Smell of petrol in washing machine

jamesdiver

Someone, not pointing fingers, washed a teatowel which had been soaked in petrol in our washing machine. Cant get rid of the fumes.

Does anyone have any tips. If its a specific chemical i need, could you also suggest a common name and where i might find it?

many thanks,

James

Solair

That's actually quite a dangerous thing to do! The petrol vapors could quite easily ignite in the washing machine due to static between the drum and tank or the plastic pump impeller rotating in a plastic casing.

You need to do the following:

1) Ventilate the machine fully.
To do this, remove the drawer / open it fully, open the door fully and remove the filter allowing all the water to drain from the machine. Most machines have some kind of system to allow you to do this without making too much of a mess, but you will definitely need towels.

IF you get any petrol on fabric e.g. the towels, hang them on a washing line outside until fully dry.

Allow the machine to fully dry out for a day or so.

2) When you are satisfied that the machine's dry replace the filter and run a rinse to fill the sump.

3) Empty the machine (set the dial to pump out / drain).

4) Put in a large dose of liquid detergent, preferably something like Persil or Ariel and run on a 60ºC cycle (the longest one available).

I would also include a couple of clean towels in the wash too to ensure it's splashy.

If that doesn't shift it, you may need to repeat it a few times.

Liquid detergents are generally better at shifting oils as they're full of surfactants.

Powders are better at shifting food stains etc and use more enzymes and oxygen bleaches.

If you get petrol on clothes in future - hang out for a long time then hand-wash with washing-up liquid until you can't smell any more petrol - then line dry and then wash in a machine!

One word of warning - there's a slight risk that the petrol may have dissolved / damaged seals or pipes in the machine. Not very likely but, it could potentially start leaking.

jamesdiver

what a brilliant reply. Thank you for taking the time to type that. Ive already done some of what you suggested re: airing it out. I washed some vinegar through and it seems to have helped alot.

Solair

The main thing is to make sure it's totally drained down so there's no traces of petrol sitting in the sump and let plenty of air in!

coylemj

Solair wrote: »

The main thing is to make sure it's totally drained down so there's no traces of petrol sitting in the sump and let plenty of air in!

+1

OP, check the manual for instructions on cleaning the drain filter, that's where buttons and fluff accumulate and it needs to be cleaned out every so often.

What Solair is saying is that there may be some retained traces of petrol in the water that's sitting in the pipe between the drum and the filter and by draining the filter you will clear out this residue and hopefully the last remaining traces of petrol.

Have a small basin or bucket at the ready to catch the water coming out, you shouldn't need towels but put down a newspaper or two as there will be some leakage.

jamesdiver

Sorted now, thanks all. Vinegar seemed to be the most successful, as well as pulling out the filter and drawer and leaving the machine open overnight.

thanks,

James