How to Get Rid of the Smell from Kerosene Oil Fumes - Bumgarner Oil (2024)

by Bumgarner Oil Company | Apr 13, 2014 | About oil-based fuels

Kerosene oil is a very handy fuel source and is used to power many items in homes, workshops and other environments. Although kerosene oil is very safe and stable if handled correctly, it does have a distinctive pungent, oily smell.

If un-burnt kerosene oil is accidentally spilled, it can lead to a very strong odor, especially if the spill happened in a closed area (inside your home, for example). If this has happened to you, here are some tips to get rid of the kerosene oil smell:

• Use paper towels to soak up spilled kerosene oil as soon as possible after the spillage happened.
• Flush the area with cool water to dilute the kerosene oil and rinse away as much of it as possible.
• Wash the area thoroughly with warm water and soap or grease-cutting detergent (dishwashing liquid soap often works well for this). Take care if the surface is delicate or water sensitive.
• Rinse the area again with cool water.
• Remove remaining odors by wiping the area down with a clean cloth soaked in undiluted white vinegar. Alternatively, a spray bottle filled with undiluted white vinegar can be used to mist the area.
• Place a few bowls filled with undiluted white vinegar around the area, as this will absorb lingering kerosene oil smells from the air.

Of course, prevention is better than cure, so once you have gotten rid of the kerosene oil smell from inside your home, garage or storage area, you should make a point of filling kerosene oil powered devices or storage containers outside wherever possible to lessen the impact of any accidental spillages.

For heating oil in Hickory NC, contact us at Bumgarner Oil. We have been servicing gas stations, commercial contracts, and residential homes since 1954. We’re a local oil company that you can trust!