Everyone knows how useful WD-40 is. But did you know why it’s called WD-40?
Or, what WD-40 was originally designed for?
Or, how many applications WD-40 has?
Read on to discover the surprisingly interesting, and wonderful world of WD-40.
The history of WD-40
It all began in 1953, when a plucky start-up named Rocket Chemical Company set out to create a line of rust-prevention solvents and degreasers for the aerospace industry.
The staff of three worked in a small lab in San Diego, California in an effort to make a chemical specifically for the Atlas rocket.
Before starting its glamorous life of launching early Mercury astronauts into space, the Atlas rockets were actually the first operational intercontinental ballistic missiles.
As a missile, they were expected to be ever-vigilant and wait until needed to deliver a payload of pain. Fortunately, they remained dormant, which made the missiles susceptible to corrosion and rust – not good for something that is designed to go big-time kaboomy.
This brings us back to the Rocket Chemical Company, who endeavoured to find the means of inhibiting that corrosion and rust on the missile’s outer skin.
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 Multi-Use Product -which stands for Water Displacement perfected on the 40th try—is still in use today!
Over the decades, WD-40 has made its way into just about every home, workshop and garage. In fact, the company claims that WD-40 can be found in 4 out of 5 American households.
I can personally vouch for WD-40, because it basically kept my 1965 Valiant alive!
Whilst the most common uses for WD-40 Multi-Use is protecting metal from rust and corrosion, penetrating stuck parts, displacing moisture, and lubricating almost anything, WD-40 Multi-Use really does have multiple uses!
In fact, the company claim that there are over 2,000 confirmed uses for WD-40. Below are some of the best, and I think you will be surprised by some of them!
25 of the thousands of WD-40 usages
- You can remove tar, tree sap, and bird poop from car and truck exteriors.
- Shines the leaves on your artificial plants.
- Removes crayon from walls, carpet, toys, plastic, compressed wood furniture, shoes, and from your dryer (just unplug it first!).
- Helps clean gunk and scuff marks off your ceramic floors.
- Shine and remove fingerprints from stainless steel appliances.
- Lubricates squeaky drawers, doors, and small rolling toys.
- Keeps garden tools rust-free plus helps clean them.
- Removes ink from carpet, leather, and other fabrics.
- Protects wrought iron like outdoor furniture from rust
- Cleans and polishes gold and brass.
- Helps remove adhesive from price tags, labels, and stickers.
- Keeps metal surfaces from rusting
- Keeps hose ends from corroding
- Lubricate your DIY tools or prevent saw blades and tools from rusting, plus loosen rusty nuts and screws.
- Lubricates doggie doors
- Removes gum stuck to walls, concrete, shoes, and floors.
- Coat outside pipes during winter to help prevent freezing damage or pipe bursts.
- Removes wax from vinyl surfaces.
- Penetrates rusted parts so you can remove rusted nails.
- Helps camouflage scratches in linoleum, ceramic tile, and counter-tops.
- Remove candle wax or glue from carpet
- Remove old duct tape and its residue.
- Cleans and softens paintbrushes.
- Loosen stubborn zippers (just be careful around the clothing!).
- Keep bugs at bay. Spray WD-40 on window sills, etc to keep spiders and bugs out.
Discover more of WD-40’s history here.
Find more uses for WD-40 here.
Buy WD-40 here.
