chainsaws and laundry prob!!!...help!!!

[Nicos]

OK boys n gals...bit of advice please!

My son in law ( to be) managed to spill chain saw fuel on his trousers- then put them through the washing machine.
Problem is that the washing machine now stinks of fuel and 2 stroke...and so does anything washed in it.

Can anyone please suggest what can be done to clear the washing machine

ta muchly in advance!!

[zazen999]

Have you done a boil wash with nothing in it except soda crystals or borax?

[Jeanied]

That's what I would have suggested but Zaz got there first. If all else fails, a tub of bicarb in the wash.

[Nicos]

tried bicarb of soda , lemon juice and white wine vinegar ( not at the same time!!)...not the borax though

[Glutton4...]

Empty the filter. Then as above. Good luck!

[Nicos]

Empty the filter.

hmm...they've not tried that...nor the soda crystals either...will suggest they nip to the shops tomorrow to try them both!

[bubblewrap]

Stoopid idea have you tried Google?

[Liza]

Soda crystals and an empty boil wash

[Nicos]

Stoopid idea have you tried Google?

........

[Nicos]

What sort of volume/weight of soda crystals /bicarb etc etc???
( I'm presuming it goes in the soap dispensor???)

Oh..and thicky here needs to know if soda crystals and bicarb of soda are different things???

[Hilary B]

What sort of volume/weight of soda crystals /bicarb etc etc???
( I'm presuming it goes in the soap dispensor???)

Oh..and thicky here needs to know if soda crystals and bicarb of soda are different things???

Yeah, very different! Bi-carb has twice as much carbonate to the same amount of sodium, which makes it edible. Soda Crystals (aka washing soda) are alkaline, and would be very bad for you if you were to eat any!
While bi-carb might be better than nothing, it isn't ideal for the purpose. It's the sodium that makes it effective, and the carbonate dilutes the effect quite a bit.

[Jeanied]

Soda crystals are sodium carbonate - and bicarb is sodium bicarbonate.
If my failed chemistry o level bears me out this means that bicarb is a bit less reactive than soda carbonate having one extra carbon molecule making it more inert.
So number 1 choice will be soda crystals - but in an emergency a whole tub of bicarb tipped into the drum and a boil wash should do it.

[Nicos]

OK- thanks...the kiddies have just set off for home with a list of choices ( thankyou all!)

They had only used a 1/4 tub of bicarb- so your ideas sound much better.
Many thanks!!

( must say they were shocked at the speed peeps jumped in with replies!...tis a grand place here isn't it??)

[matthew2riches]

We have a washer in the shed for all work clothes. My dad works with tarmac. I do a lot of work with oil and grease and also all the gardening clothes. They're all washed in the outdoors washer. Everything else is washed as usual.

[Two_Sheds]

When Mr TS has been on the rigs, he brings me overalls coated in guano & oil

They go in a bendy bucket with bio powder for a long soak, get rinsed in the garden, then put through the washing machine

I'm glad he's mostly desk-based these days, although port & curry stains still evade all attempts at removal