The 8 Best Uses for WD-40

Most Australians have a can of WD-40 hiding in their cleaning arsenal or garage. Chances are, you haven’t used it for years.

There is a lot more to this impressive product than meets the eye. Here are 8 great ways to use WD-40 around the home plus 4 items you should definitely avoid using it on.

What is WD-40?

WD-40 was created in 1953, initially to be used in the aerospace industry to prevent rust and corrosion. It eventually became a household product, suited to a range of household tasks thanks to its unique formula.

WD-40 is a cleaning product, lubricant, and anti-corrosive solution. The WD in the title stands for ‘Water Displacement’ and the 40 represents how many attempts the creator had to get the formula right.

8 Ways to Use WD-40

01On Hard Water Spots

Mineral deposits occur on our showers because of hard water and are notoriously tough to remove. Spray and wipe some WD-40 instead of your usual glass cleaner but ensure you open a window while you’re cleaning.

You can use it on your toilet as well. Spray and then wait a few minutes, scrub with a toilet brush, then flush! WD-40 will soften the rust and lime deposits, which makes them simpler to wipe off.

02Driveway Oil Spots

On a concrete driveway, spray the oil stains, wait a few minutes and blot gently with a clean rag. Keep in mind you may have to let it sit for a little longer before blotting.

03Door Hinges

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Squeaky door hinges can be really annoying! Make easy work of those squeaks by spraying a little on the hinge, testing if it’s working by moving the door back and forth. Give it a little more spray if it’s still squeaking.

04Stuck Zippers

Your favourite jeans or boots will get a new lease on life. Stuck or stubborn zippers can be loosened by spraying a little WD-40 on the area.

05Stainless Steel

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Greasy kitchen substances and hands can make keeping stainless steel shiny a really tough job.

You can easily remove fingerprints by spraying WD-40 and wiping with a paper towel in the direction of the steel grain. Wiping like this helps to avoid streaking and keeps your appliances sparkling.

06Sticky Drawers and Jars

WD-40 is great for lubricating stuck drawers or jars that you’re having trouble opening up. Just spray onto the affected area.

07Scissors

Apply some WD-40 on the blades to fix rusty or rigid scissors.

08Crayon and Ink

If you ever get an ink stain on the carpet, spray with WD-40, leave for a few minutes and sponge with soapy water. Use a clean towel to absorb the WD-40 and soapy water. Dry the carpet completely.

Unfortunately, small children are great at colouring your walls and carpet. Crayola recommends using WD-40 for treating crayon stains on fabric. For wall stains, spray, wipe with a cloth, and the crayon marks are history.

The 4 Worst Uses for WD-40

People have actually tried to use WD-40 as lighter fluid because it has flammable properties, which is obviously a terrible (and extremely unsafe) idea.

Using it to lubricate your laptop or computer keyboard could damage the plastic elements.

It is a common myth that WD-40 treats arthritis, which the WD-40 company itself says is completely false.

WD-40 will stain delicate materials such as silk.