A Spray that Seemingly Does it All
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WD-40 was created for the aerospace industry, but it’s become a household staple because it’s so versatile in and around the home. Inside the familiar blue-and-yellow can is a secret blend of lubricants with anticorrosion, water displacement, and soil removal superpowers.
This handy spray first was produced in the 1950s. Once the company perfected the formula, customers began finding creative ways to use it.
Grab a can today to solve some of the nagging household problems that follow.
Surface Stain Removal
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Is there an artist-in-residence at your home? Whether your child has scribbled on a wall or tabletop, WD-40 and a clean, dry rag are a one-two punch against stains. The formula (which is recommended by Crayola in their stain removal guide) is particularly potent against crayon, clay, glue, tape, and stickers. Just test on an inconspicuous area first—spray on, then wipe off.
RELATED: Ditch the Fridge—7 New Ways to Display Children's Artwork
Keep Animals Away
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Keep squirrels off your bird feeders by spraying poles with WD-40. While birds will still be able to enjoy the feeders, squirrels won’t get enough traction to climb them. The lubricant also works as a pigeon repellent on balconies and roofs, because the birds hate its smell.
RELATED: Pests, Be Gone! 11 Natural Ways to Keep Your Home Critter-Free
The Perfect Polish
4/15
What do DVDs, mother-of-pearl, seashells, restaurant booths, stethoscopes, and artificial flowers have in common? They can all be cleaned and polished with WD-40. This product is a lifesaver when traditional soap-and-water methods fail. Simply spray on and use a clean, dry rag to remove any excess. WD-40 will leave many of your hard-to-clean items looking like new.
RELATED: 30 Ways to Spring Clean Your Whole House—Naturally
Cope with the Cold
5/15
WD-40 is a true cold-weather friend. Spray your locks with WD-40 to prevent them from freezing. Add a coat of it to your snow shovel, and you’ll clear sidewalks with less effort, because snow won’t cling to your shovel. Or spray it on windows to prevent ice from building up and blocking natural light.
RELATED: The 14 Best Tools for Conquering Ice and Snow
Defend Against Insects
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A light coating of WD-40 on doorframes, screens, and window sills keeps bugs from crawling into your home. If they find another way in, a quick shot immediately kills most problematic insects. Many people even swear by the lubricant's ability to provide pain relief from bee stings and fire ant and mosquito bites, although those with sensitive skin should steer clear of this treatment.
RELATED: How to Eliminate Fruit Flies
Health and Beauty Aid
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WD-40 can treat a range of problems created by the use (and misuse) of cosmetics. For starters, it removes stubborn depilatory wax, makeup, and hair dye from carpets and furniture. It can even help you ease chewing gum out of your hair.
Arts and Crafts
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WD-40 isn't only for cleaning and maintenance—it can also be used to make art projects. WD-40 reacts with marker and paint to create an interesting visual effect. For example, spraying it on a canvas or poster board and allowing it to dry makes a unique textured base for painting projects.
RELATED: 9 Things You Never Thought to Paint—But Should
Break In Your Leather—Or Revive It!
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WD-40 makes stiff leather items soft and supple. Dog collars, baseball gloves, work boots, shoes, and sandals all benefit from a spray. As a bonus, you’ll remove stubborn stains which means the lubricant is particularly useful in treating vintage items. It’s equally useful on leather-like materials, such as automobile and boat upholstery.
RELATED: 10 Ways to Use Leather in Your Next Project
Fisherman's Friend
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Rumor has it that fish are attracted to the scent of WD-40. That's not true (unfortunately), but you should still stash some in your tackle box. WD-40 keeps reels spinning and releasing with ease. It softens and refreshes plastic lures, and removes the scent from them, making it more likely that fish will approach. Before using this formula on your fishing gear always check local laws first, since chemical baits may be prohibited.
RELATED: The Best Fishing Rod for Reeling in Your Catch
When You Have Enough Luck
11/15
There’s an old saying that when birds poop on you or your property, it’s good luck. In reality, when bird droppings hit your windshield or hood, it’s a menace to clean, and it clings as if it’s determined to stay put. Unfortunately, bird feces are also high in uric acid, which can damage the paint if left too long. When birds use your car for target practice, leave WD-40 on the droppings for 30 seconds, which will magically loosen even dried-on messes.
Leave No Trace
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Stainless steel appliances look sharp, but let’s face it, they’re magnets for fingerprints. Wiping with a regular cloth can leave streaks behind, which leaves the fridge, toaster, or dishwasher looking less than pristine. Instead of reaching for a sponge and soapy cleanser, spray a little WD-40 on a microfiber cloth and wipe away fingerprints easily.
RELATED: How to Clean Stainless Steel
Help for Messy Painters
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Painting the walls of a home can be very polarizing: DIYers seem to either enjoy it or loathe it entirely. Even with drop cloths, painting tape, and other protective measures, drops of paint can inevitably land on your floor. If you have a tile floor, don’t panic. Even if the paint has dried, you can blast it with a few sprays of WD-40 and wipe it clean. If the paint is stubborn, spray it again to help loosen any dried paint.
You can also use WD-40 to loosen paint can lids, refresh dried-out paintbrush bristles, and even preventively spray door knobs and handles, so any drops of paint that hit them will wipe right off.
Unknot That Necklace
14/15
It’s common to find tangled necklaces in yourjewelry box, but it can be frustrating trying to undo the knots, especially if they’re pulled tight. A little lubrication goes a long way in helping restore order to your chains and pendants. Spray some WD-40 on the chaotic areas, and the strands will come apart smoother, faster, and with less aggravation. After untangling, make sure to clean the jewelry, especially if your skin is sensitive to WD-40.
Tackle Duct Tape Residue
15/15
When you need adhesive that’s strong, long-lasting, and reliable, duct tape is the DIYer’s best friend. However, duct tape fixes might not be permanent. If you’ve ever removed duct tape that was intended as a temporary solution, you’ll be familiar with the sticky and difficult residue it leaves behind. Spray on the WD-40, give it a couple of minutes to soak in, then it should wipe away the tackiness and leave behind a clean surface. This trick works for stickers and other tape or glue residue, too.
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As an enthusiast with a deep understanding of household products and their applications, it's evident that the WD-40 spray is a remarkable and versatile solution for a myriad of common problems. I appreciate the opportunity to delve into the intricacies of each concept mentioned in the provided article.
1. Origin and Composition: WD-40, initially developed for the aerospace industry, contains a proprietary blend of lubricants with anticorrosion properties, water displacement capabilities, and soil removal powers. The formula was perfected in the 1950s, leading to its widespread use in households.
2. Surface Stain Removal: WD-40 is recommended by Crayola for stain removal, particularly effective against crayon, clay, glue, tape, and stickers. A quick spray followed by wiping with a clean, dry rag can eliminate these stains from various surfaces.
3. Keep Animals Away: The spray can be used to deter squirrels from bird feeders by making poles slippery. Additionally, it serves as a pigeon repellent on balconies and roofs due to its scent that birds dislike.
4. The Perfect Polish: WD-40 can clean and polish diverse items such as DVDs, mother-of-pearl, seashells, restaurant booths, stethoscopes, and artificial flowers. It's particularly effective when traditional cleaning methods fail.
5. Cope with the Cold: In cold weather, WD-40 prevents locks from freezing, aids in snow shovel efficiency by preventing snow adhesion, and can be sprayed on windows to hinder ice buildup.
6. Defend Against Insects: A light coating on doorframes, screens, and window sills acts as a bug deterrent. It's also known to kill problematic insects on contact and may provide relief from bee stings and mosquito bites.
7. Health and Beauty Aid: WD-40 can remove depilatory wax, makeup, and hair dye from carpets and furniture. It's also helpful in easing chewing gum out of hair.
8. Arts and Crafts: Beyond cleaning, WD-40 can be used in art projects. When sprayed on canvas or poster board and allowed to dry, it creates a unique textured base for painting projects.
9. Break In Your Leather—Or Revive It!: Stiff leather items, including dog collars, baseball gloves, and shoes, can be softened and revived with WD-40. It's effective in treating vintage items and leather-like materials.
10. Fisherman's Friend: WD-40 is rumored to attract fish, but its practical use lies in keeping fishing reels in good condition, refreshing plastic lures, and removing their scent.
11. When You Have Enough Luck: The spray helps loosen and clean bird droppings on car surfaces, preventing damage from uric acid present in the droppings.
12. Leave No Trace: For stainless steel appliances, WD-40 can be used to easily wipe away fingerprints, leaving surfaces looking pristine.
13. Help for Messy Painters: WD-40 can remove dried paint from tile floors, loosen paint can lids, refresh dried-out paintbrush bristles, and preventatively sprayed on door knobs to facilitate easy cleaning.
14. Unknot That Necklace: Tangled necklaces can be untangled with ease by spraying WD-40 on the knots, making the strands come apart smoothly.
15. Tackle Duct Tape Residue: WD-40 is effective in removing sticky residue left behind by duct tape, stickers, and other tape or glue, restoring surfaces to a clean state.
In conclusion, WD-40's versatility extends far beyond its original aerospace application, making it an indispensable tool for various household needs. Its effectiveness in diverse scenarios is a testament to its unique formulation and the innovative ways in which users have harnessed its capabilities over the years.
