10 surprising ways WD-40 can help you at home

You could say that the famous product WD-40 is like a joker: its lubricity and antioxidant power can get us out of various troubles, such as a squeaky hinge, a bicycle wheel that does not turn well or a lock that will not open. not. But this blue can with a red lid, whose name is reminiscent of a robot, has many other uses and can get you out of various troubles in your daily life at home.

If you are one of those gullible people who have never used this product and do not have it at home, and you do not know exactly what this mysterious blue canister is, then you are surely wondering: what does it mean? WD-40? The name comes from the original purpose with which it was created: water displacement, or water displacer. It was developed 70 years ago, in 1953, by three employees of the Rocket Chemical Company in a small laboratory in San Diego, California. The team was led by chemist Norm Larsen, who was looking for a solution that would allow NASA to displace water and protect the Atlas space missile from rust and corrosion.

And the number 40? This is related to the number of tries it took them to arrive at this formula. Although its main purpose is to displace water, and therefore reduce rust, it also functions as a solvent and degreaser at the same time.

“Over the years, thousands of users have written to WD-40 to share their unique (and sometimes very surprising) uses for the product,” the brand states. Unusual use cases for this product include the case of a bus driver in Asia who used WD-40 to free a python that had coiled up under the vehicle. Another funny story tells how cops used WD-40 to free a naked burglar stuck in an air conditioning duct.

WD-40 is a versatile lubricant and chemical with a wide range of applications in the home, automotive, industrial and many other places. We have then collected some surprising usage ideas, almost all of which are unknown to the majority, and which could be useful in your daily household life.

It’s so simple. If winter and rain have made your white sneakers very dirty, you should clean them with WD-40. On TikTok, various videos recommend the use of this product. Just spray some antioxidant on the surface of your shoes and wipe it off with a clean cloth or cotton.

To verify this, we performed the test and found that it actually works. You just want to make sure to scrub until the stains are gone. In the photo, the shoe that was cleaned with WD-40 is on the left and the dirty one is on the right.

We continue in the shoes. Stepping on a piece of gum is something that can ruin your day in a second: in addition to being difficult, taking it off is disgusting, and your step becomes sticky and boring. But there is WD-40 to help us. the place spruce sums up the process: just apply the product directly to the gumline and wait about 30 seconds, until the WD-40 saturates the gumline, making it easier to remove.

Then use a butter knife to scrape the gum from the shoe. Wipe off the residue with a paper towel and repeat the process until it is completely gone. “Once all the gum is removed, wash the sole of your shoe with a little soap and water and let it dry,” the outlet suggests. WD-40 is so aware of the effectiveness of this use that he included it as a tip in one of his videos on his account on ICT Tac .

This tip can be a lifesaver for parents or teachers when someone makes a mistake or pranks and swaps the permanent markers for the ones on the whiteboard. You no longer need to spend your whole bottle of alcohol to erase them: just spray a little WD-40 on the board and the lines or drawings will disappear on rubbing. All you have to do is wipe the surface with a damp cloth and you’re done, like new!

It also works with walls that feature colored pencil or wax crayon drawings, as you can see in influencer Luz Blanchet’s video.

This is another tip that those who take good care of their car will appreciate. When the windshield wipers aren’t working properly or are very dry, you can spray some WD-40 to moisturize the plastic and you’re done. They will be like new, as shown in the tik tok video VIP car wash.

If your son or daughter has done their homework on the table and left everything full of glue, it will surely be difficult for you to remove it without hurting the wood. Damp rags won’t remove it, but it’s also impractical to use harsher tools because you’ll damage your furniture.

Here reappears the WD-40, capable of removing residues (if it is school glue, such as cold glue or adhesive sticks). As the ashley sadler , you can use a palette to scrape off the glue and then reapply the product. If the surface is mirror or transparent mica, you can use glass cleaner to remove the greasy feeling that remains after applying the product.

If your trash can is made of metal, you have surely seen how from time to time rust or water stains form on its surface, due to the steam from the shower or the kitchen. But once you apply WD-40 to this material, the discharge will glow. We can confirm this because we tried it, and the result is impressive: without having to rub very hard, it was as shiny as a mirror. In the next photo you can see the before and after.

You can also see how the product cleans some metal appliance surfaces in this brand video in Mexico.

You have a formal event, at the last minute you decided to wear a necklace and you are late? That nightmare of hastily untangling the tangle of chains and metals you keep in your jewelry box has ended with WD-40. Simply spray a little on the knot and wiggle your fingers to loosen it and start the detangling process. WD-40 is a great ally in this battle, he suggests. spruce .

Of course, we’re talking about light scratches, those light scratches on the parking pillars that cause the car’s paint to whiten. Simply spray a little on the damaged surface and wipe with a cloth. In a short time, you will notice that the slight mark fades. Unfortunately, this won’t work on larger hits, as you can see below. video .

How effective is it? We tried it and it worked pretty well for us, as you can compare in the photo below.

With this humid and warm winter, the mosquitoes anticipated their arrival. And surely some have taken it upon themselves not to let you sleep. To prevent the entry of these insects, as well as spiders and other small intruders, it is suggested to spray a little product on the window and door frames. In addition to helping you close and open them better, the surface will be unattractive so that these invertebrates do not enter your home. As you can see in the video of influencers Brunch with Babs , just spray a small amount. Do not overdo it, because it is a toxic product.

Whether in boots, jackets, suitcases, backpacks or any other garment, a stuck zipper is a frustrating obstacle. But applying just a little WD-40 will surely fix the problem. You don’t need much: with just a small amount, press the clasp again and it will unlock. In the next video you can see that WD-40 Australia shares Warren’s testimonial, which solves the problem of its closure in a shoe.