If you’ve followed my blog for a while, you’ll know that for the most part, I prefer natural and homemade alternatives when I have the option. But there are rare occasions when I’ll stick to my guns on a particular product, and one of those products is WD-40.
Why do I feel so strongly about a spray lubricant, you might ask? Because it just has so many darn uses, and it has saved my hide many times (I think of it as liquid duct tape…it can do just about anything!)
For example, back when my daughter Britta was a toddler, she went through a phase where she carried Silly Putty around everywhere she went. She must have fallen asleep with it one night, because in the morning I discovered a huge wad of Silly Putty stuck in her hair—and I mean really stuck!
I loved Britta’s beautiful, long blonde locks, so I was devastated at the idea that I would have to hack it off to get the putty out. Luckily, someone recommended trying WD-40 first, and I was desperate enough to try anything at that point! I soaked the putty-matted hair with WD-40, and to my great surprise, I was able to slide every last piece of the Silly Putty OUT of her hair!
But when it comes to using WD-40, salvaging toddler hair is just the tip of the iceberg. :-) The WD-40 website offers a list of 2,000 uses for this surprisingly versatile product, but I decided to show a bit more restraint here. So here is a bit of background on WD-40, followed by a few dozen of the very best WD-40 uses!
What Is WD-40, And How Does It Work?
WD-40 actually stands for Water Displacement, 40th Formula. It was invited in 1953 by a chemist named Norm Larsen, who sought a way to prevent rust and corrosion by displacing moisture from corrosion-prone metal surfaces. He made many attempts at his water displacement formula, and finally perfected it on his 40th try. Thus the name “WD-40” was born!
But despite its name, this little blue can is capable of far more than just displacing water! According to the product website, this multi-use product also lubricates parts like bike chains and guitar strings, penetrates rust, protects surfaces like stainless steel, and removes dirt, grease, and grime. And you’ll see all of those properties at work in the WD-40 uses I’ve listed below! :-)
31 Brilliant WD-40 Uses
1. Clean Your Toilet Bowl
Spray WD-40 on tough limescale stains and mineral deposits in your toilet, then let it sit for a few minutes. Scrub with a toilet brush or a pumice stone and the stains will dissolve easily!
2. Prevent Tool Handles From Splintering
No tool lasts forever, but you can certainly prolong the life of your wood-handled tools if you use WD-40 to prevent the wood from splintering. Just rub a generous amount of WD-40 into the wood, where it will shield the wood from moisture and other corrosive elements, keeping it smooth and splinter-free!
3. Remove Crayon Marks
Parents, raise your hand if you’ve ever faced a crayon-on-the-wall incident. (If yours isn’t up, lucky you!) Waxy crayon markings can seem impossible to remove, but WD-40 makes it easy.
Just spray a bit of WD-40 onto the crayon markings and wait a minute or two. This will give the lubricating action of the WD-40 time to lift the wax from the paint, so all you have to do is wipe it away with a cloth or a sponge!
4. Deter Wasps
Don’t let yellow jackets and other wasps ruin your spring or summer fun! They love building nests under eaves, so next spring, spray some WD-40 under all the eaves of your house to deter wasps from building their nests there. Talk about one of the most unexpected uses for WD-40!
Related: These Are The 7 Tips You Need If You Hate Wasps
5. Maintain Hand Tools
Maintaining your household tools and gardening tools is easy with the help of WD-40. A spritz will lubricate the hinges and springs in your snippers and pliers, and a thin layer displaces moisture and prevents rust from forming on your saws, trowels, rakes, and other metal tools.
6. Break In A New Baseball Glove
You can use WD-40 instead of neatsfoot oil to break in a brand new baseball or softball glove. Just spray the glove with WD-40, put a baseball in the palm, and fold the glove into a “closed” position around the ball. Then use a rubber band or some string to tie it around the folded glove.
Keep the glove tied up overnight, and the WD-40 will soften the leather and allow it to conform to the shape of the ball. Wear the glove for a while the next day so that it conforms to the shape of your hand too.
7. Remove Adhesive Residue
There are a hundred and one ways to remove old adhesive residue and other sticky gunk, and WD-40 is one of them! Remove as much of the sticker or label as you can, then coat the remaining residue in a layer of WD-40. Wait a few minutes to allow the liquid to penetrate into and dissolve the adhesive, then use a sponge to wipe away the loosened residue.
8. Kill Weeds
Some gardeners swear by WD-40 as a weed killer. Try using it on thistle, which should wither and die after a time. Then you’ll be able to pull it out, root and all, so that it won’t return to your yard.
9. Remove A Stuck Ring
Got a too-small ring stuck on your finger? A spritz of WD-40 on your finger will make it much easier to help slip the ring off. (Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly afterward!)
10. Make Bug Splatters Easier To Clean
It’s bad enough that your car grille and hood get splattered with bugs every time you drive down the interstate, but do they have to be so darn tough to scrape off?
Fortunately, the answer is no! Just spray some WD-40 on your car’s grille and hood before a long drive, then buff the area with a cloth so only a thin layer remains.
As you drive, most of the bug splatters will slide right off. And the few bugs and splatters that do end up on your car will be much easier to wipe off later without damaging your car’s finish. This has to be one of my favorite WD-40 uses of all!
11. Remove Stains From Countertops
Remove stubborn tea and coffee stains from your countertops with the help of a spritz of WD-40 and a little elbow grease.
12. Fix A Problematic Zipper
That stubborn, sticky jacket zipper doesn’t stand a chance against WD-40. Just spray a bit of it directly onto the zipper, then pull the zipper up and down the length of the teeth a few times.
13. Maintain Scissors
Use WD-40 on the blades of your crafting or sewing scissors to keep them lubricated and working well. Spray the blades, then wipe them off with a clean, dry cloth.
14. Remove Sticky Stuff From Fingers
Next time you’re working on a project and accidentally get super glue or another sticky substance stuck to your fingers, just spray the area with WD-40. The sticky glue will dissolve when you rub your hands together and you’ll have no trouble washing them clean.
15. Repel Snow And Ice
A thin layer of WD-40 on your car windows during the winter can keep snow and ice from sticking to them overnight. Spray a small amount on to the window, then spread it over the surface with a clean, dry cloth.
16. Fix Squeaky Hinges
Nothing is more irritating than squeaky door hinges. Apply some WD-40 to the hinge, open and close the door a few times to work the lubricant in, and the squeak should vanish. Job done!
17. Get Rid Of Gum
After stepping in gum, save your soles with WD-40. Soak the gum with WD-40, wait for a minute or two, and the gum will peel away from your shoes with ease.
18. Keep Shower Doors Clean
Use WD-40 as a Rain-X type water repellent coating on your glass shower doors. All you need is a thin layer and the water will bead right off the surface. You’ll also avoid hard water spots and stains, which means less cleaning in the future.
19. Keep Shoes Dry
You can apply the same concept above to give your shoes a waterproof (or at least water-resistant) coating. Spray a bit of WD-40 onto a clean, dry cloth, then use it to buff the outside of your shoes. (As an added bonus, this will also erase any salt stains you may have gotten during the winter!)
20. Deter Spiders
Hate spiders? Just spray WD-40 directly onto areas where spiders and other insects tend to get in your home, like windowsills and door frames. It will keep the spiders and other bugs out.
21. Unstick LEGOs
Sometimes LEGO bricks snap together so securely that it’s almost impossible to pull them apart again. But you can use a spritz of WD-40 to help make it easier! Just spray a small amount into the crack between the stuck parts, let it soak in for a few seconds, then pull the bricks apart.
22. Erase Scuff Marks
Use a small amount of WD-40 on a cloth to buff away scuff marks on your floors. Make sure to wipe down the area thoroughly afterward, because you don’t want anyone to slip and fall!
23. Remove Tomato Stains
Keep a can of WD-40 handy in your laundry room, where you can use it to remove tomato-based stains on your clothing. Just spray some onto the stain, wait a few minutes, then wash as usual.
24. Remove Oil Stains From Concrete
Use WD-40 to remove unsightly oil spots and splatters from your driveway. Spray it liberally onto the spot, wait a few minutes, then blot with a dry cloth to absorb the oil. Repeat as necessary until the stain disappears.
25. Remove Carpet Stains
You can use WD-40 in conjunction with your favorite carpet cleaner to help remove stubborn carpet stains. It works especially well on car mats!Just spray it onto the stain first (you don’t need much), then follow up with your carpet cleaner product as usual. The WD-40 helps get between the stain and the carpet, making it easier for the carpet cleaner to wash everything away.
26. Protect Bird Feeders
Squirrels are notorious for co-opting bird feeders and selfishly stealing the bird seed, especially when the feeders are supported by a post they can climb. But you can foil their plans by coating the pole or post with WD-40, which will make it too slippery for squirrels to climb. Take that, you little rascals!
27. Waterproof Outdoor Wear
Since it’s so effective at displacing water, you can use WD-40 to make your outdoor apparel and gear more water-resistant. Spray it on boots, gloves, jackets, and other items, then let the item dry overnight. Once it is completely dry, your gear will repel more water!
28. Keep Pests Out Of Your Trash
If cats, raccoons, or other local animals are rooting around in your trash, WD-40 can help keep them at bay! Spray some right onto the outside of your outdoor trash cans to make the surface slippery. The slick surface will keep most animals from climbing into your garbage.
29. Help Hangers Glide Smoothly
If your hangers tend to get hung up along the rod in your closet, WD-40 will help! Just spray a bit of it onto the top of the rod, then use a clean cloth to along the length of the rod. It will make your hangers will glide smoothly and easily over the rod (and it works just as well on shower curtain rods too!)
30. Remove Paint Transfer From Cars
You return to your parked car to find that while you were gone, another vehicle got a bit too close for comfort. Luckily there’s no dent, but now your car has an unsightly patch of “paint rub” or paint transfer left behind by the other car.
To make removing paint rub from your car, spray the affected area with WD-40, wait a few seconds, then wipe with a clean rag. Done! :-)
31. Clean Gardening Equipment
A spritz of WD-40 can remove sap, grime, and other gunk from your garden tools. You can also use it to lubricate the underside of your lawn mower, which will prevent grass clippings getting stuck and clogging up your mower.
How do you use WD-40 around the house?
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