# Gasoline on my shoe?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasoline-on-my-shoe/434889>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 24, 2008, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasoline-on-my-shoe/434889 "2008-01-24T23:46:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![filmyak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@filmyak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmyak)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasoline-on-my-shoe/434889/1 "2008-01-24T23:46:37Z")

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I had a gas hose pop out of my car unexpectedly while filling it up, and about a cup or two of gasoline ended up drenching my shoe (and sock and foot).

When I got home, I put my shoe outside on my porch and let it air out for about a week. Is it safe to wear now? Or are there hidden dangers (from flammability to skin problems) in wearing that shoe again?

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**Author:** ![jasonh300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@jasonh300](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasonh300)\
**Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasoline-on-my-shoe/434889/2 "2008-01-25T00:25:24Z")

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Don’t have a real good answer for you except that the flammable part of the gasoline has vaporized by this time and the shoe shouldn’t be any more flammable than any other shoe. Put a match near it and see if it bursts into flames…it shouldn’t.

I don’t know what kind of harmful residue might be left that could leech into your skin (lead?).

If it’s a sneaker, you might want to throw it in the washing machine before you wear it again.

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**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\
**Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasoline-on-my-shoe/434889/3 "2008-01-25T00:30:00Z")

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I’m sure it’s safe, but I’ll bet you **NEVER** get the smell out of it…

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**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\
**Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasoline-on-my-shoe/434889/4 "2008-01-25T00:31:21Z")

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[QUOTE=jasonh300]  
I don’t know what kind of harmful residue might be left that could leech into your skin (lead?).  
[/QUOTE]

No lead in gasoline anymore.

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**Author:** ![filmyak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@filmyak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmyak)\
**Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasoline-on-my-shoe/434889/5 "2008-01-25T00:34:31Z")

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[QUOTE=jasonh300]

If it’s a sneaker, you might want to throw it in the washing machine before you wear it again.  
[/QUOTE]

Ooh, good idea!