The Dos and Don’ts of How To Clean Up Spilled Gas

Accidentally spilling gasoline all over your garage floor is a pretty common mistake, so don’t beat yourself up too hard if it happens to you. However, gasoline is a harmful substance that’s bad not just for you but for the environment as well, so you’ll have to act fast and deal with the spill.

Luckily, this task shouldn’t be too hard to do once you learn how to clean up spilled gas properly.

The Don’ts of Gas Spill Cleanups

Cleaning up gas spills can be easy, but it can also be dangerous. To prevent any accidents from happening, consider these tips:

Don’t Use Water

Water is great at washing away dirt and other messes quickly and effectively. However, when it comes to cleaning gasoline spills, it’s a bad idea.

Water and gasoline don’t mix. If you try to hose down the gasoline, all you’ll really end up doing is spreading the spill onto a larger area.

Don’t Rinse Spilled Gas Down the Drain

Gasoline is hazardous, so rinsing it down the drain is an absolute no-no, not to mention illegal. Under no circumstances should you pour it down the sink or toilet.

Gasoline is harmful not just to humans but also to the environment, and just one gallon of gasoline is enough to contaminate one million gallons of water.

Don’t Use a Vacuum

Never, ever use a wet-dry vacuum when cleaning up a gasoline spill. Gasoline is a highly flammable substance, and most vacuums pull air around the electric motor. Put two and two together, and you’ve got a recipe for a hot, flaming disaster.

Don’t Mix With Household Trash

In the same way that you can’t simply pour gasoline down the drain, you can’t just mix it with your regular household trash.

Most vehicle fluids, including gasoline, are harmful to humans and the environment, and they can easily catch on fire too, putting the safety of trash truck operators in danger.

The Dos of How To Clean Up Gas Spills Properly

Of course, it isn’t just enough to avoid the don’ts of cleaning up gas spills. You’ll want to follow the dos as well if you want to clean up the spilled gasoline properly. Consider following some of these suggestions:

Use Safety Equipment

Here’s a simple yet important tip when dealing with gasoline: safety first. Protect your skin by wearing gloves, and keep your eyes safe from any fumes by wearing safety goggles.

Gasoline can be pretty harsh on fabrics, so you might want to change into comfortable clothes you don’t mind getting dirty.

Open Windows and Doors

If you’re dealing with spilled gasoline in your garage, then it’s a good idea to open all the windows and doors first. That way, you can work in a well-ventilated area where the gasoline fumes won’t get to you.

Stop the Source

Once you’re ready to deal with the spilled gasoline, you can start by stopping the spill from the source. That way, you can prevent it from getting any worse. If you accidentally knocked over a fuel tank, then set it back upright and secure the lid over the opening.

Soak up the Spill

To clean up spilled gasoline, you’ll have to soak up the spill as much as possible. You can use spill recovery pads or a boom sock if they’re available. You can also use Pig mats if the gasoline spill isn’t too large.

Pro Tips are nuggets of information direct from ASE-certified automobile technicians working with CarParts.com, which may include unique, personal insights based on their years of experience working in the automotive industry. These can help you make more informed decisions about your car.

Pro Tip: If you do a lot of work on your own car, you should always keep plenty of Oil-Dri on hand, not only for gasoline spills, but for oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, etc. Cat litter is the same thing, only it costs a lot more than bags of Oil-Dri. Typically, a coolant spill will need to be cleaned up with something other than Oil-Dri, but Oil-Dri works very well on gasoline spills and can even be reused after it has dried up the gasoline. But don’t put it away wet. Make sure it’s completely dry before you scoop it up.

Dispose of Spilled Gas Properly

In most cases, you’ll have to take your spilled gas to the nearest hazardous waste disposal center. How to properly dispose of spilled gas can differ from state to state, so it’s a good idea to check with your local authorities first. You can call up your town or state’s environmental protection agency or look up their website.

Clean the Area Thoroughly

Unfortunately, spilled gas can stain your floors, so you’ll have to deep clean the area after you get rid of the gasoline. Some people use bleach, commercial cleaners, and stain removers to clean the area.

You can also try mixing water and baking soda, applying it to the area, and then scrubbing with a stiff brush. Pure white or cleaning vinegar is also an effective alternative.

Get Rid of the Smell

Gasoline has a very strong odor. Airing the room out by opening your windows and doors will usually do the trick, but porous surfaces tend to retain the smell longer. If the gas spills on any fabrics or wood, you can try pouring white vinegar on a cloth and applying it to the stained area to get rid of the smell faster.

Prevent Future Gas Spills

Cleaning up gas spills can be a hassle, so you might want to take extra precautions next time to prevent it from happening again. The next time you’re handling any gas containers or working on your engine, consider placing protective tarps on the floor. That way, if any gasoline spills out, the cleanup will be a lot easier.

How To Get the Gas Smell Out of Your Car

Cleaning spilled gas from your car trunk isn’t too different from cleaning it off your floor, but you’re likely to have a harder time getting rid of that foul gasoline smell, especially since most trunks are lined with porous material.

To get rid of the smell, try using a commercial car air freshener after getting rid of the spill. Baking soda, coffee grounds, and vinegar are some homemade alternatives you can try to get rid of the noxious odor.