A co-worker just told me this story:
He was filling up a chainsaw and spilled gas all over brand new shorts. Since they were new he didn’t want to throw them out. He immediately went in and threw them into the washing machine. Not only did washing NOT get out the gas smell, he also now gets a gas smell on everything else he washes.
Since I’m doing nothing (I’m one day away from a lay off) I told him I would research a solution.
Anyone have some ideas on how to help the guy out? (His wife couldn’t beat him because SHE just backed out of the garage with the passenger door open, thereby ruining the door.)
Half a cup of bleach in water on full cycle with no clothes in there, just water. It’s a waste of water but it should take care of your problem. I’ve done it before…so i feel his pain. I think I put two or three blank loads with bleach through the washer and that did the trick.
Farmers I’ve worked with have told me about “triple rinsing” their washers after laundering farm clothes contaminated with fuel/chemicals. Three cycles with no clothes in them.
Or, pretty much what Phlosphr said.
I had a similar accident with mineral spirits once.
I put the still stinky clothes I’d been trying to wash in a bucket with some detergent and washing soda to soak. Left the washer lid open with a fan pointing towards it and let it air out all day. Then I put the soaked clothing back in and washed them, and the washer, twice with soda and detergent and the final time with plain detergent and a vinegar rinse. No more stink on either the clothes or the washer.
Hmmmm … I washed a towel recently that had had motor oil spilled on it. I wonder if that’s why my kitchen smelled like paint this morning?