WD40, is there anyone who hasn’t heard of it? The blue-yellow can with its water displacement spray can be used for a ton of things. The multi-usage of this product is unparalleled. The WD40 company in California is doing all it can to maintain its legendary status. They quickly found out that there was a great way to get free publicity.

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A few facts about WD40

  • WD40 was developed in 1953 by the Rocket Chemical Company (as commissioned by the NASA). NASA was looking for a water displacement product to prevent and eliminate rust formation on the Atlas rockets. WD40 stands for ‘Water Displacement 40th formula’. The right composition was found only after the 40th attempt (according to the first legend).
  • The exact WD40 composition is still a secret. WD40 consists of different hydrocarbons, but only the manufacturer knows exactly how and what it is made of. A patent has never been requested in order to prevent disclosure of the product formula.
  • When employees of the Rocket Chemical Company (later WD40 Company) took the product home, they found many more WD40 uses and, in 1961, WD40 was brought onto the market as a consumer product, packaged in the well-known spray cans.
  • To describe the use and function of WD40 without using advertisement language, we cite Wikipedia: “The long-term active ingredient is a non-volatile viscous oil which remains on the surface to which it is applied, giving lubrication and protection from moisture. This oil is diluted with a volatile hydrocarbon to make a low viscosity fluid which can be aerosolized to penetrate crevices. ” Now you know as much as we do.

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The craziest stories about WD40

Water expulsion and rust prevention are the primary uses of WD40, but there is an ‘all-rounder’ myth with the most bizarre uses of the multi spray. For example, WD40 supposedly helps against arthritis and can make fish bite sooner if you spray the hook with WD40. However, the manufacturer highly discourages medicinal uses and denies that fish oil is processed in the product (the second myth). The story that WD40 is made from fish oil circulates persistently on the internet.

In the meantime the creators are still happy with all those stories. There is even a WD40 fan club which collects new WD40 tips and uses. They’ve gathered a list of 2.000+ uses of WD40. Manufacturers make use of this list for promotional purposes, albeit with a disclaimer:

“The uses of WD-40 described on this website were provided to WD-40 Company by end-users of the product, and do not constitute recommendations or suggestions for use of WD-40 by WD-40 Company. These uses have not been tested by WD-40 Company. Consumers should exercise common sense whenever using WD-40. Always follow the instructions and take heed of any warnings printed on the WD-40 packaging.”

We’ve chosen 40 uses for WD40 from this list. Not all equally useful, but we’ll be the last to deny that WD40 is an extremely versatile product and that it deserves a spot in the garage, attic or sink cabinet of each house. Rust and corrosion prevention are the primary uses but here are some examples of the versatile use of WD40. There are many problems this real multi use product can solve with a quick spray:

  1. Extract rusted nuts and bolts
  2. Remove crayon from the wall
  3. Eliminate squeaking noises on curtain rails
  4. Clean ashtrays
  5. Spray in the toilet and then clean with the toilet brush
  6. Avoid grass from sticking to the blades of the lawn mower
  7. Remove stuck chewing gum from furniture and clothes
  8. Camouflage scratches in tiles
  9. Remove cement from tools
  10. Lubricate the wheels of buggies
  11. Ensure that snow doesn’t stick to snowplows
  12. Remove artificial snow from the windows after the Christmas and new years holidays
  13. Keep padlocks stainless
  14. Protect metal garden furniture during the winter
  15. Displace moisture
  16. Remove dog poo from shoes
  17. Clean the radiator grill from dead insects
  18. Remove adhesive tape without damaging anything
  19. Keep snow chains stainless
  20. Make old car paint shine
  21. Remove asphalt from shoe soles
  22. Camouflage scratches on bumpers
  23. WD40 to loosen stuck glass
  24. Clean electrical wiring
  25. Clean plexiglass
  26. Open stuck lids of cans
  27. Remove stickers
  28. Remove paint from windows
  29. Stains on brick
  30. Dissolve butyl mastic
  31. Make steel shine rust free
  32. Clean bicycle chains
  33. Clean golf balls
  34. Remove algae from boats
  35. Make zips function smooth
  36. Remove squeaking sounds from roller skates
  37. Grease home trainers
  38. Remove scuff marks with WD40 instead of soapy water
  39. Remove beeswax
  40. Smoothen rigid leather dog tires

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