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Unique Uses for WD-40

This common household product has a ton of uses you probably weren't aware of

Woman spraying WD-40 on shoe

The Spruce / Candace Madonna

WD-40 is applauded for its ability to fix everything from the creakiest doors to the rustiest bike chains. And while you may consider this household product important for the gritty things like metal mechanisms, it has quite a few other unique uses that’ll surprise you.

What Is WD-40?

You might be curious what WD-40 actually is. We were, too! The name stands for water displacement 40. Forty being the number of tries it took to get the formula exactly right. We know that WD-40 is a special blend of lubricants that contains anti-corrosion agents and ingredients for penetration, water displacement, and soil removal. Most commonly, it’s used for loosening up corroded, rusted, or conjoined items. While a few sources say they know the components of the chemical formula, the company behind WD-40 actually won’t share the exact secret sauce of everything that’s in it and claims that anyone who says they know it, actually hasn’t cracked the code.

Read on to learn all of the different ways WD-40 can help around the house whether removing tough stains, cleaning a variety of surfaces, preventing rust, or loosening jammed items.

Removing Gum From a Shoe

The only thing nastier than stepping on a chewed-up piece of gum is trying to remove it. WD-40 makes the job painless. Spray WD-40 directly onto the wad of gum and let it soak for 30 seconds or so. Take a dull butter knife and begin scraping the gum away off the shoe, wiping off the gum residue onto a paper towel as you go. It should begin to peel off, but if you still have some gum left, repeat the process. Once all the gum is off, wash the sole of your shoe with a little soap and water and let it dry.

Spraying gum with WD-40

The Spruce / Candace Madonna

Erasing Permanent Marker Off of a White Board

While permanent marker sounds like it’s...well, permanent, don’t fret—WD-40 will get it right off. Just spray WD-40 directly onto the affected area. Let it set for 30 or so seconds, and it should come off in nearly one wipe. Once you start seeing the edges of the permanent marker bleed, grab a paper towel and begin wiping down the board. If there are any leftover spots, rub in small circles until it’s completely gone. If it's still not coming off, apply a little more WD-40 and begin again. Give your board a quick rinse with warm soapy water and be sure to dry it quickly after. 

Wiping WD-40 off whiteboard

The Spruce / Candace Madonna

Untangling Knotted Jewelry

While WD-40 won’t magically untangle your jewelry for you, it turns a task that could take hours into one that takes 10 minutes. Spray a generous amount of the WD-40 directly onto your jewelry. Massage the WD-40 onto the chains and knots and let it sit for a few seconds. Then begin untangling. You’ll notice that knots will start undoing themselves and chains will easily slip in and out of each other. Before you know it, you’ll have your jewelry back in a wearable state. Just be sure to give your pieces a thorough wash with hot soapy water to get the lubricant off.

Woman holding tangled jewelry

The Spruce / Candace Madonna

Unsticking Jammed Cups

Don’t risk shattered glass and a trip to the ER. Your trusty bottle of WD-40 can unstick those cups you’ve been avoiding in the back of your cupboard. Start by covering your surface with newspaper. Next, take your WD-40 and place the long straw attachment in the crevice where the two cups are conjoined and spray. Gently start twisting them back and forth. If they’re not budging, spritz a few more sprays and repeat the twisting. In a matter of seconds, the glasses should come apart. Be sure to clean thoroughly with soap and hot water to remove the lubricant.

Woman's hands unsticking jammed cups
The Spruce / Candace Madonna 

Stop Squeaking

Silence squeaky doors, gates, chairs, and more by spraying hinges and other noisy moving parts with WD-40. Work the lubricant into the squeaky parts and remove any excess with a soft rag.

Remove Sticker Residue

Bringing home new household items often comes with the task of removing labels that don’t peel off easily. WD-40 can dissolve and lubricate sticker residue. After removing as much of the sticker as you can with your fingernails or a plastic scraping tool (such as a gift card), saturate the sticker with WD-40, and allow it to sit for 3 minutes. Then rub away the residue, and wipe the spot dry with a clean cloth or paper towel. Remove any remaining WD-40 residue and stubborn adhesives with soapy water and a cleaning cloth.

Get Dried Bird Droppings Off a Car

Bird droppings are highly acidic and contain abrasive ingredients that can damage your car’s paint job, so try to remove them before they dry. If the droppings are dried on, spray them with WD-40, let the treatment sit for a few minutes, and gently wipe away with a microfiber cloth.

Remove Tree Sap

Sticky tree sap can cling and harden on cars, clothes, and tools needing some elbow grease for removal.

For clothes, scrape as much of the sap off as possible with a credit card, blot the stain with a cotton ball soaked in WD-40, and allow to sit for 10 minutes. It’s always good to insert a piece of cardboard under the stain so the WD-40 doesn’t get on other parts of the clothing. After treating the stain, wash in the warmest water temperature per the care label instructions. Air dry the garment and check to see if the stain is gone before laundering as usual.

For dried tree sap on a car, saturate the stain with WD-40, put plastic wrap or a paper towel over the area, and let it soak for 5 minutes. Wipe the area clean with a dry microfiber cloth and wash off any remaining residue with soapy water.

For tree sap on tools, spray with WD-40 and allow to sit a few minutes if needed. Then scrub the sap off with a bristle brush, wash with soapy water, rinse, and dry thoroughly.

Coat Your Snow Shovel for Quicker Shoveling

When ice and snow stick to your shovel, it makes clearing your sidewalk and driveway a lot harder. The shovel needs to be clean of snow and ice when shoveling, otherwise, your momentum can slow down while you try to shake off stuck-on snow. Coat your shovel with WD-40 to help snow slide off easily between lifting and tossing.

Unstick Piano Keys

You can’t tickle the ivories if your piano keys are stuck. Spritz the sides of the stuck keys with WD-40’s flexible straw applicator. Remove any residue with a damp cloth, then use a clean, dry, lint-free microfiber cloth to remove any moisture from the keys.

Keep Dead Bugs Off a Car Grille

Before you hit the road, wipe your car grille with WD-40 to prevent dead bugs from sticking while on your way to your destination.

Renew Plastic Furniture

Restore plastic patio furniture that’s dull and dirty from weathering the elements by washing them down with a cleaning solution and tackling tough stains from grass, mud, food, tree sap, or bird droppings with WD-40. Spray tough stains and wipe away with a clean rag.

Clean Carpet Stains

WD-40’s solvent properties can attack a variety of carpet stains, including oil, food, pet stains, and gum. After testing a spot in a hidden area, and it looks safe to use, proceed to treat the stain. First, gently lift away any solid stains like pet excrement or mustard, or blot any liquid stains, like soda or coffee, before spraying the stain with WD-40. Allow the treatment to sit for 30 seconds. Work a damp sponge into the treated area to loosen the stain. Take a dry, clean rag to absorb any residue and finish cleaning the stain.

Keep Wooden Handles From Splintering

Avoid getting a tiny splinter of wood stuck in your finger, which can be painful and cause infection, by conditioning wooden handles. The oils in WD-40 will help prevent the handles from drying out and splintering. First, gently smooth the handles with medium-grit sandpaper, then spray a clean, dry cloth with WD-40 and rub it into the wood. Finish by wiping away any residue that remains. 

Prevent Snow Build-up On Windows

If some of the windows around your home get snow build-up after a storm, this can be a hazard. Prevent snow from building up on windows by spraying them with WD-40 before a storm comes in to avoid flooding, water damage, or blocking a potential exit. 

Deter Wasps From Building Nests

Wasps are repelled by the smell of WD-40, which can help deter them from building new nests. Wasp-proof areas they like to nest in by spraying WD-40 on eaves, gutters, overhangs, ledges, and any areas where they’ve nested before.

Waterproof Shoes

For dark leather shoes and boots, you can use WD-40 to waterproof them, but the lubricant can darken or stain light-colored boots. Spray WD-40 on a soft cloth and work it into clean leather shoes or boots.

Remove Animal Poop From Shoes

It’s no fun to step in animal poop, especially if the bottoms of your shoes have deep treads with lots of nooks and crannies. Spray the affected areas with WD-40, loosen with an old toothbrush, and wipe away with a damp cloth. Clean the soles of your shoes with soapy water, rinse, and dry thoroughly.

Remove Paint Smudge on a Car

If your car scraped against another car or painted surface, you may be faced with expensive paint repairs. Spraying the smudge marks with WD-40 can soften the problem paint and loosen it from the surface without harming your car’s exterior paint. After spraying the spots, use a sponge to work off the marks, and a soft dry cloth to wipe off any residue.

Remove Tight Jewelry

Prying a too-tight ring off a finger can be frustrating and painful, so don’t force it. Apply WD-40 around the ring area, which should loosen and release the jewerly from your finger.

Loosen a Zipper

Get a stubborn metal zipper moving again. Spray a cotton swab with WD-40 and carefully apply it just to the zipper, so it doesn’t stain the surrounding fabric.

Remove Floor Scuffs

If you have vinyl floors with dark scuff marks and other removal methods haven’t worked, try some WD-40. Test in an inconspicuous spot first to make sure that it doesn't discolor your vinyl. If all is clear, spray the scuff mark with WD-40, wait about 5 minutes, and wipe clean with a soft cloth.

Clean Oil Spots

If you have old, set-in vegetable oil stains in clothes, try this removal method using WD-40, baking soda, and liquid laundry detergent. Insert a piece of cardboard under the stain between layers of the clothing item, so only the stained area is affected. Apply WD-40 to the oil stain, either by spraying it directly or with a cotton ball. Cover the treated area with a thick layer of baking soda, which absorbs oil out of clothes. Work the baking soda into the stain with an old, soft toothbrush and remove it as it becomes damp or clumpy. Keep repeating this step until your baking soda looks clean and clump-free. Then treat the stain with a thick layer of liquid laundry detergent, and wash it in hot or warm water. After it’s been washed, check to see if the stain is removed. Repeat the steps if the oil stains remain.

Remove Hair Dye Stains

Hair dye can permanently stain sinks, towels, and clothes if it isn’t removed swiftly. Spray hair dye stains in a sink with WD-40 and allow it to sit for 30 minutes to an hour before wiping it away. Spot treat hair dye stains on fabrics and let sit a few minutes before washing with the hot water cycle.

Break-in a New Baseball Mitt

Improve your game by breaking in a stiff, new baseball mitt. To soften, apply a small amount of WD-40 to a soft cloth and work it into the leather, insert a baseball in the glove’s palm, secure it with rubber bands, and leave it overnight.

Remove Crayon Stains

WD-40 can loosen waxy crayon residue from fabrics. Only use WD-40 on natural fabrics, and test it on an inconspicuous spot to make sure it won't damage the item. To remove the stain, use a dull knife to scrape off any extra crayon from the fabric. Put paper towels between the stained area and the rest of the fabric before spraying WD-40 on both sides of the crayon stain. Allow the WD-40 to sit for 5 minutes, then use the knife to lift any loosened crayon solids. Rinse the item in cool water and check to see if the stain is gone. If the stain remains, repeat the steps or try another stain removal method, otherwise, launder as usual.

Keep Paint From Sticking to Paint Brushes

Treat paint brushes with WD-40 to keep the bristles clean and conditioned between uses and prevent the metal components from rusting. Just apply after the brushes are washed and the bristles are dry.

Prevent Rust on Nails

Have your nails ready to go and rust-free before your next DIY project. Spray a box of nails with WD-40 to prevent rusting that can occur when stored in humid basements or garages where many home workshops are located.

Keep Paint Off Doorknobs and Handles

Protect splatter on your door knobs and handles by applying WD-40 before starting a paint job. The lubricant makes any paint drips easy to remove.

Clean, Polish, and Protect Stainless Steel 

Swap your go-to stainless steel cleaner for WD-40 to clean, polish, and prevent smudges and fingerprints from mucking up your appliances. Spray a microfiber cloth with WD-40 and wipe away any dirt and grime, then use another dry microfiber cloth to buff the appliance along the steel’s grain for the best shine.

Remove Grease Stains

A low-viscosity spray penetrating oil like WD-40 can clean oil stains from asphalt driveways because it is petroleum-based. After removing any excess oil, spray the stain with WD-40. WD-40 works to break up the oil, so after spraying the stain, absorb the loosened oil with a rag, clean the remaining stain with soapy water and a bristle brush, and rinse with a hose.

Clean Garden Tools

To prolong the life of garden tools that get exposed to dirt, plant material, and moisture, clean and protect them from rusting. After cleaning and disinfecting them, wipe down your garden tools with WD-40 to prevent rust and keep moving parts lubricated.

Protect Pipes

Prevent a pipe from bursting when freezing temperatures set in by coating indoor and outdoor taps and pipes with WD-40. The lubricant, which withstands temperatures -81 degrees Farenheit, helps protect ice from forming and freezing on taps and pipes.

Remove Nuts and Bolts

If you're fighting impossibly stuck nuts and bolts, WD-40 can help loosen and remove them. Spray difficult hardware with WD-40 and allow to sit for 15 to 30 minutes before loosening with tools. You can also spray nuts and bolts with WD-40 before using them in DIY projects and prevent them from rusting and making assembly easier.

FAQ
  • What can you not use WD-40 for?

    WD-40 should not be used on electronics, waxed wooden floors or furniture, and clear plastics like polycarbonate, used in eyeglasses, and polystyrene, used in packaging, or anything that comes in contact with food. Always test a hidden spot with WD-40 before using it.

  • What is the actual purpose of WD-40?

    WD-40 is a rust inhibitor, lubricant, penetrant, and water displacer. The WD-40 formula was originally invented as a degreaser and rust-proofing agent for the aerospace industry. According to company lore, employees snuck cans to use at home for all kinds of projects, and by 1958 an aerosol version of the product crossed over to the consumer market. Today, the purpose of the WD-40 Multi-Use Product is to protect metal from rust and corrosion, penetrate stuck parts, displace moisture, lubricate almost anything, and remove grease and grime from most surfaces, according to the WD-40 Company. 

  • What is the use of WD-40 in the toilet?

    For toilets with rust and lime deposits, spray WD-40 on the stains and wait two minutes before cleaning the area with a toilet brush.

  • Can WD-40 be used as a cleaner?

    You can use WD-40 on a wide range of surfaces, including textiles, most plastics, rubber, and hard metals. WD-40 renews plastic furniture, cleans and shines stainless steel, and removes difficult stains like gum, tree sap, bird droppings, crayon, oil, marker, hair dye, rust, and limescale. 

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. WD-40 Multi-Use Product. The WD-40 Company.