Its name comes from the San Diego, California Rocket Chemical Company’s project to find a ‘water displacement’ compound that could be used as a rust preventative solvent and degreaser to protect missile parts. The fortieth formulation they tried was successful, hence the name WD-40. This happened in 1953 and the ingredients of that formula remain a secret locked in a vault “somewhere in San Diego to this day. WD-40 was released to the general consumer market in 1958 as an all purpose lubricant. Since then, users of the product have sent in thousands of other uses for the product that they have discovered through trial and error. The company changed its name to WD-40 Company in 1969. By their 40th anniversary, WD-40 was a $100 million dollar company and their multi-use product was found to be in 4 out 5 households. Here are 43 of those uses, some of which you’ll find especially useful living here in Puerto Peñasco. You can find over 2000 more uses at their website: www.wd40company.com .
WD-40 Uses
1. Protects silver from tarnishing.
2. Removes road tar and grime from cars.
3. Removes lipstick stains.
4. Removes wax from flat black car paint to remove “cloudy” appearance.
5. Keeps flies off cows.
6. Restores and cleans chalkboards.
7.Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles.
8. Loosens stubborn zippers.
9. Untangles jewelry chains.
10. Removes stains from stainless steel sinks.
11. Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill.
12. Keeps ceramic/terra cotta garden pots from oxidizing.
13. Cleans fiberglass bath tubs.
14. Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots.
15. Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors.
16. Cleans and lubricates guitar strings and frets.
17. Lubricates noisy door hinges on vehicles and doors in homes.
18. 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.
19. Bug guts will eat away the finish on your car if not removed quickly! Use WD-40!
20. Gives a children’s playground gym slide a shine for a super fast slide.
21. Lubricates gear shift and mower deck lever for ease of handling on riding mowers…
22. Rids kids’ rocking chairs and swings of squeaky noises.
23. Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to open..
24. Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close.
25. Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards and vinyl bumpers.
26. Keeps scissors working smoothly.
27. Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans
28. Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons, and bicycles for easy handling.
29. Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly.
30. Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools.
31. Removes splattered grease on stove.
32. Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging and removes water spots.
33. Removes scuff marks from ceramic tile floors
34. Keeps beard trimmers working well and quietly.
35. Removes all traces of duct tape and adhesives left from bumper stickers
36. Spray on windshield wipers in the early summer so the blades don’t crack and dry out
37. Cleans and removes love bugs from grills and bumpers.’
38. Removes dried contact cement from hair
39. Cleans DVDs, after using WD-40, clean with soap and water to keep them playing great
40. Use it for fire ant bites. It takes the sting away immediately and stops the itch.
41. WD-40 is great for removing crayon from walls. Spray on the mark and wipe with a clean rag.
42. Pre-treat laundry to remove lipstick, paint, tar and many other stains.
43. If you spray WD-40 on the distributor cap, it will displace the moisture and allow the car to start.
There are many myths out there about the uses of WD-40. If you hear of any that involve rubbing it on the skin to relieve arthritis pain, according to the company website, that is highly unlikely. Some say the product will attract fish if you rub it on your lures or live bait; according to the company, the product does contain mineral spirits and may harm the lake water. Although you can use it to prevent lures and other fishing gear from rusting.
This blog is brought to you by Sonoran Resorts Sales Group, Jim Ringquist, Director of Sales