidentally transferred some of the liquid fuel into your car. To ensure you eliminate all trace of gasoline, wipe down all the hard surfaces in your car, including the dashboard, steering wheel and door handles, with a mixture of water and a mild detergent or the best car interior cleaner for the job.
Dry Car Interior
After you’ve addressed the stains and wiped down surfaces, leave the car to dry completely. Also, make sure car mats are clean and dry before returning them to your vehicle.
How to Get Gas Smell out of Car Seat With Baking Soda
If the gas odor in car persists after cleaning, sprinkle baking soda over car seats. Leave to sit for a few hours or overnight. Baking soda is a natural odor absorber and safe to use inside your car.
Alternatively, activated charcoal can also be effective for absorbing odors. Place a few pieces in a container and leave it in the car to help eliminate the smell of gas. This car detailing tip is also good for the following problems:
- How to get smoke smell out of car.
- How to get mildew smell out of car.
- How to get weed smell out of car.
Vacuum Car Interior
Now, vacuum up the baking soda and the rest of your car. Ideally, the best car vacuum has various attachments, such as a crevice tool and upholstery brush, that help you thoroughly clean the seats, carpets, and floor mats.
You may want to use an odor-neutralizing product. Look for green brands that don’t rely on masking agents. For example, Biocide Systems Auto Shocker uses eco-friendly chlorine dioxide to eliminate odors.
Steam Clean to Remove Gas Smell (Optional Step)
If your car smells like gas despite your best efforts, we recommend steam cleaning if you have this equipment in your car interior detailing kit. The heat from steam can break down VOCs present in gasoline, which eliminates the overpowering smell.
Also, steam has sanitizing properties that kill bacteria and mold, leaving your car interior healthier and fresher smelling. However, if you’d prefer to leave the job to the experts, contact a car interior detailing service.
Conclusion
In summary, safety always comes first when you want to know how to get rid of gas smell in car. So, take prompt action. Locate the problem first, then follow our steps. Using a high-quality car cleaner and baking soda may be enough to fix the problem.
However, car carpets and upholstery absorb liquids like gasoline, causing lingering odors. Therefore, the answer is to deep clean your car interior. But this is a time-consuming job. So, why not leave the job to the auto detailing professionals? Our reliable technicians will steam clean your car interior without harsh chemicals, leaving it smelling like new.
