30+ Amazing Household Uses for WD-40

Uses for WD-40 range from the silly to outrageously awesome! Read on to find out all of the amazing things that a little squirt of the ‘miracle' lubricant can help you with around the house.

Do you have a can of WD-40 sitting in your shop or closet? The uses for WD-40 go way beyond fixing squeaky door hinges. Here are over 30 uses for WD-40 in your home that you won't believe! The history of this can is fascinating too, so let me share it with you!

I love sharing some of my favorite things, especially those that I think you'll love. Full Disclosure: I do earn a few cents to keep me in enough coffee to run this page 24 hours a day!

In 1953, a fledgling company called Rocket Chemical Company and its staff of three set out to create a line of rust-prevention solvents and degreasers for use in the aerospace industry, in a small lab in San Diego, California.

It took them 40 attempts to get the water displacing formula worked out. But they must have been really good because the original secret formula for WD-40_®—which stands for Water Displacement perfected on the 40th try—is still in use today.

Convair, an aerospace contractor, first used WD-40 to protect the outer skin of the Atlas Missile from rust and corrosion. The product actually worked so well that several employees snuck some WD-40 cans out of the plant to use at home.

A few years following WD-40's first industrial use, Rocket Chemical Company founder Norm Larsen experimented with putting WD-40 into aerosol cans, reasoning that consumers might find a use for the product at home as some of the employees had. The product made its first appearance on store shelves in San Diego in 1958.

In 1960 the company nearly doubled in size, growing to seven people, who sold an average of 45 cases per day from the trunk of their cars to hardware and sporting goods stores in the San Diego area.

In 1961 the first full truckload order for WD-40 was filled when employees came in on a Saturday to produce additional concentrate to meet the disaster needs of the victims of Hurricane Carla along the U.S. Gulf coast. WD-40 was used to recondition flood and rain damaged vehicles and equipment.

I bet you had no idea that WD-40 could be used for so many things!

Here is a list of uses for WD-40 that is sure to make your life easier!

NOTE: Many of these tips have to do with flooring. To avoid slipping on the lubricant, always be sure to wash floors thoroughly after using WD-40.

Removes coffee stains from floor tiles
Eliminates marks from floors left by chair feet
Removes adhesive price tags from shoe bottoms
Cleans black streaks from hardwood floors
Removes paint from tile flooring
Removes crayon from carpet (be sure to test WD-40 on low visibility area of carpet before using)
Loosens stubborn zippers
Removes crayon from inside clothes dryers (make sure to unplug dryer first)
Removes crayon from walls, wallpaper, compressed wood furniture, plastic, shoes, toys, chalk boards
Frees stuck LEGO® blocks
Removes mascara from tile floors and mirrors
Removes sticker residue from clothes (be sure to test WD-40 on low-visibility area of garment before using)
Lubricates screws in Christmas tree holders
Removes permanent ink from most items
Eliminates grime from grout on bathroom floors
Removes nail polish from hardwood floors
Cleans piano keys
Removes stubborn temporary tattoos
Untangle Jewelry Chains
Removes stains from stainless steel sinks
Removes tomato stains from clothing
Gives a kids playground slide a shine for a super fast slide
Removes splattered grease on a stove
Removes ink from blue jeans

This next one is another one of the uses for WD-40 that blows my mind:

Keeps sewing needles from rusting
Removes glue from carpet
Spray on poster board and let dry to provides interesting texture/base for art
Removes rubber cement
Gets glue stains out of jeans
Removes glue from paneling
Removes ink from hands
Keeps clay from sticking to molds during crafting
Removes play-dough from hair
Keeps trigger on glue gun from sticking
Spray on glass bottles before drilling holes (to make lamps)
Removes tar from hands
Lubricates straight pins for easier sewing of heavy fabrics
Removes gum from floor boards and floor mats in your car
Removes oil from hands
Use the No-Mess Pen to get Christmas tree sap off ornaments
Helps remove ketchup stains from carpet
Cleans the grease off your stainless steel stove (I did this and it was amazing)

This is one of my favorite uses for WD-40. Who the heck thought to try this to learn that it really works?!

Keeps flies off of cows
Keeps pigeons off the balcony they hate the smell (and who likes it is my question)
A bus driver in Asia used WD-40 to remove a python, which had coiled itself around the undercarriage of his bus.
Police officers used WD-40 to remove a naked burglar trapped in an air conditioning vent.
As The Duct Tape Guys say, “You only need two tools in life, Duct Tape_® and WD-40. If it’s not stuck and it’s supposed to be, Duct Tape it. If it’s stuck and it’s not supposed to be, WD-40 it.”

OK so please share any uses you have for WD-40 not listed here! I would love to hear your comments and make sure to order your can today from Amazon and Try the Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial

IF you liked this post you may want to check out my post on 20 Uses for Aquaphor

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Comments

Laura says:

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It works great for polishing stainless steel appliances

Wanda Charbo says:

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I used WD -40 to clean my chalk boards. They were like new again. Thank you WD40. No one believed me when I told them how I got the "new" boards.

- Kelley Wilson says:
  
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  Great idea thanks Wanda!
  
Eileen says:

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When my horses manes and tails get all knotted up and tangled - WD-40! Spray on and brush out without having to cut. Depending on the tangles and knots, sometimes takes a little time and patience, but it works. I keep it at the barn for creaky gate hinges.

Jake Hardwood says:

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Just picked up a 1950s Montgomery Ward AM/FM, phonograph wooden console for use as a TV stand. Cleaned and shined the whole thing with WD. Looks beautiful. They used REAL wood in those days.

Linda says:

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I use WD40 for fire ant bites. If I can spray it on immediately after I have been bitten, it stops the stinging and the bite will not fester. Greatest product ever invented!

- Kelley Wilson says:
  
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  That's awesome! Thanks for the tip.
  
Elaine says:

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Great tips. I use WD-40 to remove oil stains from clothes. Spray oil stain with Wd-40, then squirt strong washing up liquid over that. Rub in. Launder as normal. Stain gone!!!

A says:

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It also removes dried latex based paint from linoleum flooring. It will require a little elbow grease too, but it works!

Mary D. says:

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You can also use it to 'refresh' the sheen on CROCS. Doesn't take much, and apply with dry cotton cloth.

- Kelley Wilson says:
  
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  Great idea!
  
Vicki says:

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Hi Kelley, I can not believe your handy tips of WD40, thank you so much, what a clever women you are. I am curious to know if it will remove shoe scuffs marks from walls, yes my lazy husband can not be bothered bending down to take them off and does with the other shoe still on his foot. Which this okay, but when he does this his shoes flick out on to my wall as he does this in foyer area which is not that big. Did not want to try this first, as I would not want to ruin my walls, as it is only and thought I would check this out with you first. Keep up the good work. Much obliged, Vicki

- Kelley Wilson says:
  
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  Hey Vicki, I think that might take your paint off but I do have a way to do that so thanks to your suggestion I will be putting up a post about it next week!
  
- Karla says:
  
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  Tip for shoe scuff marks... Use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Another fantastic product!
  
Tammy says:

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It also works great for arthritis pain in your joints.

- kathy reibel says:
  
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  WD works for arthritis? You're pulling my leg! Do you just spray it on and rub it in? Really, did you just post this to see if people read it?
  
  - Kelley Wilson says:
    
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    Ha Ha no I didn't yes it does, you just spray it on and rub it in - they also have this tip listed on their website!
    
Susie Holman says:

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It gets hair dye out of rugs- even light colors!

Rachel@ {i love} my disorganized life says:

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Never would have guessed half these uses, especially removing ink from jeans! Love this list!

Deana says:

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Thanks so much for linking up this weekend @ CountryMommaCooks Link & Greet party..Have a wonderful week!

Shannon Slemmons says:

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Kelley, these tips from WD 40 are fantastic!!! Can't wait to try a bunch of em. Thanks for the tips!Shannon Slemmons

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30+ Amazing Household Uses for WD-40

Here is a list of uses for WD-40 that is sure to make your life easier!

This next one is another one of the uses for WD-40 that blows my mind:

This is one of my favorite uses for WD-40. Who the heck thought to try this to learn that it really works?!

Comments

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Welcome! I’m Kelley.

Join the newsletter

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Never Miss a New Post!

Here is a list of uses for WD-40 that is sure to make your life easier!

This next one is another one of the uses for WD-40 that blows my mind:

This is one of my favorite uses for WD-40. Who the heck thought to try this to learn that it really works?!

Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Welcome! I’m Kelley.

get all the info

Join the newsletter