First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Blot up as much as you can with paper towels or absorbent cloths.
- Don't rub; it spreads the fuel and works it into the pile.
- Work from the outside edge toward the middle.
Gasoline is an oily fuel, and water alone won't lift it from carpet, so the spot needs a dry-cleaning solvent before any soap goes near it. Fire is the bigger hazard: keep flames, pilot lights and smoking away from the area while you work. A pretest on a hidden corner shows how hard you can push, and fresh spills respond far better than ones that have dried.
Blot with white cotton cloths and switch to a clean spot each time so you don't spread the fuel. Trunk and car carpet are cramped, so work from the outer edge inward rather than dabbing the middle first. Getting diesel out of carpet follows the same steps, but expect it to take a few more rounds.
Before you start
What carpet & rugs can take
Use with care6
- Water
- Hot water
- Oxygen bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Heat, once the stain is out
Avoid3
- Soaking
- Chlorine bleach
- Scrubbing and abrasives
7 items
What you'll need
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- Paper towels or absorbent clothsLift the spill straight up without rubbing it in. (opens Amazon)
- Clean white cotton clothsShow you what comes off the carpet at every pass. (opens Amazon)
- Commercial dry-cleaning solventLifts the oily part of the gasoline. (opens Amazon)
- Combination solvent with glycerin, soap and waterLoosens what the dry-cleaning solvent leaves behind. (opens Amazon)
- Old toothbrushGently agitates a stain that won't respond to pressure.
- 5-6 dry clean cloths and a weightAbsorb the leftover solvent once the stain is gone.
- Mild liquid detergent and clean waterMake the final rinse that removes the last of the solvent. (opens Amazon)
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7 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 7
Blot up the spill
Press paper towels or an absorbent cloth onto the spot and lift straight up, switching to a dry piece each time it soaks through. Work from the outside edge toward the middle so the fuel doesn't spread across more carpet. Keep going until nothing more comes up.
Careful. Keep flames, pilot lights and sparks away; gasoline is flammable.
Step 2 of 7
Lift the stain with dry-cleaning solvent
Dampen a clean white cloth with a commercial dry-cleaning solvent and lay it over the spot. Stand on the cloth for a moment so the solvent vapors can dissolve the stain, then lift the cloth and check whether anything came off on it.
Tip. Use a white cloth so any color transfer is easy to spot.
Careful. Don't pour solvent directly onto the carpet; it can dissolve the backing.
Step 3 of 7
Repeat until nothing transfers
If the stain came up, lay a fresh portion of the cloth on the spot, stand on it again, and repeat until the spot is removed. Once a cloth comes away clean, stop using the solvent and let the spot dry before you go on.
Step 4 of 7
Loosen the rest with combination solvent
Once the spot has dried, apply a combination solvent that contains glycerin, soap and water to a cleaning cloth, then place the cloth over the stain rather than on the carpet itself. Press without rubbing and check whether soil is transferring to the cloth. If it is, blot toward the middle of the stain and rotate to fresh areas of the cloth as they fill.
Careful. If you use more than one remover, rinse thoroughly between them.
Step 5 of 7
Work the stain with a toothbrush
If the stain doesn't respond to rotating pressure, agitate it gently with an old toothbrush. Work from the outside toward the center so you don't spread it, then blot the loosened stain up with clean cloths. Brush the pile lightly afterward to reset the nap.
Step 6 of 7
Draw out the leftover solvent
When the stain looks gone, stack 5-6 dry clean cloths over the spot and set a weight on top. The stack absorbs the leftover solvent, so leave it in place until the top cloth stays dry.
Step 7 of 7
Finish with a mild detergent rinse
Mix 1 teaspoon of mild detergent into 1 cup of lukewarm water and apply it to a clean cloth. Sponge the stained area, blot, sponge with clear water, blot again, and let the spot dry.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for gasoline on carpet & rugs
Pick a dry-cleaning spot solvent and a combination solvent made with glycerin, soap and water. Test either one on a hidden spot before using it on the stain.
Zep Advanced Oxy Carpet & Upholstery Stain Remover
Resolve Carpet Cleaner Spray, Stain & Spot Remover for Carpet, 32 Fl
BISSELL Little Green Portable Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner
Utopia Kitchen White Flour Sack Towels
Empty Spray Bottles 16oz/4Pack
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on carpet & rugs, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
With each pass, color or oil should move onto the dry cloth, and the stain should look smaller as you go. Once nothing transfers to the cloth but a dark outline remains, the fuel has likely set, and that's where the older-stain steps come in.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your carpet & rugs
Car carpet
Car carpet is usually a small area, so work one section at a time and keep the cloths from sliding into the seams around the seats. Fuel from a tipped can or a leaking tank often runs under the edges, so check the outer edge of the mark after blotting.
Don't lift the carpet to look underneath, and keep solvent from soaking through. If fuel has run onto painted panels or the door sills, the Car Paint & Exterior guide covers that surface.
Diesel fuel
Diesel follows the same steps as gasoline, but it's an oil-grease stain, so it tends to need more passes with the combination solvent. Expect the spot to look darker as it dries.
Give it extra time with the cloths between passes, and don't call it finished until nothing transfers. If a darker ring shows after drying, treat it again with the combination solvent rather than starting over.
Trunk carpet
A gas can that tips over in the trunk often pools fuel in the low corners, so check the corners as well as the middle of the mark. Lift from the outside in, and keep the cloths from crossing the edges of the trunk lining.
Use small cloths and keep the solvent to a light dampness. Leave the trunk open until the carpet is fully dry before you close it up.
Auto or vehicle carpet
Trucks, vans and other vehicles use the same steps as a car. Pay the most attention to the seams and the spot where the carpet meets the door trim.
Keep solvent off the trim itself, and check each cloth before moving on so you can see when the stain has stopped transferring. Once the spot is dry, look at the seam again for any dark ring.
Boat carpet
Boat carpet often gets wet from spray and damp air, so check that the spot and the carpet around it are dry before you apply any solvent. Keep the work away from the seams and any wood trim, where moisture can collect.
Use only the lightest dampness on the detergent rinse, and let the carpet dry fully before anyone stands on it.
House carpet
A fuel can, mower or generator that has been brought indoors often leaves a spill on carpet in a closed room. Move the fuel source away from the spot before you start, so nothing can spill again while you work.
Let the room air out until the carpet is fully dry, and check the spot again once it dries. If a mark returns, go back to the solvent step.
Old, dried or set-in stains
A gasoline spot that has sat for a while is harder to lift, because the stain gets harder to remove with time. Once it has dried, go back through the solvent steps and be patient with each pass, so you're working on what's left.
If a mark still shows after cleaning, moisten the tufts with 3% hydrogen peroxide from the drugstore and leave it for one hour. Blot it up with clean cloths and repeat if the mark is still there.
If it's still there, mix 1 part mineral oil with 8 parts dry-cleaning solvent. Work it into the spot with a clean cloth, blot, and alternate with plain solvent until the stain is gone. Mineral oil is the lubricant to use, since lard and other fats can leave yellow stains.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on gasoline on carpet & rugs?
Most home remedies you'll find online don't belong on gasoline on carpet. Only a handful of these suit gasoline on carpet, and they're extras.
Helps4Skip2
Chemical safety
Never mix these
Some products in this guide react dangerously with each other. Use them one at a time and rinse with water in between.
Baking soda + Oxygen bleach (OxiClean)
OxiClean's label says not to mix it with other household chemicals.
Hydrogen peroxide (3%) + Oxygen bleach (OxiClean)
OxiClean's maker says it should not be mixed with household chemicals other than detergent in the wash.
If they mix by accident: Don't use or store the mixture and don't seal it in a bottle. Open windows and leave the room if you notice fumes, coughing, eye or throat irritation. Rinse it away with plenty of water once the area is ventilated. If anyone has symptoms or swallowed it, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or use poison.org.
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't use more gasoline to clean gasoline
Gasoline and lighter fluid aren't cleaners, and both only spread the fuel. The solvents in the steps are made for spot removal, so use those instead.
Don't call the spot clean too soon
Oil stains tend to reappear just when you think you've seen the last of them, so keep going until nothing transfers to the cloth. Letting the spot dry too early turns a fresh stain into a harder one.
Don't pour solvent straight onto the carpet
Solvent poured on the pile can dissolve the backing and damage the padding underneath. Dampen a clean white cloth and work the solvent through it instead.
Don't bring a flame near the spot
Gasoline and solvents are flammable, so open flames, pilot lights and cigarettes stay well away while you work. Keep the room ventilated, and wear rubber gloves when handling these products.
Don't reach for lighter fluid as a remover
Lighter fluid is flammable and isn't a stain remover, so it adds risk without lifting anything. Stick with the dry-cleaning solvent and the combination solvent.
When to call a professional
A carpet cleaner should take over if an oily film remains after the solvent and detergent rounds, since even a pro may not remove all of it. Tell them it was gasoline, roughly how long it sat, and which products you used so they can rinse thoroughly between them.
Questions
Will gasoline leave a permanent stain on carpet?
It can if you leave it, since the stain gets harder to lift with time. Start as soon as you can, and keep going until the cloth comes away clean.
Do I need a dry-cleaning solvent for a gasoline stain?
Yes, for the first pass. The dry-cleaning solvent does the lifting and handles the oily part of the stain. The combination solvent then handles what's left behind, and the final rinse removes the last of it.
Will the smell linger after a gasoline spill in a car?
It often does until the carpet is fully dry and the area is aired out. Leave the doors open while it dries, and don't judge the smell until the carpet is completely dry.
Can I use a stronger cleaner if the stain won't lift?
No. Stick to the set-in options, because strong household cleaners and anything above pH 10 can damage the fibers and backing.
Can I walk on the carpet while it dries?
Keep off the spot until it's dry, and don't set furniture on it. Walking on a damp carpet can push the fuel back into the pile, which can make the stain reappear.
Will the carpet color change after cleaning?
It can, so test before you commit. Try each cleaner on a hidden corner first, and if the color changes, stop using that cleaner on the spot.
Can I run a steam cleaner over a gasoline spot?
Not while fuel is still on the carpet. Heat and open flame don't mix with flammable liquids, so keep the machine away until the spot is fully worked. Hot water extraction is for large or excessive stains, and a professional should handle that.
Is laundry detergent a good choice for gasoline on carpet?
It isn't, since laundry and automatic dishwasher detergents can destroy carpet dyes and some fibers. The finishing step uses a gentle, plain detergent in lukewarm water, which is the right kind. Check a hidden spot before going further, and keep any cleaner's pH below 10.
What's the right way to leave a gasoline-treated spot to dry?
Once the spot looks gone, stack 5 or 6 dry clean cloths over it and set a weight on top so they pull up the leftover solvent. Swap the cloths as they soak through, then rinse with clear water and blot well before the carpet dries.
Gasoline on other materials
Other stains on carpet & rugs
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.