Just throw it away...
By foxyfire33
@foxyfire33 (10005)
United States
January 4, 2008 3:53pm CST
I'm putting it here because it's the closest interest I could find with a decent amount of people in it. My s/o's truck had a leak in the gas tank, it's fixed now but in the process we got gas all over my one year old winter coat and his coveralls (like an adult snowsuit, in case they're called something else in other places). I thought it wouldn't be a problem to put them in the washer and hang them to dry (I know that they can't be put in the dryer). But s/o's mom is insisting that they can't be washed either...something about the gas leaving residue in the washer and ruining everything else that we wash afterwards essentially ruining the washer itself. Her solution is to just throw away the coat and coveralls and buy new ones! I say that is NOT an option, the coat cost $40 and new coveralls would be at least $50.
So I'm asking all of you...can they be washed in the washer? Should I just run the washer empty afterwards to make sure there's nothing left behind? Is it really possible to ruin the washer by using it for these items? Do you know of any other ways to clen them? Or do you agree that we have to just get rid of them?
6 people like this
13 responses
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
5 Jan 08
Thanks TerryZ! I thought bleach afterward would be good enough too. I'm just going to run them down to the laundromat tomorrow.
@happythoughts (4109)
• United States
4 Jan 08
I think you are supposed to wash in a pail first. I read some where that there is an explosion hazzard because the detergents break up the gas and make fumes. Im not sure if it is an urban legend or not though. I do know that afer you wash them the smell will stay with the washer for a while and ruin a few loads after. Dish soap will break up the gas and get rid of the smell. I think if you washed the clothes in a tub or pail with dish soap and rinsed real well then you would be okay. Just wash until the smell is gone. ( Mine worked on the first try.)
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
4 Jan 08
Thanks for the tip about the dish soap. I'll remembe that when I decide what to do.The responses here have been so varied I'm not sure what to think yet!
2 people like this
@jewel76 (2305)
• Canada
4 Jan 08
Unfortunately, i think your mother in law may be right on that one; they shouldn't be washed in the washer..one thing you could do is ask a dry cleaner,they know all about cleaning and washing different fabrics with different kinds of stains on them.
1 person likes this
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
4 Jan 08
Good idea about the dry cleaner...although they may tell me the items have to be dry cleaned jut to get my business lol!
2 people like this
@Sissygrl (10912)
• Canada
5 Jan 08
I dont know if it would harm the washer or not. but i have an AWESOME solution for you:) I hope no one else mentioned it already. I go to the laundry mat, for all my clothes cause i dont have a washer and dryer. Most have comercial washers there, i'm sure you could use one of those washers. YAY! no argueing about the washer, no throwing the jacket out! Pay 2.50$ or so to run them through a washer in a laundry mat;)
1 person likes this
@myworkid1987 (755)
• United States
5 Jan 08
yup if your worried bout ruining yours just go ruin the laundry mats but gasoline will not ruin your washing machine. it gets washed into the water then when the water drains it goes wherever you your water drains. i have to go their with my comforters and use the REALLY BIG ONES!
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
5 Jan 08
I may just make a big production about going to the laundromat tomorrow after they get back from their trip just to make a point. I have never been to the one I'm going to so I have no idea what size machines they are or how well it's maintained but I guess the coats can't be ruined anymore than they are now with gas all over them! LOL
Eww...I wouldn't want to rug train a dog in the first place but if I did I would at least be polite enough to hose them down first before putting them in a washer whether it was my washer or not. That's just gross.
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
4 Jan 08
I'm not sure if this problem would ruin your machine or not. If I was in your shoes, this is what I would do. I'd rinse them off as much as possible (outdorrs if possible) and then I'd take them to a laundry and wash them in one of their machines. Those bigger industrial machines are made to handle bigger problems.
I'm not sure it's morally correct, but I think this would be the route I would take if I had to keep these clothes.
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
4 Jan 08
Sounds like a decent solution to me! I thought about hosing them down first either way. It just seems like there has to be a way to wash them since I'm sure lots of people have had this problem.
1 person likes this
@betsyraeduke (2670)
• United States
4 Jan 08
I have washed, actually attempted to wash, clothes that had gasoline spilled on them before. I put them through the washer. I did not notice that it ruined the washer or any clothes that were washed in there after that. However, I say I attempted to wash them, because even after running them through the washer a few times, I couldn't get the smell out. Perhaps you could find some affordable replacements at thrift store?
2 people like this
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
4 Jan 08
We probably could find replacements...it's just frustrating because that was my first brand new coat in 10 years and it seems like such a waste to trash it when it's only a year old...I'll have to do a lot of thinking about this.
2 people like this
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
5 Jan 08
I would take it to the dry cleaners or someone professional to get it out. I would do that first before throwing it out.
1 person likes this
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
5 Jan 08
I called the dry cleaners (they didn't sound very professional to me lol) and she just sort of hemmed and hawed and acted like she wasn't sure what to do but quoted me a big price and offered no guarantees....The other dry cleaner is almost an hour from here so I'm going to try the laundromat first and if that doesn't work then I'll think about hauling all the way over there.
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
5 Jan 08
I don't think there would be any problem with putting them in the washer. I'd recommend using something like Lestoil and maybe giving them a good rinse first. Throw them away??? No way, not with the price of things these days and the way money is tight for some of us!
Annie
1 person likes this
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
5 Jan 08
I was pretty shocked when she said to throw them away as much as they pinch pennies. I guess she got some of her credit cards paid up so she's feeling like she has extra money which translates to thinking everyone does, well we don't get caught up in the credit card debt nonsense so we can't just go out and buy new whenever we feel like it.
@wiccania (3360)
• United States
4 Jan 08
No, they can't be washed in the washer. In fact, your washer should have a warning against washing items with gasoline (among other substances) on them. As far as I know, there's no way to get it out, either. You could try hand washing and drying a few times but I doubt that you'd get all of the gas out of them. If you wash them in the washer, and it leaves behind a residue that gets in the rest of the clothes, you're going to be out a lot of money. First, to replace all the clothes that were ruined by the washer. Then, to replace the washer itself. You'd also still have to replace the coat and coveralls.
It seems like too much, but your best be is to replace those items now. Since it's post Christmas, you might be able to get them on sale... heck, I was at Target today and saw that they're already putting out shorts, t-shirts and bathing suits... so they might have them on sale since apparently they think winter is almost over. I bought my son a pair of those coveralls for $15 today. That was the same price for all the boys sizes, so I'd bet that the men's sizes would probably be around double.
1 person likes this
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
4 Jan 08
Well we don't even have the extra $30 at the moment which is why I was looking for a different solution.
LOL It's funny how my responses so far are so varied.
2 people like this
@girlgonefishing (2174)
• United States
7 Jan 08
I grew up without a washing machine. We always just filled up the tub with water an soap and washed clothes in there. I don't know if it would tear up your washing machine or not but, I do know that gasoline is a hard element to get rid of. Maybe you should consider washing them in the tub and then cleaning your tub really good afterward.
@PrettyViolet (86)
• United States
5 Jan 08
DO NOT throw them away!
I have washed coveralls and coats soaked with gasoline, oil, transmission fluid, and kerosene in the washer. It never hurt mine.
I usually use minimal clothing detergent, and use some dishwashing liquid instead, preferably Dawn. This cuts the "greasy" out of it...yes, gasoline and kerosene are greasy. Sometimes I have to wash them twice in a row to get it all cleaned out. And if there was ever a residue left in the washer, then I would run an empty cycle to get that out...but, to my knowledge, there never has been.
I see there is a serious debate going on here...I'm just stating what I have done myself. It has NEVER hurt my washing machine to do this.
