Most people keep a can of WD-40 in the garage to deal with a squeaky door hinge or a rusted bolt. The iconic blue and yellow can contains a water-displacing formula originally invented in 1953 for the aerospace industry.
It turns out this solvent is capable of much more than standard mechanical lubrication. It solves dozens of everyday annoyances around the house, saving time and money without requiring specialized products.
Here are 16 practical WD-40 hacks you will wish you had learned decades ago.
Removing Stubborn Messes
1. Erase crayon from walls. When children use your living room walls as a canvas, WD-40 acts as a perfect solvent. Spray a small amount directly onto the crayon marks, wipe with a clean rag, and watch the wax melt away without damaging most standard interior paints.
2. Dissolve sticker residue. Peeling a price tag off a new purchase often leaves a sticky, frustrating mess. A quick blast of WD-40 breaks down the adhesive in seconds, allowing you to wipe the surface completely clean.
3. Remove tar from car paint. Driving through road construction can leave stubborn black tar specks on your vehicle’s clear coat. WD-40 softens the tar safely, letting you wipe it off without aggressive scrubbing that could scratch the paint.
4. Clean stainless steel appliances. Fingerprints and water smudges on refrigerators or dishwashers can be tough to eliminate. Applying a light coat of WD-40 to a microfiber cloth and buffing the appliance leaves a pristine, protective shine.
5. Get gum out of hair and carpets. Ice and peanut butter are the traditional remedies for stuck chewing gum, but WD-40 is faster. Spraying it on the tangled mess reduces the gum’s tackiness so it combs out of hair or pulls out of carpet fibers easily.
Quick Household Fixes
6. Silence squeaky hinges. This is the classic use case, but it remains one of the best. A tiny spray on door hinges, cabinets, or squeaky desk chairs instantly eliminates high-pitched friction.
7. Unstick stubborn zippers. A jammed zipper on a favorite jacket or backpack usually leads to torn fabric if forced. Carefully applying a drop of WD-40 to the teeth lubricates the track and frees the slider immediately.
8. Separate stuck LEGO bricks. Parents know the pain of trying to pry apart two thin LEGO plates that seem permanently fused. A tiny squirt of WD-40 seeps into the microscopic gaps, allowing them to slide apart with minimal effort.
9. Untangle delicate necklaces. A knotted gold or silver chain can take hours of frustrating needle-work to fix. WD-40 lubricates the metal links, helping the knot loosen so you can pull it apart gently with a pair of toothpicks.
10. Remove scuff marks from floors. Dark rubber scuff marks from shoes can ruin the look of a tile or vinyl floor. WD-40 dissolves the rubber residue quickly, though you should wash the spot with soap afterward to prevent slipping.
Garage and Outdoor Maintenance
11. Loosen rusted bolts and nuts. Oxidation effectively welds metal hardware together over time. Soaking a stubborn bolt in WD-40 for ten minutes penetrates the rust, giving your wrench the leverage it needs.
12. Prevent snow buildup on shovels. Heavy, wet snow sticking to a shovel makes winter chores exhausting. Coating the shovel blade with WD-40 before heading outside creates a slick barrier that allows snow to slide right off.
13. Clean greasy mechanic hands. After a long day under the hood, standard soap rarely cuts through thick automotive grease on your hands. Spraying a bit of WD-40 breaks down the heavy oil, which you can then wash away easily with normal hand soap.
14. Protect and winterize boots. Water stains and salt damage can ruin expensive leather winter boots quickly. A light application of WD-40 acts as a water-resistant barrier, forcing moisture to bead up and roll off the surface.
15. Deter wasps and spiders. Insects hate the smell and texture of this multi-purpose solvent. Spraying it under eaves, window sills, and patio roofs prevents wasps from building nests and keeps spiders at bay.
16. Shine and protect golf clubs. Dirt, grass, and moisture take a toll on expensive golf irons. Wiping down the club heads with WD-40 cleans out the grooves and leaves a protective film that prevents rust from forming.
