Quantitative determination of mineral-oil hydrocarbons in soil is the basis for an effective remediation process. Therefore, a method is prescribed by using an equivalent, standardized method of the wafer analysis, given in DIN 38409 H18. However, the transfer from one compartment to another provides the analyst with some problems: The extraction by simply shaking should be replaced through the Soxhlet-apparatus extraction although even this procedure is not sufficient Further, the adsorptive removal of polar organics with alumina (also established in water analysis) may produce error by favourite adsorption of non polar hydrocarbons in comparison with the solvent. Some experimental results and possibilities for avoiding mistakes are discussed.