Diesel spill in boot

[UVB]

A family friend has a problem with her boot in that her ex spilled a load of diesel in there apparently on purpose. She's tried to clear it out as best she can and has had the car valeted; washed the carpets etc. but it still smells of diesel in the car. Does anyone have any magic cures to neutralise it?

[swisstoni]

I had a jerry can of the stuff topple over and burst open in the boot of a car once. I'm sorry to say that there was no magic cure. The whole of the rear interior and all the carpets had to be replaced.

Sorry I couldn't tell you a happier story.

[UVB]

Did replacing the interior sort the problem? I'm expecting it's going to be a hunt round the breakers for matching trim.

[Beau Technique]

In the whole of the interior or just the boot area?

[UVB]

Just the boot area apparently.

[Beau Technique]

If you strip the carpet / fabric sections out and use a form of heavy duty cleaner ( Valetpro heavy duty extraction cleaner at strong mixture or a TFR product at weaker mixture ) Liberally soak them, agitate and extract with wet vac ( if one available ) or leave until air dried then. Clean all internal sections of the boot identical as there will be excess spillage under the carpets etc.

[UVB]

Thanks for the advice - I'll give that a try and see how we get on.