Anyone who has accidentally spilled gasoline knows how dangerous it is. Let me show you how to clean gasoline off concrete properly!
Gasoline is a liquid for powering vehicles or other machines. It is made of hydrocarbons, which are derived from petroleum, a type of crude oil.
According to trading economics, gasoline production in us reaches 1373 Thousand Barrels in January of 2021. Gasoline is an essential part of our lives
Sometimes, you made a mistake and spill the gasoline into the concrete. What should you do?
Having a spill of gasoline is bad enough, but the smell lingers for days, and it’s not easy to clean up. Learn how to clean gasoline off the concrete with this quick guide.
Contents
Why should you clean gasoline off concrete?
Gasoline is a flammable liquid
Cleaning gas off of concrete is important because gasoline is a flammable liquid.
Gasoline can be ignited by many things including sparks from tools and electric motors, plumbing fixtures, and even lightning.
If you don’t remove the gas from the concrete, there could be a risk of a fire.
It causes a bad smell
When you spill gasoline on concrete, the smell can be overpowering. The liquid will cling to whatever they come in contact with—including you and your clothing.
It harms your health
Gasoline is a petroleum-based product, which can be absorbed into the skin like a lotion or moisturizer.
When that happens, it can make the skin of your hands dry and cracked.
The oil can also poison the skin, allowing germs to enter the body and causing infections to develop. It can even cause cancer.
If you have an existing respiratory condition such as asthma or emphysema, be careful. It could lead to breathing problems and even death.
Preparation to clean gasoline off concrete
1. Wear gloves and a mask
Gasoline can cause serious health issues if it gets on your skin and absorbed into your body.
The best way to protect yourself from this danger is to put on a pair of thick rubber gloves and a mask that covers your nose and mouth.
It is important to avoid inhaling any fumes or getting splashed with gasoline. It can cause irritation to your skin, eyes, throat, lungs, and nose.
2. Open the windows or ventilation
When you clean gasoline off the concrete, the fumes from the gas can be very dangerous.
Open your windows or ventilation before you clean the gasoline off the concrete.
It helps you to prevent headaches, nausea, or even unconsciousness.
How to clean gasoline off concrete
1. Dry the spilled area
To clean gasoline off the concrete, you first have to dry the area. Use a towel or rag to dry up as much of the gasoline. Then, wait until the surface is completely dry before continuing.
The less gasoline that stays in the puddle, the less is going to soak into the concrete.
Repeat this process until you feel enough.
2. Sprinkle baking soda or cat litter on it
After drying the area, sprinkle baking soda or cat litter over the spilled area and wait for 30 minutes.
Baking soda or cat litter will absorb the gasoline residue. Also, it neutralizes the smell.
After that, clean the area with an old broom or scrub brush.
3. Wash the concrete with soapy water
Now. you can wash the spilled area with soapy water.
Mix soap with warm water and scrub the area with a stiff brush or scrub brush attachment on a hose. Rinse well with plain water until the bubbles disappear from the cement.
Soap is a surfactant, which means it has an affinity for both water and oil.
When you spray soapy water on the spilled area, it will lift up most of the gasoline. It softens the gasoline and makes it easier to remove.
Clean the entire spot using a scrub brush and make sure you rinse it until the water runs clear.
If you have a power washer, use it for the best result.
4. Dry it
It’s crucial to let the surface dry after cleaning the gas with soapy water.
The best approach to do this is to remove any excess water by drying the area with a clean rag or microfiber cloth.
This type of cloth works well to absorb wet particles from the concrete. It makes the drying process faster.
5. Neutralize the smell with natural ingredients
To remove the gasoline smell residue, you can put natural ingredients to the spilled area.
Here is some recommendation to neutralize the gasoline smell on your concrete:
- Put a bowl of coffee on the concrete and leave it overnight
- Spray some vinegar on the spilled area
- Drop some essential oil into the stained area
- Pour baking soda and wait for a day
This material will absorb the smell and gives a fresh scent without any trace.
Aside from gasoline smell, you can also use this ingredient to remove the kerosene smell.
FAQ
if the spilled area is even 99 percent dry, there is no way for the gasoline to catch fire. It doesn’t matter how flammable the gasoline was, a dry spillage of gasoline cannot burn.
Yes, baking soda will absorb gasoline. sprinkle the baking soda and it will absorb the gasoline and neutralize the smell.
Spilled gas off concrete evaporates within a few hours. It could be faster if it falls in an open area.
Conclusion
The spilled gasoline soaked into the concrete is dangerous and harmful. The cleanup was going to be a big job, but you should do it immediately.
Let me summarize how to clean gasoline off concrete perfectly!
- Dry the spilled area
- Sprinkle baking soda or cat litter on it
- Wash the concrete with soapy water
- Dry it
- Neutralize the smell with natural ingredients
