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How do I clean a gas spill in my car’s trunk?

Help! The jerry can I keep in my trunk just tipped over and now my entire trunk is covered in gasoline. Can you tell me how to clean a spill in my car’s trunk?

avatar
Natalie Todoroff · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Oh no! First things first, you’ll want to get out of the car, open your
trunk
, and roll down your windows. When inhaled in a closed space like your car, gasoline fumes can be dangerous.
Once you’re out of your car, follow these steps on how to clean a gas spill in a trunk:
  • Grab an old rag or towel to soak up the spilled gasoline
  • Dampen the area with water to help loosen the gasoline molecules from your trunk
  • Sprinkle with kitty litter, salt, or cornmeal to help absorb any remaining gasoline
  • Use carpet shampoo or another household cleaning solution to remove the stain. A mixture of equal parts vinegar, baking soda, and dishwashing liquid makes for an effective solution against gasoline stains
  • Scrub the shampooed and cleansed area with a nylon brush
  • Pat to dry with fresh paper towels or newspaper and let your car air out
Perhaps the hardest part about a gasoline stain is
getting rid of the lingering smell
. The sooner you start cleaning up a gasoline spill, the easier it will be to get rid of the smell. If you didn’t already have an
air freshener
in your car, now it certainly is the time to get one!
Carrying a jerry can in your trunk for emergencies is a great idea and so is having the
Jerry
app on your phone! Jerry is an insurance
super app
that can help you save **$800+ on your car insurance every year.
Once you download Jerry, just answer a handful of questions that will take you roughly 45 seconds to complete, and you’ll immediately get car insurance quotes for coverage similar to your current plan.
View full answer 
WHY YOU CAN TRUST JERRY
Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.

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