WD-40, a product that began as a rust preventative solvent and degreaser to protect missile parts, has evolved into a household staple with an impressive array of uses. Its creation in 1953 by three technicians at the San Diego Rocket Chemical Company marked the successful completion of their 40th attempt to find a ‘Water Displacement’ Compound, hence the name WD-40.
The Unexpected Savior
The versatility of WD-40 was brought to light one Sunday morning when a neighbor’s new beige pickup truck was vandalized with red spray paint. With most businesses closed, the owner was resigned to wait until Monday to address the issue. However, another neighbor suggested using WD-40 to remove the unwanted paint. The result was nothing short of miraculous. The WD-40 removed the red paint without damaging the original paint job on the truck.
The Many Uses of WD-40
The incident with the pickup truck is just one of the many ways WD-40 can be used. Here are some other surprising applications:
- Home and Garden: It can restore and clean chalkboards, remove lipstick stains, and even keep ceramic/terracotta garden pots from oxidizing.
- Automotive: WD-40 can remove road tar and grime from cars, restore and clean padded leather dashboards, and even lubricate noisy door hinges on vehicles.
- Personal Items: It can untangle jewelry chains, remove stains from stainless steel sinks, and even camouflage scratches in ceramic and marble floors.
- Outdoor Activities: WD-40 can be used to give a children’s playground gym slide a shine for a super fast slide, and it even attracts fish when sprayed on live bait or lures.
- Health and Wellness: Interestingly, some people spray WD-40 on their arms, hands, and knees to relieve arthritis pain.
- Pest Control: It can keep flies off of cows, horses, and other farm critters, and even keep pigeons off the balcony as they dislike the smell.
- Cleaning: WD-40 can remove grease splatters from stove-tops, keep bathroom mirrors from fogging, and is even great for removing crayon from walls.
These are just a few of the 43 known uses of WD-40, making it a versatile tool for solving everyday problems.
Safety and WD-40
Despite its wide range of uses, WD-40 is safe. Ken East, one of the original founders, assures that there is nothing in WD-40 that would harm you. However, it’s always important to use it in a well-ventilated area and follow the safety instructions on the can.
From its humble beginnings as a rust preventative for missile parts to its current status as a do-it-all solution, WD-40 has proven to be a valuable asset in any home. Its ability to solve a wide range of problems, from removing unwanted paint to easing arthritis pain, is truly impressive. So, next time you encounter a stubborn problem, remember WD-40 might just be the solution you need.
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