View Full Version : The Many uses of WD-40



Keith
01-19-2006, 04:26 PM
WD-40

I thought that you might like to know more about this well-known WD-40
product.

Try it on your stovetop... Viola! It's now shinier than it's ever
been. You'll be amazed.

The product began from a search for a rust preventative solvent and de
greaser to protect missile parts. WD-40 was created in 1953 by three
technicians at the San Diego Rocket Chemical Company. Its name comes
from the project that was to find a "Water Displacement" compound.

They were successful with the Fortieth formulation, thus WD-40.


The Corvair Company bought it in bulk to protect their Atlas missile
parts. The workers were so pleased with the product they began
smuggling (also known as "shrinkage" or "stealing") it out to use at
home. The executives decided there might be a consumer market for it
and put it in aerosol cans. The rest is history. It is a carefully guarded
recipe known only to four people. One of them is the "brew master."


There are about 2.5 million gallons of the stuff manufactured each year.


It gets its distinctive smell from a fragrance that is added to the
brew. Ken East (one of the original founders) says there is nothing in
WD-40 that would hurt you.



Here are a few of the 1000's of uses:


Protects silver from tarnishing


Cleans and lubricates guitar strings


Gets oil spots off concrete driveways


Gives floors that 'just-waxed' sheen without making it slippery


Keeps flies off cows


Restores and cleans chalkboards


Removes lipstick stains



Loosens stubborn zippers


Untangles jewelry chains


Removes stains from stainless steel sinks


Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill


Removes tomato stains from clothing


Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots


Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors


Keeps scissors working smoothly


Lubricates noisy door hinges on vehicles and doors in homes


Gives a children's play gym slide a shine for a super fast slide


Lubricates gear shift and mower - deck lever for ease of handling on
riding mowers


Rids rocking chairs and swings of squeaky noises


Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to
open


Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close


Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards and vinyl bumpers


Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles


Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans


Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons and bicycles for easy
handling


Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running
smoothly


Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools


Removes splattered grease on stove


Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging


Lubricates prosthetic limbs


Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell)


Removes all traces of duct tape


I have even heard of folks spraying it on their arms, hands, and knees
to relieve arthritis pain.


Florida's favorite use was "cleans and removes love bugs from grills
and bumpers


The favorite use in the state of New York is to protect the Statue of
Liberty from the elements.


WD-40 attracts fish. Spray a LITTLE on live bait or lures and you will
be catching the big one in no time. It's a lot cheaper than the
chemical attractants that are made for just that purpose. Keep in mind though,
using some chemical laced baits or lures for fishing are not allowed in
some states.


Keeps away chiggers on the kids


Use it for fire ant bites. It takes the sting away immediately, and
stops the itch.


WD-40 is great for removing crayon from walls. Spray on the mark and
wipe with a clean rag.


Also, if you've discovered that your teenage daughter has washed and
dried a tube of lipstick with a load of laundry, saturate the lipstick
spots with WD-40 and re-wash. Presto! Lipstick is gone!


If you sprayed WD-40 on the distributor cap, it would displace the
moisture and allow the car to start.


WD-40, long known for its ability to remove leftover tape smudges
(sticky label tape), is also a lovely perfume and air freshener!



Spray liberally on every hinge in the house, it leaves that distinctive clean
fresh scent for up to two days!


It removes black scuff marks from the kitchen floor! Use WD-40 for
those nasty tar and scuff marks on flooring. It doesn't seem to harm
the finish and you won't have to scrub nearly as hard to get them off. Just
remember to open some windows if you have a lot of marks.


Bug guts will eat away the finish on your car if not removed quickly!

Curt
01-19-2006, 04:31 PM
I knew I liked the stuff for some reason I just did not know there were so many more reasons to like it.

osupa05
01-19-2006, 04:37 PM
No kiddin'! thanks, Keith! gotta go clean the stove, now!!!

Karried
01-19-2006, 04:50 PM
Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to
open

I'm not 100% sure but I recall someone telling me that spraying this on window tracks can damage the rubber/vinyl seal on dual pane windows thus allowing moisture to condensate and creating that foggy window look that is so damaging & unattractive.

True story - last week, my son had Silly Putty on the seat of his jeans and sat on my nice fabric formal dining room chair. I looked up removal online and viola! WD-40 removes silly putty.. I hate the smell though but my chair is 'almost' okay -
I hate silly putty too!

Karried
01-19-2006, 04:56 PM
Here's another true story or maybe better in the blonde moment category -

My brakes started squeaking .... it didn't take long for the neurons to start clicking - Squeaks = WD - 40 ! Yes! A simple solution to squeaky brakes... NOT!

My husband almost had a heart attack when I told him my brilliant idea... apparently, spraying in on brakes would pretty much render my auto unstoppable...hey the squeaks would be gone! LOL

Curt
01-19-2006, 04:57 PM
Works on squeaking acessory (fan) belts on your car also.

workman45
01-24-2006, 02:23 AM
Thank God you mentioned it to your husband first!