How to remove Gasoline from Nylon Fabric
First 60 seconds
Do not reach for a rag and start scrubbing yet. Blot — do not wipe the gasoline from the nylon fabric, working from the outside edge of the stain inward so it cannot spread any further. Evaporates faster than diesel but still needs an absorbent powder to pull the residue out first, and a strong synthetic that resists most stains from soaking in, but melts rather than scorches under heat.
What you'll need
- Cornstarch or talcum powder
- Dish soap
- WD-40 or a similar lubricant
Step by step
- Gather your materials before you start — set out everything so you are not searching mid-treatment.
- Cornstarch or talcum powder: bury the spot in powder to pull the oil out.
- Dish soap: mix a few drops with cold water into a light suds.
- WD-40 or a similar lubricant: spray lightly, wait a minute, then wipe from the outside in.
- Wipe clean with a damp cloth and dry the surface fully so no residue film is left behind.
Do not do this
- Hot water as a first step. It spreads oil-based stains before they can be lifted.
- Wiping side to side. It spreads the stain into a wider area — blot straight down instead.
- Any heat source (iron, hair dryer, tumble dryer). Heat on nylon fabric can bond the stain permanently or warp the material.
Common questions
Can I use hot water to remove gasoline from nylon fabric?
Hot water is not usually necessary, but on nylon fabric it is safer to stay with cool water regardless, since a strong synthetic that resists most stains from soaking in, but melts rather than scorches under heat.
Is it safe to scrub the stain out?
Scrubbing usually makes things worse. Blot or lift instead of rubbing, working from the outer edge inward so the stain does not spread.
What if the gasoline stain has already dried?
A dried stain takes longer and may need repeated treatments, but the same agents still work — just re-wet the area gently first to reactivate the stain before treating it.