The year is 1953. Rocket Chemical, a struggling company in San Diego, Calif., sets out to create a rust-preventive solvent that would be better than water for cleaning rocket parts. On the 40th attempt, the three scientists working on the project nailed it, creating WD-40. While the ingredients remain a well-guarded secret more than 50 years later (the company insists there's nothing in it to harm us), WD-40 has a myriad of uses beyond what it was intended to do. I never realized all of the possibilities until a reader recently enlightened me. Consider these applications (and, just in case you're wondering, I don't have any affiliation with the company; I'm just impressed by the product):
STICKY SITUATIONS: WD-40 removes stickers and adhesives from glass, plastic, countertops and containers. Use it to lubricate the tracks in sticking sliding windows to make them glide. Spray a little WD-40 to lubricate sticky drawers. It penetrates and loosens sticky knobs on adjustable chairs. Give your snow shovel a quick spray to combat sticky snow.
STUCK UP: Zipper stuck? Loosen it with WD-40. A quick shot will help untangle jewelry chains and unfreeze door hinges. Spray on glass objects that are stuck together to separate without breaking. Lubricate the stuck walking foot on your sewing machine. Use it to free stuck bolts, lug nuts and hose ends that won't budge, to loosen tight Lego blocks and to make those window shades roll smoothly.
GRUNGY: Removes tar, doggie-doo and scuff marks from shoes. WD-40 cleans filthy guitar strings and removes the grime from the barbecue grill. You know that build-up on your favorite pair of scissors? Hit it with WD-40 to make them like new again. It removes the grime and scum from fiberglass showers like a dream. It removes the gunk from a plastic dish drainer and the sink's handheld spray nozzle, too. It cleans and protects brass and silver from tarnishing.
SQUEAKING BY: If it squeaks, WD-40's likely the solution. It keeps wicker chairs, kids' swings, rocking chairs, bedsprings and noisy hinges from squeaking. It will quiet your trash compactor, too. Use it to silence that squeaky weathervane, car strut mounts and windshield wipers.
PESTY: WD-40 keeps flies off cows and pigeons off balconies (they hate the smell). Spray WD-40 around flowerbeds to gently send cats away. Spray it along the bottom of chain-link fences that surround gardens to repel rabbits and rodents and on wire tomato plant cages to keep insects away. WD-40 removes dead insects from a car's front grill, radiator and windshield.
SCRATCH FEVER: WD-40 cleans, restores and camouflages scratches on ceramic and marble floors. It gives floors that "just-waxed" sheen without making them slippery. It hides small scratches on woodwork.
DRAIN THAT STAIN: WD-40 cleans piano keys, and removes Kool-Aid and tomato stains from carpets and fabrics. It takes lipstick from anything, makes those oil stains on the concrete driveway disappear and removes hair dye from your towels.
RUST: WD-40 will keep your fishing reels, lures and flies rust- and gunk-free. WD-40 removes and prevents rust on anything made of metal. It removes and prevents rust from forming in washing machines, on showerheads and on garden tools. You know those rust stains on your tub and shower? Those terra-cotta pots that oxidize? You know the routine: WD-40! I'm convinced. WD-40 is quite an amazing product. Available just about anywhere (even the grocery store!), I've moved my can of the stuff from the garage right into the house.
