• Welcome to Avian Avenue! To view our forum with less advertisments please register with us.
    Memberships are free and it will just take a moment. Click here

Cleaning Kerosene

expressmailtome

Ripping up the road
Administrator
Avenue Veteran
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
4/15/10
Messages
49,992
Real Name
Matthew
A visiting relative broke a Galileo thermometer that was in Michael's room, and although it was labeled as having been filled with water when I purchased it, going by the smell it was filled with kerosene. I instantly removed Michael in his carrier and brought him to another floor of the house, but did not know if anyone had any ideas of how to remove the kerosene and the odor without making a worse smell using a strong chemical?
 

flyzipper

Rollerblading along the road
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
9/28/20
Messages
2,591
Location
Canada
Real Name
Steve
I'd try an absorbent material like baking soda after soaking up the bulk with a sponge.
Leave long enough until it's saturated and then sweep to remove.
 

Clueless

Joyriding the Neighborhood
Avenue Veteran
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Avenue Concierge
Joined
11/3/12
Messages
24,021
Yikes!

@JLcribber might know

I think I'd definitely open a window in that room.
 

expressmailtome

Ripping up the road
Administrator
Avenue Veteran
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
4/15/10
Messages
49,992
Real Name
Matthew
Thank you both. I have had two large windows open all day, I absorbed all of the visible kerosene, used a grease cutting soap, and laid down a thick layer of baking soda, but it still has an odor 9 hours later. I just was unsure of what the next step would be.
 

Shezbug

ASK ME FOR PICTURES OF MY MACAW!
Super Moderator
Avenue Veteran
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
4/28/18
Messages
25,837
Location
Vic, Australia
Real Name
Shez
Maybe a bowl of sliced onions will help remove the smell.

Lots of older paint was apparently made with kerosene and the sliced onions were the best safe trick to remove the scent.
 

flyzipper

Rollerblading along the road
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
9/28/20
Messages
2,591
Location
Canada
Real Name
Steve
What material(s) did the kerosene come in contact with?
 

expressmailtome

Ripping up the road
Administrator
Avenue Veteran
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
4/15/10
Messages
49,992
Real Name
Matthew
Maybe a bowl of sliced onions will help remove the smell.

Lots of older paint was apparently made with kerosene and the sliced onions were the best safe trick to remove the scent.
Thank you.
What material(s) did the kerosene come in contact with?
It spilled on a table and floor tiles.

I called a gas company, and they recommended white vinegar, so I tried it and will see how it works out.

Thank you to everyone who helped!
 

flyzipper

Rollerblading along the road
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
9/28/20
Messages
2,591
Location
Canada
Real Name
Steve

fashionfobie

Biking along the boulevard
Avenue Veteran
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
1/4/19
Messages
5,246
Location
Qld, Australia
Real Name
Natalie
What a Nightmare! I hope you get it cleaned up.

*Not the same* but we accidentally knocked a bucket of bleach on the carpet in our rental house... made panic set in, since the carpet is a dark charcoal colour. Luckily following trusty google, and no stain was left behind... But shesh it is not fun at all to clean up unwanted ick! Especially with the birdies around.
 

Fergus Mom

Biking along the boulevard
Avenue Veteran
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
11/23/17
Messages
5,099
Location
Texas
Real Name
Elly
My go-to for removing odors have been untreated charcoal, sitting in bowls around the house, and shallow bowls of vinegar sitting around. Good luck! Hope he won't experience any problems from this!
 

expressmailtome

Ripping up the road
Administrator
Avenue Veteran
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
4/15/10
Messages
49,992
Real Name
Matthew
Oh yuck. We had one leak once and it was filled with ethanol. I think they are all filled with ethanol.
Dilute, mop repeat.
I saw that they are now, but it I have had it for over 25 years, and it smells very much like kerosene, although anything is possible. Thank you for the tip on cleaning it up.
 

flyzipper

Rollerblading along the road
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
9/28/20
Messages
2,591
Location
Canada
Real Name
Steve
I'm curious if this is resolved, what actually worked, and how long it persisted.

(file this knowledge under things I never expected that I needed to know for keeping birds)
 

Lady Jane

Ripping up the road
Avenue Veteran
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
8/25/12
Messages
26,573
Location
Maryland
Real Name
Dianne
One time a tenant moved out of an apartment. The landlord placed bowls of vinegar around because of a rotting smell. Next morning the smell was gone.
 

expressmailtome

Ripping up the road
Administrator
Avenue Veteran
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
4/15/10
Messages
49,992
Real Name
Matthew
I'm curious if this is resolved, what actually worked, and how long it persisted.

(file this knowledge under things I never expected that I needed to know for keeping birds)
I was able to put Michael back yesterday morning. I can not say what worked for sure. I used litter first, then paper towel to absorb the fluid. Next I used grease cutting dish soap. After that I used copious amounts vinegar and put bowls on vinegar throughout the room. It took quite a few days, but the odor and film are completely gone.
 
Top