13+ Amazing Uses for WD-40

This is hilarious! Spray it on feeders, on yourself, on your dishes, on your kids, on your clothes, around the house…

shoot the dam squirrels … wd 40 works great on striker plates and door locks

readers digest you are gonna get sued over this one… soaking your boots in it? killing birds? who wrote this garbage
 

Yeah lets just hose are kids with the stuff to!

What sort of deranged idiot woul want to kill birds?

There was a blight on our persimmon trees’ leaves. The leaves were blackening, curling up and falling off. I sprayed WD-40 on the trees in the morning until they were drenched with it. Got a bumper crop that year.

I bet they don’t have flame-thrower in their 101 uses.

Spray WD-40 in my refrigerator? Are you crazy?

If you “take down” animals, do it for food and pelts.  If you use WD-40 as an application, well…expect what you get… and don’t blame your cancer on smoking, environment, or airplane condensation.  Just sayin’…

This article sure reads like a “paid placement” advertorial. Spraying that crap on a kids head to get gum out? How about a little peanut butter…

PAM cooking spray works just as well on bird feeders…

Hand lotion is better and does not need to be washed off!

Seriously????  Most of these are very poor uses for WD40!!!  Spray it on your windows to keep the snow off????  Sure no snow, but then you have a greasy film all over them that is harder to clean off than a bit of snow!!  Spray it on your eves to keep the wasps from building a nest? or bugs out?  Sure, that works, but dust sticks to WD40 and soon wherever you sprayed will be all a dark dirt colour…..  AND a toothbrush and a bit of regular water & dish soap will take dog poop off your sneakers just fine & you won’t end up with a slippery sole on your shoe….. 
I could just go on and on here…….  I hope whoever wrote this, does all these things at their house and sees how great they are.

BTW – The comment below about the Capsaicin and bird seed…. THAT’S a great tip!!!  I’m betting it’ll keep both the squirrels and racoons out of my bird seed bucket & feeders!  :)

I’m a bird-feeding, conservative in a liberal-poisoned town over-ran by LibTard California transplants who have RUINED my town..and I ENJOY feeding birds and squirrels both. Not a problem in my book.  I’ll use WD 40 to help start a cold diesel engine anyday. Think I’ll leave it out of bird diet/squirrel food and anything else intended to ruin a critter’s dinner. 

Why does the writer see squirrels as ‘pesky’…..when you offer food to nature, they should all be welcome, that was really dumb thing to write. My feeder welcomes birds and squirrels, there is enough for everyone.

Wow..so you can use it for any instance where you need to lubricate something? Even when there are FAR better (and less toxic) options available?

WD-40 also works great for polishing/cleaning stainless steel appliances. 

Missed one – Remove tough axle grease stains.  Spray the stain with WD-40,it will disolve the grease.  Then blot out the stain, rub in some dish washing liquid to help get the WD-40 out and wash normally!

#4-Hello-anyone at home at Readers Digest? Spray this in any location where wind will blow it back into your home and you will get sick! Great if you want to injure a child!

toilet cleaner is cheaper than wd-40.
 

Trout and Salmon fisherman have used it for years to scent their lures.  It works.

Prevent snow buildup on windows?

I have lived in Wisconsin & Illinois all my life and I do not recall ever seeing snow buildup on windows!

In Germany, you can be fined $40,000 for killing these beneficial insects.

What is this article? PEOPLE – DO NOT SPRAY ROACHES WITH WD40!!

Dont spray it near your kitchen, dont spray it in your cupboards. Dont spray it indoors. Is this author insane? I own/run a pest control company and while there are good home remedies to help with roaches, spraying WD40 on them is a very very bad thing to tell people to do. It is flammable. It is noxious and most of all, it isnt a scheduled pesticide product registered for pest control by the EPA.

most of this is really bad advice.

The important thing to remember is, WD-40 is not oil and should never be used as oil.  It is actually more like varnish after the low molecular weight portion evaporates off, so spraying it in locks, hinges, and other delicate mechanisms is a very bad idea.  All these tips are great, and it’s great to spray on your shovel.

Oh yes, let’s spray toxic petrolium products all over the place. Um, no!

replace liberal koolaid with wd40.

WD-40 is terrible for the environment, and is a well known carcinogen. It should be banned. DON’T USE IT FOR ANYTHING!!!!

The uses everyone is complaining about pale in comparison to cleaning your toilet with it and putting this poison into any wastewater system. WD-40 has many excellent uses, but please do not use it for any of the purposes described in this article.

Half the recommended uses are environmentally toxic. The reporter should be banned from giving such stupid advice.

I’d never put WD-40 on a feeder; I wouldn’t feed it to any of the outdoor critters! I have a squirrel feeder and a bird feeder, and they seem to know the difference. As for windows…..that sounds like a nightmare to clean off later. Didn’t know that about gum in the hair though. I suppose if someone ever spits their gum out in my hair, I can try it. More likely use would be to try it to remove gum from shoes or tires.

If glasses are stuck simply run hot water on the outer one to make it expand and loosen.  No need for WD-40 and you would’ve ran the water anyway during washing or rinsing.

No real reason to use WD-40 for a ring either, it’ll just make a mess spraying it on when a drop or two of vegetable oil is less messy, but soap also works.

Bad idea to be spraying WD-40 at bugs or on windowsills, it will stain and discolor surfaces.

Removing gum IS a good use, but peanut butter will do it too and kids may find that more amusing.

Use caution if removing scuff marks from floors, WD-40 will loosen and dissolve some times of adhesives and coatings (petroleum based types).  Generally a citrus oil based cleaner is more appropriate for floors and furniture, but it too can stain certain finishes.

Maybe WD-40 gets off your tea stains, if so then great but that does not work for me, super-mild cleanser and bleach is needed, but again these may also damage a surface, test in an inconspicuous area.

WD-40 does nothing to help dissolve lime and other water deposits.  Was the article making some leaps just to have more items in it?

WD-40 is inappropriate for boots and shoes, the oils used in tanning will be displaced and it will leave a damp surface that attracts dirt.  Far better to treat with silicone waterproofing spray and never let your footwear come near WD-40.  It doesn’t get rid of salt stains either, it just darkens the area so you don’t see it nearly as much.  Instead that salt should be removed with thorough cleaning so it isn’t tracked all over the house, THEN use the silicone waterproofing so it doesn’t get into the pores of the footwear any more.

License plates, really?  Anything remotely modern is aluminum so this must refer to collectors, just a FYI that only soap and water is needed for the plate on your car unless there is road tar, WD-40 is great at getting road tar off a plate or elsewhere on a vehicle.

WD-40 on windows will make grime stick to them, yuck.  Same for spraying it on your house as a wasp deterrent. 

Removing doggie-doo?  No, just NO.  There is absolutely nothing about WD-40 that makes it equal, let alone superior to simply using a toothbrush and water.  WD-40 is just not right at all for this AND it can weaken the glue that holds some soles onto the shoe.

Why is it that recently I’ve felt like half the items in these lists RD comes up with are fiction?

When I was about ten, I was in my grandpa’s workshop and started using WD-40 to kill the flies.  I guess I got carried away.  When I came out of my fly-shooting frenzy, I stopped and took a look around.  It looked like the Exxon Valdez had been there…

Instead of contaminating your countertops with WD-40 to remove stains, dilute 1 Tbsp. Clorox in 1 cup of water, wipe off the counter with it. Not only removes the stains, but disinfects your countertop, also.

I work with a parrot rescue and birds can get sick very easily from just minor household chemicals. I would NOT recommend putting WD-40 on your birdfeeder. It might keep of the squirrels, but it might kill your birds, too.  

And many of these uses are in major violation of several environmental laws and super gross morally. Any spray of WD-40 will keep the fumes around and the birds will inhale a lot over time.
it might also get into the bird feed. just spray DDT into bird feed directly to kill them (sarcasm).

Using WD-40 on kid’s hair for gum.. yeah, do NOT give gum to your kids until they are old enough so they dont get gum on their hair. If you spray WD40 directly on the gum in their hair, it will reach their scalp too. If you still insist on doing it, spray it on a paper towel, then blot the gum with the wet spot.

Removes grease from carpets too.spray and wipe with paper towels. Use brush if it is ground in…

WD-40 is also great to clean out showers and tubs where you had one of those non-slip mats and dirt collected on the glue suction areas that leave those little circles on the tub/shower surface.

Keep the squirrels away and poison the birds! Yeah, that ought to work!

Sorry, but using this product for anything other than lubrication is simply nuts!

Are you INSANE recommending spraying your DRINKING glasses with WD40?

“8. Clean toilet bowls
You don’t need a bald genie or a
specialized product to clean ugly gunk and lime stains from your toilet
bowl. Use WD-40 instead: Spray it into the bowl for a couple of seconds
and swish with a nylon toilet brush. The solvents in the WD-40 will help
dissolve the gunk and lime.”

Yes, I am sure your regional/city water treatment authority would love for every household to introduce petroleum derived solvents into to the system. I am sure the EPA, your states environmental agency and health departments all over the country love this idea too. Does the sarcasm come through?

“11. Prevent snow buildup on windows
Does the weather forecast predict a big
winter snowstorm? You can’t stop the snow from falling, but you can
prevent it from building up on your house’s windows. Just spray WD-40
over the outside of your windows before the snow starts and the snow
won’t stick.”

Yes, please, do this. I work in the environmental investigation and remediation industry. I would love to be paid to come to your home in ten to fifteen years for soil and maybe groundwater sampling at huge expense to mitigate this. Remember that cost of removal of that heating oil tank? This will be a much bigger area.

It’s been 9 months…think you would have finished the review of the comments below….

It’s good personal lube too, but not as good as Goop.

Use it on your fishing bait .  You will be shocked at the results !  Fish love it !

In Alaska when fishing for halibut, we spray wd-40 on the herring once on the hook. The coated herring out fishes the non coated herring 3-1. Serious!

Silicon spray works better and doesn’t leave a smell or sticky residue like WD-40 does.

One more use – inhale a good wiff while spraying, and get a migraine.  Works for me!!  Actually, just thinking of that chemical smell makes me sick.

“On top of bird feeders?” 

Not healthy for birds. 
Not healthy to be inhaling it, either. 

Un-stick bowls you eat food out of? 
Not exactly something I’d want in my food, thanks. 

Residue from WD-40 is hard to wash off, and can get into the microcracks that exist in cooking utensils, plates, bowls .. if you like ingesting a little bit of WD-40 when you eat, by all means .. go nuts! 

Hmm, spray WD40 down the toilet?  Did you run that one by the EPA?

WD-40 is toxic to animals. Dont spray it on a bird feeder.

WD 40 Also works great on Broom ball shoes as an aid in traction on ice hockey playing surfaces indoors and outdoors. but does quickly deterrirate the soul of the shoe!!

Unfortunately, unless your intent is to kill the squirrels, that’s what is happening with WD-40. Plus, probably not doing your grass and trees much good, when they walk all over everything with WD-40 on their tree-rat feet.

This “article” is grossly irresponsible:
WD-40 is an extremely toxic carcinogen !!!

Please don’t be surprised when you develop several types of cancer after a couple years of spraying it all over your house.

DO NOT use this poison for anything other than on metals in a garage or industrial shop, using a mask and gloves.

PLEASE do not spray it in a living area or on a bird feeder or your shoes or your exposed skin.

Readers Digest – Please redact this article with a proper warning.

I cannot beleive you missed the best use for it. Use it on a stainless steel BBQ or fridge and all of the marks disappear.

Works great as a sex lubricant also. Just Amazing. Also for frying foods, Nasal Decongestant,
Enemas, The List goes on and on………..

Instead of using those expensive cleaners to shine up the plastic exterior and interior of cars, use WD-40.  Works a lot better than anything else.  

 WD40 has destroyed more electronic equipment than all EMPs combined.

“coat your squirrels with a toxic chemical” good advice, you idiots.

Please check the facts. I found a few here that was dead wrong such as

“WD-40 Cures Arthritis!” No Way.
Myth:

WD-40 cures arthritis.
Fact:
This popular headline, appearing at least once a year in the tabloids, is completely FALSE. WD-40 Company does not recommend the use of WD-40 for medical purposes, and knows no reason why WD-40 would be effective for arthritis pain relief. WD-40
contains petroleum distillates and should be handled with the same
precautions for any product containing this type of material.

Another was about putting it on fishing lures. Go to the WD-40 web site or google WD-40 facts. This author made up a lot of this. Bad reporting in my humble opinion

URGENT #17 IS A DANGEROUS/DAMAGING SUGGESTION.

WD-40 should never, EVER touch a guitar. Not a drop. It’s bad for wood, and it’s bad for certain guitar finishes. I mean REALLY bad. The suggestion says ‘don’t let it build up’. I say ‘don’t let one drop of it touch the wood or finish of your guitar’. Whoever made this suggestion has either never had a nitro finished guitar or loves gunk destroying his fretboard.

If you want to use WD-40 to clean strings, either spray on a rag and wipe the strings with the rag only being careful to not let that rag so much as TOUCH the fretboard, or take the strings off before you clean them.

Better still, don’t risk the finish or wood of your guitar, if you need to clean your strings, guess what? it was time to buy a new set anyway. What are we talking here? $3? $4? Or if you insist on some kind of string cleaner, how about one designed for guitars that won’t harm wood or finish?

Author’s don’t take my word for it, research this. You are advocating that people damage instruments worth thousands of dollars with your suggestion. I am no lawyer, but I would think that is a situation you’d rather avoid. Look into it, it’s a bad idea that can damage guitars. If I were you, I would rephrase #17 or remove it from the list entirely.

TERRIBLE advice, as usual with these “13 things” articles. Spray WD40 on your hand to free a ring? Why not swig some gasoline? The aromatic hydrocarbons and solvents in WD40 are easily absorbed by skin. Do you REALLY want that? The label even warns you about it. C’mon RD, THINK! Hire a mature editor and improve your shoddy journalism.

This article is 99% BS. WD40 will stain fabrics and is toxic to humans and animals.

For the amazing uses of WD40…number 3 says to spray it on your hand/ring area to get a stuck ring loosened……NO! Instead of coating your ring and diamonds and hand with WD40, use Windex! Spray liberally on hand/ring area (it won’t harm your ring, diamonds, or hand) and you will be amazed at how easy it is to get your ring removed! NOTE: I was given this advise by our jeweler six years ago and it REALLY WORKS AND NO OILY MESS OR DAMAGE TO YOUR RING AND NO HORRIBLE ODOR! Try it…

Something tells me this list was written by someone that makes money from WD-40.

Absorbing a petroleum solvent into the skin is not wise or healthy. This author is nuts for recommending using WD40 for medicine.

These “suggestions” are how people have actually been using WD40, the writer didn’t invent them so I think RD deserves a little slack. The arthritis thing, the truth is many senior marathon runners use it for their joint pain and swear it works, and many Nashville guitarists say the same things for their hands and fingers. I expect it may have to do with the oil and the easy to apply form factor more than the toxins – ;} Which might be why vaseline just came out with a spray version of their lotion. Worth a try to see if it works as well as WD40 for these folks I think, seniors probably figure they’d rather live without the pain and it works for them, and at that point in life they ain’t having any more babies anyway…

I hunted squirls as a young lad. Was proud to bring one home occasionally. (Not little squirls but big midwest brown squirls). They are tasty. That being said, I also enjoy watching squirls, even ones eating out of bird feeders. There is room for both schools of thought. Also, here is a use for WD40. We spray it on our salmon lures we fish with in the Columbia River.

Would I use this around food / where I prepare or store food / around another creatures food or directly on my person as some sort of analgesic? h*ll no ~ it’s a petroleum based solvent fully not intended for the myriad of careless and irresponsible uses that Readers Digest suggested people use this product for.

I hope they are well staffed to deal with the litigation they are begging for by advertising this product so far a field from its intended purpose.

I find it sad that RD being the decades old institution it is was this blatantly stupid in running this misguided article.

From the MSDS sheet at the WD-40 web site:

Ingestion (Swallowed): Aspiration Hazard. DO NOT induce vomiting. Call physician, poison control center or the WD-40 Safety Hotline at 1-888-324-7596 immediately.

Eye Contact:

Flush thoroughly with water. Remove contact lenses if present after the first 5 minutes and continue flushing for several more minutes. Get medical attention if irritation persists.

Skin Contact:

Wash with soap and water. If irritation develops and persists, get medical attention.

Great for constipation ! A few sprays down the throat in the morning and by noon all will move well and easy !

I use it to remove price stickers from gifts before i wrap them… it works like a charm, especially on CDs and DVDs

Squirrels eat bird eggs and baby birds, plus they carry diseases. In my yard, I trap them with a live trap then give the swimming lessons in the rain barrel.

I use Clorox to kill insects…. Burns right though….

Never use WD40 on your skin or on food surfaces. (I’ve dealt with hydrocarbon poisoning – it’s not nice). If two drinking cups or glasses are stuck together, run hot water over the bottom one. Be ready, it will pop right off as the air inside warms up.

I got this in an e-mail today…it must be WD-40 week.

What IS The Main Ingredient of WD-40?
Before you read to the end, does anybody know what the main ingredient of WD-40?
No Cheating…..

WD-40 ~ Who knew!

I had a neighbor who bought a new pickup.

I got up very early one Sunday morning and saw that someone had spray
painted red all around the sides of this beige truck (for some unknown
reason).
I went over, woke him up, and told him the bad news.
He was very upset and was trying to figure out what to do….
probably nothing until Monday morning, since nothing was open.
Another neighbor came out and told him to get his WD-40 and clean it off.

It removed the unwanted paint beautifully and did not harm his paint job that was on the truck. I was impressed!

WD-40 who knew?
“Water Displacement #40″.
The product began from a search for a rust preventative solvent and degreaser to protect missile parts.

WD-40 was created in 1953, by three technicians at the San Diego Rocket Chemical Company.
Its name comes from the project that was to find a ‘Water Displacement’ Compound.
They were finally successful for a formulation, with their fortieth attempt, thus WD-40.

The ‘Convair Company’ bought it in bulk to protect their atlas missile parts.
Ken East (one of the original founders) says there is nothing in WD-40 that would hurt you.
When you read the ‘shower door’ part, try it.

It’s the first thing that has ever cleaned that spotty shower door.
If yours is plastic, it works just as well as on glass.
It’s a miracle!
Then try it on your stove-top.
It’s now shinier than it’s ever been.

You’ll be amazed.

WD-40 Uses:
1. Protects silver from tarnishing.
2. Removes road tar and grime from cars.
3. Cleans and lubricates guitar strings.
4. Gives floor that ‘just-waxed’ sheen without making them slippery.

5. Keeps the flies off of Cows, Horses, and other Farm Critters, as well. (Ya gotta love this one!!!)
6. Restores and cleans chalkboards.
7. Removes lipstick stains.
8. Loosens stubborn zippers.
9. Untangles jewelry chains.

10. Removes stains from stainless steel sinks.
11. Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill.
12. Keeps ceramic / terracotta garden pots from oxidizing.
13. Removes tomato stains from clothing.
14. Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots.

15. Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors.
16. Keeps scissors working smoothly.
17. Lubricates noisy door hinges on both home and vehicles doors.
18. It removes that nasty tar and scuff marks from the kitchen flooring.

It doesn’t seem to harm the finish and you won’t have to scrub nearly as hard to get them off.
Just remember to open some windows if you have a lot of marks.
19. Remove those nasty Bug guts that will eat away the finish on your car if not removed quickly!

20. Gives a children’s playground gym slide a shine for a super fast slide.
21. Lubricates gearshift and mower deck lever for ease of handling on riding mowers…
22. Rids kids rocking chair and swings of squeaky noises.

23. Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to open.
24. Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close.
25. Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards in vehicles, as well as vinyl bumpers.

26. Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles.
27. Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans.
28. Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons, and bicycles for easy handling.
29. Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly.

30. Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools.
31. Removes grease splatters from stove-tops.
32. Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging.
33. Lubricates prosthetic limbs.
34. Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell).

35. Removes all traces of duct tape.
36. Folks even spray it on their arms, hands, and knees to relieve arthritis pain.
37. Florida’s favorite use is: ‘cleans and removes love bugs from grills and bumpers.’

38. The favorite use in the state of New York, it protects the Statue of Liberty from the elements.

39. WD-40 attracts fish. Spray a little on live bait or lures and you
will be catching the big one in no time. Also, it’s a lot cheaper than
the chemical attractants that are made for just that purpose.
Keep in mind though, using some chemical laced baits or lures for fishing are not allowed in some states.
40. Use it for fire ant bites. It takes the sting away immediately and stops the itch.

41. It is great for removing crayon from walls. Spray it on the marks and wipe with a clean rag.

42. Also, if you’ve discovered that your teenage daughter has washed
and dried a tube of lipstick with a load of laundry, saturate the
lipstick spots with WD-40 and rewash. Presto! The lipstick is gone!
43. If you spray it inside a wet distributor cap, it will displace the moisture, allowing the engine to start.

P.S.
As for that Basic, Main Ingredient…….

Well…. it’s FISH OIL….

I just read the other post on this site. man…abortions should be given freely and a system of retroactive abortions must be put in place for trolls.

The rest of the story is, WD 40 eats metal. A small screwdriver had dropped into a large container of WD 40 and when it was emptied some months later all that remained was the plastic handle.

Squirrels can be a big nuisance. They quickly overpopulate an area and will eat your fruits and vegetables. Have to keep them thinned out to control this behavior.

Some of the suggested uses for WD-40 are a very poor idea, and some are what should be considered a no no.
For example, applying to skin for any reason is a no no.
Applying to surfaces to keep rust away can lead to it collecting dirt and becoming a black greasy mess.
A person who worked on a car belonging to my brother, sprayed it on almost anything in the engine compartment, including wiring. What it really did was leave a film that collected dirt, making a black greasy mess.
It was NEVER intended to be anything but a penetrating oil to help loosed rusted or corroded bolts and other such parts.
using it for medical reasons can possibly lead to serious problems for many.
it can be an irritant for many.
think about it, and please cease to perpetuate the non intended uses of it and similar products.