Larry asked: How do I clean diesel off of vinyl? What will cut it?
Table of Contents:
Removing diesel fuel stains can be challenging and should be treated the same as oil stains. Follow these steps to lift and remove the oil-based diesel stains from your vinyl pieces.
You Will Need:
- Corn starch or whiting
- Vinyl cleaner
- Dish detergent (Dawn works well)
- Dry cleaning fluid
- Water
- Soft cloths or sponges
- Cotton balls
- Bucket
Steps to Clean the Diesel:
- If the stain is fresh, cover it with a fine powder such as whiting or corn starch.
- Allow this to set on the stain overnight.
- Wipe away with a sponge or soft cloth moistened with water, or brush the powder away.
- Repeat the above application until the stain (or a majority of it) is removed.
- If the stain remains, mix some detergent with hot water in the bucket. Use the hottest water that the vinyl can safely tolerate.
- Use a sponge or soft cloth moistened with the mixture to gently wipe it away.
- Moisten a cloth or cotton balls with dry cleaning fluid and rub it over the area.
- Rinse thoroughly with a cloth moistened with clean water.
Additional Tips and Ideas
- When working with dry cleaning fluid, open the windows and ensure there is proper ventilation.
- There are commercial car cleaning products that are designed to remove oil-based stains from vinyl upholstery. Apply these products following the manufacturer’s instructions.
