I spilled some old gear oil on a work shirt of mine. Normally if it was oil or diesel I wouldn't have cared, but this smell nearly made me vomit. This was the junk that came out of my differential for my axle job.

I washed the shirt with Oxy clean and normal detergent but that nasty smell is still there. In fact it lingers for 5 minutes in my nose after I smell my shirt.

Any suggestions on getting the smell out? There was a good amount spilled on the shirt and it's that awesome type of work shirt that is great for winter wrenching. I'd like to not have to dirty up another one.

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-Typos courtesy of my mobile phone.

Burn it. There is no other choice. I got gear oil on a sweatshirt about 30 years ago. I kept it for about 20 years curious as to whether the sulphur smell from the gear oil would ever disappear about multiple washings. It never did.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Give it a good hose job with WD-40 , then the Oxy clean.

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1979 240D Caledonia Green/cream gone
1982 240D stick Ivory/Palimino
1999 E300D White/grey

Ha ha. At this point i'll give the WD-40 trick a try. I figured it was going to be a lost cause.

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-Typos courtesy of my mobile phone.

I've used gojo orange pumice soap with pretty good results on some awfully pungent aromas... Typically throw a palmful directly on the area then scrub the crap out of it, rinse, then throw it in the wash on hot/hot and throw another fistful of orange soap in there on top of my normal detergent (arm& hammer perfume free). I've also used purple degreaser (sorry can't think of the proper name) in the laundry and it did a good job as well.

Does a fine job on gear oil, fuels, greases, etc. I think with a work shirt the theme is to keep the overall scent "industrial," while avoiding identifiably nasty things like skanky used gear oil.
If all else fails and its a shirt you really enjoy working in, try the above then throw a bit of diesel on the stained area.

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'84 300D
'97 Jeep XJ lots of mods
'01 Subaru Forester

Wash it with a half cup of Ammonia, then once with normal detergent.

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

Febreeze? never hurts to try

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hum.....
1987 300TD 311,000M Stolen. Presumed destroyed

full strength hand cleaner directly onto stain .. let it sit.... throw it into the wash as normal

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Bring it to a reputable dry cleaners. If you live anywhere near the Ct./NY Border in Westchester, I would do it for you. The solution we use (perc) is a great degreaser.
Jack

I back the burn it method. Never seen anything kill gear oil. I will admit, I have never tried perc on it.

Use the permatex cream (creme??) hand cleaner, full strength, let it sit overnight and then was it BY ITSELF. Let it hang-dry (do not put it in dryer as that will "set" the stink/stain/whatever), may need to repeat. Good luck.

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"Frau Blue Car" 1980 240D think Frau Bluker, cue the horses, formerly known as "China" from JimmyL
"Gunther" 1982 300D.....Turbo!! A/C!! Sunroof!!
"Fraulein" 1975 240D----Donated to NPR

Cut the offending piece of cloth out.