# Diesel fuel clean-up: how to deodorize? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 23, 2001, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diesel-fuel-clean-up-how-to-deodorize/73486 "2001-07-23T00:30:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2001, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diesel-fuel-clean-up-how-to-deodorize/73486/1 "2001-07-23T00:30:14Z")
A gallon of diesel fuel spilled in the trunk of my car. Anyone got good deodorizing tips? We’ve already used detergents rather than solvents to clean it up, and we’re filling the back with charcoal hoping it’ll reduce odor. Google search produced lots of companies selling products to do this, many with secret ingredients. Anyone experienced in what really works for this? ---
**Author:** ![Chas.E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@Chas.E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chas.E)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2001, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diesel-fuel-clean-up-how-to-deodorize/73486/2 "2001-07-23T01:51:09Z")
Most art stores sell citrus solvent that is used to dissolve oil paint. I would suspect it would work, but I haven’t ever tried it in this application. It’s cheap so it couldn’t hurt, and it surely will smell better than it does now. ---
**Author:** ![bare](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bare/32/471_2.png) [@bare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bare)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2001, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diesel-fuel-clean-up-how-to-deodorize/73486/3 "2001-07-23T02:14:07Z")
Around the shop I use kitty litter, it not only absorbs diesel fuel, it also kills the odor. If you have a trunk liner, pull it and launder it. Alternately, you could use the same technique you used with the mercury spill. ---
**Author:** ![Tedster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@Tedster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tedster)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2001, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diesel-fuel-clean-up-how-to-deodorize/73486/4 "2001-07-25T07:19:47Z")
Pine-sol is good stuff for this purpose, but you’re going to have to rinse well, or you’ll have a new problem. ---
**Author:** ![sewalk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@sewalk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sewalk)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2001, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diesel-fuel-clean-up-how-to-deodorize/73486/5 "2001-07-25T07:36:14Z")
I had Diesel fuel splash back into my face last spring when I was filling up a tractor (damn 3’ long filler tube!). It got into my nostrils and mustache and all over my shirt. I used some citrus-scented hand soap to was my face and it did an admirable job of at least masking the odor so that I could breathe. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2001, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diesel-fuel-clean-up-how-to-deodorize/73486/6 "2001-07-27T19:37:08Z")
Thanks, all. We’re using a combination of charcoal briquettes and kitty litter scattered in the trunk and the back seat, and things are sloooooooooooooowly improving. ---
**Author:** ![bare](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bare/32/471_2.png) [@bare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bare)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2001, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diesel-fuel-clean-up-how-to-deodorize/73486/7 "2001-07-27T20:03:19Z")
None of my business I guess, but I gotta ask…what were you carrying a gallon of diesel in your trunk for? Dispute with the EX? headed for a protest somewhere? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2001, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diesel-fuel-clean-up-how-to-deodorize/73486/8 "2001-07-28T06:33:47Z")
tractor needed fuel. Went to get it in the car. Got it. Went home, fueled tractor, put can back in car. Damndamndamn. Last move was big mistake. Next time I’ll leave the can in the barn, and the goats can look out for themselves! ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2001, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diesel-fuel-clean-up-how-to-deodorize/73486/9 "2001-07-28T06:34:58Z")
And it was a 5 gallon can. Actually it was 3 five gallon cans, emptied 12 gallons into tractor, had 3 left over. One spilled out.