WD-40 Hacks That Will Solve All Your Problems
There are some tools that you should always have at the ready in your home. Every home needs a hammer, some nails, duct tape, and of course, some WD-40. You might not think that WD-40 is a household essential, but after reading this list, you're going to want to stock up on the stuff.
WD-40 is inexpensive, versatile, and easy to use. The company has listed 2,000 uses for the stuff on their official website. Here are 40 reasons why you should make WD-40 your catch-all household product.
Keep Flies Away
WD-40 also works great as an insect repellent in a pinch. Citronella may smell wonderful and transport your mind back to weekends at summer camp, but WD-40 will keep you from getting bitten by pesky mosquitoes.
Spray some WD-40 around your windows and windowsills, especially if you have screen doors. Bugs will smell the WD-40 and stay away from your home. This stuff works so well you might even be able to keep your windows open during the summer months without worrying about bugs.
De-Fog Your Bathroom Mirrors
You know that moment when you get out of the shower and you go to take a look at your fresh, clean face in the mirror only to come face to face with a whole bunch of fog? Well, we already know that WD-40 repels water and condensation is just water in a different form.
One Redditor explained, "Lasts for a long time. Spray a bit (just a bit!) of WD40 on a soft rag and wipe it on your mirror until the mirror is residue-free and clear again. Your mirror won't fog up while showering. Re-apply when it stops working after a month or so."
Keep Your Piano Keys From Getting Sticky
Piano players know that there are few worse annoyances than piano keys getting "stuck" when you're trying to play a beautiful piece of music. You Can ue WD-40 to solve this problem with no mess and no fuss.
Just get a WD-40 can with a Smart Straw in order to direct the oil to the precise spot that’s sticking. Just spray a small amount of the product directly where the keys are sticking. Those eys should be springing back to life in no time.
Keep Your Gardening Shears Grass-Free
Gardeners know how frustrating it can be when grass and leaves keep getting stuck to your gardening shears. All that grass builds up and makes your shears less effective and you have to stop cutting every few minutes to wipe off the blades.
WD-40 can solve this problem in no time. Just wipe a bit of the product on the blade of the shears, and excess grass should slide right off. Then your shears can go back to doing what they do best.
WD-40 Can Get Crayon Residue Off Wall Paint
Sometimes kids can get a little too creative when it comes to arts and crafts. we all know a kid who drew on the walls with crayons. Heck, you may have even drawn on the walls with crayons as a kid. With WD-40, you can let kids be kids and keep your house clean.
If you've got crayon marks on the wall don't reach for a can of paint — reach for a can of WD-40. Spray some WD-40 onto a washcloth or paper towel and wipe away at the marks. With a little elbow grease, the crayon should buff out in no time.
Keep Hungry Rodents Away From Your Birdfeeder
No matter how many contraptions you place around your birdfeeder, creatures such as squirrels, chipmunks, and raccoons always seem to be able to reach those delicious seeds. The problem is, those seeds are supposed to be for birds.
WD-40 can help with that! Just squirt a little bit of the product on the feeder’s hanger, and squirrels will slide right off when they try to get to the food. It's kind of fun to watch all those squirrels sliding around.
Get That Frost Off Your Windshield On A Cold Winter Morning
WD-40 was originally developed to combat rust. Rust is caused by water, so it makes sense that this product is great at repelling water. Frost is just frozen water.
Before it gets too cold in your area, wipe some WD-40 over your windshield and car windows. The next morning, any ice that has built up overnight will slide right off. With WD-40, you won't need to spend half an hour cleaning off your car in the morning.
Clean Your Drip Pans
If you love to cook then you know how much cooking can take a toll on your stovetop — particularly the drip pans. The drip pans work to catch all of the food that drips below the top of the stove, so naturally, they accumulate grease and other debris.
Thanks to layers of build-up, cleaning drip pans is challenging. But you can use WD-40 to easily remove grease and grime. All you have to do is remove the burners from your stovetop so you can access the drip pans. Clean up loose debris and then spray a coat of WD-40 on the drip pans. Let sit for a few minutes and then wipe away with a warm washcloth.
Begone, Lipstick Stains
We all know what it means when a man has lipstick on his collar in a soap opera. It means he was having an affair. Definitively. Who knows what it means in real life. We can think of several real-life situations in which lipstick might end up on your clothes, though. Like when you go to take a shirt off before you've taken off your makeup...
Most makeup is oil-based, so you need an oil-based product to remove it. Just dab some WD-40 on the stain and then put that piece of clothing in the wash.
Remove Toilet Stains
No one likes cleaning and scrubbing the toilets in their home. But there is an easier solution to cleaning your porcelain throne than the old-fashioned way.
Before you get down on your hands and knees to scrub away at those unsightly toilet bowl stains, reach for a can of WD-40 instead. Simply give the toilet bowl a generous coating of the stuff and let it sit for 20 or so minutes. Then, give your toilet bowl a good swipe with the brush as you normally would and flush away the stains.
Make Tarnished Silver Look New Again
Silver looks great when it's shiny and new, but over time all silver – even the best stuff -- will begin to tarnish and look lackluster. Instead of putting your silver in a donation bin, try this hack.
Simply spray down your silver items with WD-40. Let the coat of WD-40 sit for 10 minutes or so and then wipe everything down with a washcloth and warm water. Repeat whenever necessary with this simple trick that should leave your silver looking new and elegant again.
Remove Gum From Your Clothes And Shoes
Is there anything WD-40 can't do? The miracle oil is also terrific for removing chewing gum from shoes or any other items it gets stuck to (even hair!). Just spray it on and the gum will come off pretty easily. You might have to work on it for a bit, but it’ll be much easier than without the WD-40.
We bet A-list Hollywood star Kirsten Dunst wishes she had thrown a can of WD-40 in her purse before hitting the red carpet at the premiere of Spider-Man 2! It would have helped get that unsightly gum right off her satin heel.
Keep Your Scissors In Good Working Order
Now this WD-40 tip was a surprise to us! You can use the oil to help keep your scissors maintained. With use, they tend to become dull, dirty, and rough. But WD-40 can turn that wear-and-tear around.
Simply wipe some of the oil on your scissor blades. It will sharpen the blades and make your cutting tasks much smoother, almost like you have a brand-new set of scissors! This is a great idea before a big project, like wrapping a ton of presents for the holidays.
Open Locks That Have Been Rusted Shut
This is one WD-40 use you might have already heard about, but it's a good one to include in case you didn’t know about it. WD-40 can be used to open up locks that have become rusted over.
Whether you find buried treasure in a locked box or just left your bike lock out in the rain too many times, it’s safe to say that you’ll probably need to open an old, rusted lock at some point. Be sure to keep some WD-40 on hand and it won’t be an issue!
Make That Zipper Glide
How many times have you gotten rid of clothing because it had a zipper that had become stuck? It can cost a pretty penny to pay a professional seamstress to repair or replace a broken zipper, so lots of clothing ends up getting tossed instead. It doesn't need to be, though, if you have some WD-40 on hand!
Just spray a little bit of the miracle oil on a Q-tip and swab the spot where the zipper is getting stuck. It should loosen right up! If you’re ever in a pinch and don’t have your WD-40 handy, rubbing some lip balm can also help loosen a zipper.
Keep Your Car From Freezing Shut
Speaking of cars, WD-40 can also prevent the rubber seals on your car doors from freezing shut overnight during the colder months. All you have to do is spray a little WD-40 onto the rubber seals. Using a washcloth to wipe the seals with WD-40 will help make sure they're fully and evenly coated.
This simple trick takes just a few minutes and will make your mornings simpler. Trust us when we say that your future self will thank you!
Get Rid Of Sticky Stuff
If you've ever removed a bumper sticker or some old tape, you know how frustrating it is to be left with all that sticky, gunky residue that’s left over. Here’s yet another problem that can be solved with a little WD-40.
Just spray it on the spot and use a paper towel or rag to wipe it clean. The gummy adhesive will be gone in a jiffy! We personally use WD-40 to clean up gummy, sticky messes at least twice a month.
Temporarily Fix Your Cracked Phone Screen
WD-40 isn't going to make your cracked phone screen look as good as new, but it can help you improve the appearance and usablitiy of your screen until you can get to an Apple Store or a Best Buy.
Just spray some WD-40 on the screen and wipe it off with a dry, clean cloth. It will at least buy you some time until you’re able to purchase a new phone. Plus hopefully, the wiping action will clear away and dangerous shards of glass.
Keep Your Kicks Looking Fresh
If your kicks are looking a little bit dirty these days, it might be time to treat them to some pampering with WD-40. In fact, people who are serious about keeping their sneakers looking like new swear that WD-40 is a shoe's best friend.
It’s super easy: just spray your shoes down with the oil and wipe off the excess with a clean cloth. If you want to to take it a step further, WD-40 can also be used to waterproof your shoes! Read on to learn how.
Make Your Shoes Waterproof
WD-40 is the MVP of the winter season. Not only can the product help prevent snow buildup on your windshield, but it can also help protect your shoes and keep your feet warm on the snowiest days.
To waterproof, you're just going to leave the WD-40 on the shoe without wiping any of it off. Water won’t be able to penetrate your sneaker’s fabric after this treatment! Better yet, this will also remove any salt stains your shoes acquired during the winter months!
Get Rid Of Shower Door Stains
Glass shower doors can easily become dirty over time. Buildup from soap scum and other bathroom products like body wash and shampoo can really be tough to remove. And hard water deposits are notoriously difficult to wash away.
WD-40 to the rescue yet again! Its water-displacing properties make it the perfect product to clean those stubborn shower doors. Just open the shower door and spray the entire surface with a light coating of WD-40. Then allow the product to sit for a few minutes and wipe it off with a clean cloth. You might have to repeat this process a couple of times depending on how much buildup is on your shower door.
No More Coffee And Tea Stains
Even the biggest coffee and tea fans in the world get annoyed with their favorite beverages' tendency to leave ugly stains on things. Well, you can enjoy that delicious pick-me-up without worry after you read this tip.
WD-40 can safely remove coffee and tea spots from materials like cotton, leather, ceramic tile, and even carpet. And it’s easy as can be – just spray it on, wait a few minutes, and gently rub it in as a prewash (for clothing items). Ta-da! Good as new.
Clean Your Windsheild
Yuck! No one likes having a windshield that's coated with bugs -- especially if you're familiar with love bug season. Not only is it disgusting to look at, but it’s a hazard that can prevent you from seeing clearly through your windshield. Luckily for you, the magic of WD-40 can help out with buggy messes.
Spray your windshield and be sure to coat all the buggy areas. The WD-40 will soften everything as you let it sit for a few minutes. Then you can easily wipe the mess away! You can use WD-40 on bumpers too, and anywhere else on your car that bugs might be a problem.
Blow Up A Flat Tire
Yes, you read that right! You can actually fill a flat or popped tire with a can of WD-40. We want to point out that this hack is a dangerous one, as it involves fire. You basically just use the WD-40 and a lighter to ignite a flame.
As Popular Mechanics explains, the "expanding gases during an explosion set the tire bead; then you need to quickly jump in to extinguish any existing flames and immediately start inflating the tire." We think we might leave this one to the pros.
Un-Stick A Stubborn Ring
Many of us have experienced the panic that comes along with having a ring stuck on your finger. Whether you're trying on someone else’s jewelry or your own ring is just too small for you after gaining a bit of weight, it’s good to know how to get a stuck ring off your finger safely.
While liquid soap can work in a pinch, WD-40 is the quickest way to loosen up a too-tight ring. Just squirt a small amount around the ring and ease it off. You’ll want to wash your hands thoroughly afterward.
Keep Your Air Filters Fresh
Many people advise using a light spray of WD-40 on an air filter before you install it in your air conditioning system. You can do this every time you do a routine filter change. The WD-40 helps the filter "become exponentially more effective," according to a Money Crashers blogger.
This can drastically cut down on the amount of dust you breathe at home. “It did seem like I was breathing cleaner air in my home. Later, when I went to change out a filter that I had sprayed with WD-40, it seemed to have filtered a great deal more dust than normal,” reported the blogger.
Keep Your Fridge Clean
WD-40 in the refrigerator? You'd better believe it! Many people swear that the substance is terrific for cleaning those difficult-to-remove food particles and spills that happen so often in the refrigerator. It's also a great mildew remover.
To try this hack out, start by removing everything from the fridge. Once it’s empty, use some WD-40 and a rag to clean everything thoroughly. Be sure to clean away all traces of the WD-40 before returning food to your now-sparkling refrigerator.
Un-Squeak Your Hinges
This is one of the uses for WD-40 that most people are familiar with. It's the absolute best way to quiet a squeaky door. And many people find that "unsqueaking" loud hinges is a satisfying task to take care of!
Just coat the squeaky hinge(s) with the oil and open and close the door a few times to be sure the WD-40 is really worked in. Use a dry cloth or paper towel to wipe off any excess. Then, sit back and enjoy the sound of silence when your door is opened or closed!
No More Scuff Marks
OK, now we've heard everything. Using WD-40 to remove scuff marks from the wall is not even something we would have considered, and eHow recommends it for those stubborn marks on baseboards, too.
"Use a water-displacement spray, such as WD-40, to remove stubborn scuff marks from white trim," the site suggests. "Moisten the area with the spray and wipe gently with a clean cloth. Avoid using excessive pressure so the paint is not removed from the trim."
No More Toothpaste Stains
Even the neatest of us can make an occasional mess in the bathroom. In fact, someone I know very well has a tendency to drop toothpaste into the sink and forget about it until it's hardened into an unsightly stain. WD-40 can take care of toothpaste messes just as easily as the many other problems it fixes.
Just spray a little bit of WD-40 onto the dried toothpaste. Give it a couple of minutes to work its magic, then scrub the toothpaste right down the drain. And be sure to rinse the sink out every time you brush your teeth to avoid this problem in the future.
When You Accidentally Use Permanent Marker On A Dry Erase Board
It can happen to the best of us: we're preparing to give a presentation and realize too late that we’ve used a permanent marker on the company’s dry erase board. Or maybe your kids got into the permanent markers and messed up the white board you use to assign chores at home.
There’s no need to toss those marked-up white boards. Just use some WD-40 to clean the permanent marker off. After you’ve done that, spray a little Windex or another cleaner onto the board and wipe it down so it’s not too greasy to write on.
Get Rid Of Wasp Nests
In a Reddit channel called LifeProTips, user Inexplorata shared a cool tip for using WD-40 to prevent wasps from building a nest. "I haven't seen [a nest] for years in our yard, thanks to WD-40."
"On a whim I sought out the tiny beginnings of wasp nests along the eaves, knocked each little one down, and put a quick, small blast of WD-40 where the nest used to be. Fast forward five years now since this 'experiment' began, and I have not seen a single wasp nest anywhere I ‘treated’ with a little spray of WD-40." Nice!
Unbuild Your Lego
Some of WD-40's benefits are more fun than others. This is definitely a fun one! You can use the stuff to separate Lego blocks that have become stuck together. Just give the stuck blocks a quick spray and wait a few seconds before pulling them apart.
Some Lego fans believe that WD-40 could be harmful to the type of plastic that the blocks are made of, so it’s recommended that you wash your Lego blocks thoroughly with regular soap and water after applying WD-40.
Keep Washroom Grout Clean
Bathroom grout is one of those spots that can be really difficult to clean. The moist environment in a bathroom can really spur mildew growth that seems to love hanging out in your grout. But nothing ever really gets the grout as clean as you'd like it to be. Until now.
Get out that WD-40 and a sponge, and go to town on your bathroom tile. It will work miracles on the grout, making everything look like new. Wash any WD-40 residue away afterward with regular soap and water.
Clean Your Shovels
Having clean shovels (and other tools) might not be your most pressing concern, but it's worth mentioning! WD-40 can help clean a variety of tools as well as keep them protected.
The WD-40 website says that the product "works well on shovels, sprinkler heads, rakes, and wheelbarrows as a light lubricant, rust preventative and cleaner. WD-40 is often used to coat tools before storing them and is also beneficial against rain and water damage because it prevents rust." It's definitely worth protecting your tools as they're a pretty costly investment.
Get Barnacles Off Of Boats
Any boater knows that barnacles are a real pain. They're sharp and are really difficult to remove. But you can make the experience of cleaning barnacles much more pleasant if you add some WD-40 to the mix.
Just spray the area generously with WD-40 and wait a couple of minutes. Then, use a putty knife to scrape the barnacles off. You might have to repeat this process a few times but you'll find that the WD-40 makes things a lot more simple! Finish up with some sandpaper for a perfectly smooth finish.
Protect Your Patio Set
WD-40 is a blessing for patio furniture. It can remove rust and oxidation from metal chairs and tables. It can also be used to protect plastic furniture from sun damage and rain, which can lead to cracking and color fading.
To protect your furniture, just spray the WD-40 onto the plastic and then wipe it clean with a dry cloth. And if the furniture is already damaged by the sun or other elements, a little bit of WD-40 will bring a shiny finish back.
No More Kool-Aid Stains
If you've ever spilled Kool-Aid then you’re well aware of the mess it can make. Especially if it’s red Kool-Aid. But don’t worry about the drink leaving permanent stains as long as you have some WD-40 handy.
Your technique is important when dealing with a tough spill. You must spray and blot – do not rub the Kool-Aid deeper into the carpet! Just continue blotting the spot until it’s gone. It could take a while but your carpet will eventually look as good as new again.
Open Your Frozen Mailbox
One person who had recently moved to Alaska and experienced a frozen mailbox shared this story on a discussion board for fellow Alaskans. "I called our Post office to ask them how to open my frozen mailbox and she told me to spray some WD-40 on the key and in the key hole then smack the mailbox a few times with a rubber mallet."
“It took me a few minutes but hooray it worked. I was able to open the box and get my mail.” See, even postal experts recommend this WD-40 hack!
Shine Your Fake Plants
This tip is for those of you who are extremely detail-oriented. There's no need to buy expensive commercial leaf shine sprays for your artificial plants. You can just use a little WD-40 on those leaves for the same shiny effect at a fraction of the cost.
An application of WD-40 will also repel dust from landing on the leaves. And since it's also known to deter insects, it might also help keep your houseplants free of bugs. Triple bonus!
