Editor's Note: This post was originally posted in March 2016 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness in August 2018.
Most of us have a can of WD-40 in our cupboards, but not many of us know just how versatile it can be. WD-40 - otherwise known as Water Displacement, 40th formula - was made way back in 1953 but Norm Larsen, and initially created to prevent a missile from rust and corrosion.
It was later found to have many household uses, which is what we're celebrating today! We're honouring WD-40 and all its history by sharing some weird and unusual ways to use in that will come in handy all around the home.
So grab your can, and let's get started!
WARNING: Please be aware that WD-40 is highly flammable and can be harmful if swallowed. Use in a well-ventilated area away from pets and children.
1. Remove chewing gum from hair
Chewing gum makes a mess of most things, but perhaps the most panicking is when it gets stuck into your hair.
We sincerely hope this never happens to you, but if it does, WD-40 can help.
Spray on some WD-40, then comb it out - no scissors required! For more ways to get gum out of hair, read the full article.
2. Polish golf clubs
Get your golf clubs gleaming with WD-40!
Spray a small amount onto a clean cloth and polish in circular motions.
3. Remove stickers
Some stickers are so sticky, they seem almost impossible to get off.
A little bit of WD-40 is all you need to loosen and lubricate sticky residue, making it easy to remove with a bit of soap and a clean cloth.
Spray some onto the sticky area, leave for a minute to soak, and the mess should be easy to remove.
4. Stop wasp nests
Wasp nest can be a real nightmare in the home.
Stop them before they start by spraying WD-40 into the nooks and crannies of your house.
5. Clear up crayon
If a child (or naughty adult) has drawn outside the lines and managed to get crayon on the wall, spray a little WD-40 on it.
Take a clean cloth to wipe all the marks away - magic.
6. Remove dog mess
Yikes - dog mess is unpleasant at the best of times, especially when it ends up on your shoe.
WD-40 will help it to slide easily off your shoe, leaving no traces of the smelly ordeal. Spray on then wipe off to remove.
7. Loosen a stuck ring?
In the heat, skin can become sweaty and expand. If you've got yourself in a bit of an awkward situation with a ring, a quick spray of WD-40 will help it slip right off.
8. Piano keys
Does your precious piano sound a bit dodgy?
Lubricate the piano hammer action with WD-40 for a smoother sound.
9. Remove nuts & bolts
Come across a problem during your DIY?
Nuts and bolts that are stuck solid can easily be loosened up by spraying a bit of your trusty WD-40 on them.
10. Stop squirrels eating bird food
Are those pesky squirrels stealing all the food you put out for the birds?
There's an easy fix for that...
...spray WD-40 all over the stand, and they won't be able to climb up anymore - success!
11. Waterproof shoes
Winter is coming!
Prepare now by waterproofing your winter shoes and boots with a light coat of WD-40.
12. How to get mud off of shoes
Been out in the great outdoors?
A coat of WD-40 will make even the thickest and sloppiest of mud easy to clean.
13. Snow shovel
If you ever have enough snow that you need to get the shovel out, spray a small amount of WD-40 onto the blade to help the snow slide off easily.
14. Shine shower doors
You won't believe how shiny WD-40 can make your shower door.
After cleaning, spray your trusty can of WD-40 on and let it sit for 20 minutes before wiping off with some paper towels.
Your bathroom will look better than ever!
15. Clean your car
Yes, that's right - WD-40 is also handy in the car.
Use it to get rid of dirty gunk and grease from your car windows, interiors and fenders.
16. Lubricate beard trimmers
One of WD-40's best properties is its ability to lubricate pretty much anything.
Spray it onto your beard trimmer from time to time to keep it functioning smoothly.
Now that your beard trimmer is ready to go, read our tips on how to make facial hair grow faster.
17. Stop animals rummaging in the bin
Animals can't climb up slippery surfaces!
If rats, squirrels and other nighttime creature keep rummaging in your bins, spray WD-40 up the sides near the base - they won't stand a chance!
18. Clean carpet stains with WD-40
Who'd have thought it?! You can also remove carpet stains using WD-40.
Watch the video above to see it in action!
19. Shine your outdoor sculptures
If you're lucky enough to not only have a garden, but sculptures to go in it, this tip is for you!
Spray them with WD-40 and massage in with a clean cloth too make them shine and protect them from weathering.
20. Protect kitchen utensils
WD-40 makes objects waterproof.
As rust requires moisture to form, a spray of WD-40 can prevent it. This is handy for special kitchen utensils that don't happen to be stainless steel.
21. Clean a rusty showerhead
If your showerhead is also showing signs of rust, WD-40 will help to both remove it and prevent it from reappearing.
22. Clean an ashtray
All that ash and cigarette end can leave your ashtray in a bit of a mess.
Cleaning it up can be a nasty job, but it needn't be!
A bit of WD-40 will loosen everything up and make it much easier to get clean.
23. Shine seashells
Do you or your children enjoy collecting seashells?
You can make your treasures look even prettier with a bit of WD-40. It will help to polish them up, giving them a real shine!
24. Clean your windscreen
All sorts of stuff can get stuff to your windscreen.
Remove tree sap, bugs and other mess from your car windscreen with a helping hand from WD-40.
25. Lubricate & protect car parts from rust
Another way to use WD-40 on cars is around parts that are prone to rust.
26. Prevent splinters
If you've noticed a wooden bannister or object begins to get rough, you risk getting a splinter.
A spray of WD-40 will lubricate and smoothen sharp edges to prevent this from happening.
27. Clean the fridge
All that food can leave your fridge in a real mess, that's why we recommend cleaning yours at least once every 3-6 months.
To make cleaning all those spillages and stuck on food easier, give the inside a spray of WD-40.
28. Keep metal wind chimes rust free
There's nothing like the soft twinkling of wind chimes on a hot Summer's day.
For colder, rainier days, wind chimes have to put up with a lot.
Give them a spray of WD-40 to both remove and prevent rust and keep them looking and sounding lovely.
29. Clean & shine drinking glasses
Little ones can make almost everything sticky, including tumblers.
A bit of WD-40 will remove even the messiest of drinking glasses - just be sure to wash them with soapy water afterwards.
30. Remove & prevent fingerprints
Speaking of sticky fingers, if you have little ones at home you'll know that no surface is safe from fingerprints. Fingerprints are not only caused by dirty skin, but also the oil that the skin naturally produces.
As WD-40 is a contains solvent, it's a great degreaser and ideal not only for removing fingerprints but preventing new ones too.
Spray it onto stainless steel surfaces and they'll never be marked again!
Be sure to check out our other cleaning tips that all parents should know too.
31. Clean coins
Think how many hands coins pass through over the years. As a result, some of them get so dirty, it's almost embarrassing to hand them over!
Spray them with WD-40 and wipe with a clean cloth to make them look as good as new.
32. Clean leather furniture
There aren't many things you can clean leather furniture with, but WD-40 is one of them.
Spray then buff with a soft cloth - it will help protect and lubricate the leather.
33. Remove graffiti
Is it time to say goodbye to your graffiti days?
WD-40 is amazing at removing even the brightest of artwork.
34. Clean dirty windowsills
Leaves, rain marks - dare we say it - bird poo, windowsills can end up in a right mess if you don't clean them regularly.
A bit of WD-40 will make quick work of even the grimiest windowsills. Spray it on to make all that dirt slip straight off.
35. Remove toothpaste
Toothpaste stains are another one of the trickest messes to remove.
A little WD-40 will remove dried on toothpaste off your sink in an instant!
36. Loosen sticky drawers
If your drawers have started to stick, chances are they need some lubrication.
It's time to grab your can of WD-40 again!
Spray it along the runners to help drawers slide seamlessly.
37. Remove tomato stains
Removing tomato stain with WD-40? Who'd have thought it!
38. Stop doors for squeaking
Is that squeaky door driving you mad?
Stop squeaky hinges by applying some WD-40 while you move the hinge back and forth.
39. Free zippers
Don't tug on a stuck zip - you could just end up breaking it.
If you're stuck in your coat or you can't undo your boots then grab that WD-40 to loosen everything up.
40. Polish silver jewellery
There's no need to spend a fortune on getting your silver jewellery professionally cleaner.
A bit of WD-40 will get it gleaming in no time at all. Spray and polish with a clean cloth.
41. Clean your toilet bowl
Forget expensive toilet cleaners!
All you need to remove gunk and limescale from your toilet bowl is WD-40. Give it a good spray then scrub away with your toilet brush.
It'll be spotless in no time.
Unsure if you can flush hair down the toilet? Check out our other article!
42. Paint removal
Have you been doing a bit of DIY?
Paint and super glue can often seem impossible to remove from skin, but there's one miracle product that can make cleanup easier...
...you guessed it - WD-40! Spray a small amount onto hands, massage in, then wash with soap and water.
Do you know of any more uses for WD-40? Share your tips with us in the comments below.
Thank you,Iwill pass your tips on.
Thank you Rodney, hope you enjoyed the post!
Car headlight misty spray with WD-40 will brighten them up
Thanks for your tip Sue!
Hi Colleen just was looking at your site and wondered if you had any idea how to remove rust stains from a white tea shirt
Hi Bryan, thanks for contacting me. Try wetting the stain with water, then rubbing a cut lemon on it, saturate it in the juice and then hang your t-shirt out in the sunshine for as long as possible to naturally bleach it. Give it a wash as you do normally. Let me know how this goes!
Great tips Coleen will pass on
Thanks George, that's great to hear!
Please do not spray WD40 anywhere near our pet birds, when used in a confined space it can cause respiratory failure in any bird, the bird will die within minutes. WD40 is great stuff but please keep birds well away from the fumes. Thank you Pete
Hi Peter, thanks for your comment. We have warned at the top of the post to keep WD-40 away from pets.
22. Clean your dirty ashtray with a spritz! Wouldn't recommend cleaning ashtrays with a flammable chemical (or any chemical, in fact). Flash point is high so it's unlikely to actually start a fire, but on the off chance that someone allows a burning cigarette to rest in an ashtray it probably shouldn't be recommended. Or just don't smoke. :)
Thanks for your comment Ali.
Use WD40 to clean ceramic hobs. Just spray on, leave for a minute and polish off using kitchen roll.
Thanks for this Gerald, that's a great tip!
Spray your satalite dish to stop interference
Thanks for your use Ron!
I find it very useful for removing gum from car mats and cleaning car dash boards also rubber draught sealers and anything that has had water penetration.
Fantastic use David, thanks for sharing.
Stop slugs getting to your plants by spraying wd40 round them
Thanks Denise, that's a great use.
Tar off cars or grease off extractors
Thanks for your use Steven!
Lots of lovely ideas but tomato ? just give it a wash, I've never found tomatoes a problem.
Tomato based sauces are not easy to remove
Those spring loaded sin k plugs sometimes stick A regular (every 3 months or so) will keep them free.
A brilliant use Raymond, I'll certainly be trying that.
I also use to spray inder the rim of plant pots to keep the slugs and bugs away.
That's a great use Helen, thanks!
i will be using it for a couple of your tips so thank you very much, i will also be passing them on to my friends too!!!
If you have used Duck Tape on your car for any reason, ie :-- covering a broken window, the residue that duck tape leaves is hard to remove without scratching your car, simply spray on WD40 and leave for 5 mins and wipe off....
Thanks Jeff, that's a great tip!
WD40 IS ALSO CALLED ENGINEERS HOLY WATER
Ha ha is it? You learn something new every day!
Can you please tell me the quickest and best way to clean the filfthy glass on myoven door please.
Hot water, white vinegar, bicarbonate of soda and lemon should get rid of it!
Good for getting dried blood stains off clothing. Spry, let it soak in and wash as normal.
Thanks for your tip Nelly!
I had a couple of dodgy key on my desk top computer keypad after a squirt of WD 40 they work fine.
Another useful tip, thanks John!
It's great for cleaning up mobility scooters brings them up like new
Great to know Sapphire, another one for the list, thanks!
Try spraying it on your fishing lure. My understanding is that it is fish-based. I've tried it and it works or at least it doesn't not work.
That's an interesting tip Jim, thanks!
Love reading all these tips for using WD-40. I have to try some of these soon. I need to try it on my windshield as I have sap on it right now.
Let us know how it goes Cindy, glad you liked the post.
ultimate tips! i will try this in my own home!
Thank you Shri, hope you enjoyed the blog post!
Hi, If you get sore hands from all that work your doing ! Spray some on your hands and rub them together for a few seconds and the pain is gone! It really works, But use a little hand soap after.
That's an interesting tip Bryan, I didn't know that!
We glued down tiles in our house. There was always residue on the adjoining tiles. WD40 would get the old glue off the tiles.
What a great tip - thanks David!
You had me at 'gum from car mats'!!! Great tips Colleen!
Thank you Spiffy Spools, I'm glad you enjoyed reading it. Please pass it onto all your pals!
Excellent
Thanks Jeff - tell all your pals!
I would not recommend using it to remove gunk off your old coins. Any cleaning will severely reduce their value to collectors.
Thanks for your comment Brian - good to know!
I absolutely love all these tips so I am so glad I read Brian's about lowering the value of the coin collection. So what would he recommend to clean my coins some are so dirty I have trouble reading the dates. Thank you for all the great tips
Very good tips to try. Thank you!
Hi Kairen. Thanks a lot for your kind comment - I'm glad you enjoyed the article :)
This is an excellent article, will definitely refer to this article in the future!
Hi Sam. Thanks a lot for your kind comments - I'm glad you enjoyed the article :)
Spray WD-40 around the base and upward about 2 feet on the shepherd's hook that holds your hummingbird feeder and ants will not likely invade the feeder. This is the best thing I've tried; up until I used it there as a constant line of ants crawling toward the "flowers" on the feeder. Don't spray it close to the feeder, just on the bracket that holds the feeder.
Hi Tanya. What a cracking tip, especially in time for Summer. Thanks a lot for sharing with us :)
Hi,how about spraying rusty tools to free them and make them easy to use?
Hi Daniel. This is a great tip - thanks for sharing :)
A lot of fresh water fishermen give there maggots a spray they are certain they catch more fish on there hook
Hi Donny. This certainly is a unique tip. Thanks so much for sharing something new with us today! :)
Can you use wd40 on hot spots on your dog?
Hi Nery! As WD-40 contains petroleum distillates it's quite harmful to pets. Please don't put it on your dog! Have a nice day.
Degreasing grease on the front of your oven door it gives your doors a gleaming shine when used with a microfibre cloth
Hey Paul! That's a great suggestion.
Brill tips, again. I plan to try several of them. Thanks XXX
We're glad you liked them, Louise!
After the summer months I spray my lawnmower blades and garden tools with WD40. I also spray WD40 on my curtain rails to keep the hooks running smoothly on the rails.
What a great idea, Julie!
Very very useful message.Thank u for your
No problem!
I learned new way to make cleaning easier and the most important to waterproof the boots and shoes. Roxane
We're glad we could help, Roxane!
Can help get rid of foot fugal or toenail fugal.
I've not heard of this, Carolyn! Thanks for sharing.
I love the smell of WD-40!!
I use wd40 to clean and enhance the colour of my black urn planters. They become like new. Also, I use it on my burgundy shutters which have faded to pink. I now have new looking burgundy shutters!!!
Thanks for sharing, Mary!
Wow thank you for all the tips I will keep this and go back to regularly there are lots of things you can do with it I’m gonna get a can today brilliant tips
You're welcome, Margaret!
I 7se it on my Sea Shell collection, makes them really shiny and pretty!
That's a fun idea!
I use it to clean my Woodburner and slate hearth. Light spray and wipe off with J cloth comes up like new.
Using WD-40 on a wood burner or slate hearth is not recommended, as it is flammable and can leave an oily residue. Instead, use a cleaner specifically designed for these surfaces.
What a wonderful useful site! Thanks.
You're very welcome!
Some good uses. But does anybody call them "fenders" in the UK? How about "bumpers" ?
In the UK, "fenders" are referred to as "wings" and "bumpers" as "bumpers".
I always use WD40 to clean my gardening tools after using them. I do this every time and it only takes a few seconds to do, then I know that all my secateurs, trowels and forks etc, are ready and able for the next job. It also helps when I am using a sharpening stone on my blades. I think it's easier to list the things you can't use WD40 on, than to try to list all the things you can, it's the great all rounder in any home and tool box.
Thanks for sharing, Anne! While WD40 can be helpful in your gardening arsenal, it may not be suitable for cleaning all types of gardening tools. It can break down wooden handles over time and cause rubber or plastic components to become brittle. Regular cleaning, drying, and oiling of your tools is still necessary to keep them in good working order.
Really interesting didnt know it had so many uses shall be trying a few thanks
We're glad you think so!
Can i clean the inside of my car windscreen
With WD-40? It's not the first thing we would reach for.
Does WD40 deter birds from an area?
WD-40 is toxic to birds so, while it may deter them, we wouldn't use it for that purpose.