Yes, you can use vegetable oil as a temporary, safe lubricant for squeaky hinges or light tasks, but it's not a direct WD-40 replacement, especially for heavy-duty needs, as it's thicker and can go rancid or attract dust; however, a mix of vegetable oil with acetone (nail polish remover) creates a powerful DIY penetrating oil, says Engineering For Change and Instructables.
Vegetable Oil
This pantry staple is another lubricant alternative to WD-40 that can be easily applied without having to purchase another product. Mostly any cooking oil can be used, and vegetable oil has the added perk of being safe to use on most surfaces, including metal and plastic.
Vegetable oil is safe to use as a lubricant for masturbation, but it is not a good choice because it will stain clothing, sheets, furniture, etc. It also requires soap to clean off of skin and other surfaces.
Grease your hinges with vegetable oil. If you have a squeaky door or doors, or really if you have doors with hinges that could potentially become annoyingly squeaky in the future, you should grease the hinges with vegetable oil. Add a dab or two of oil to a clean cloth and rub the oiled cloth along the hinge.
The bottom line is that vegetable oil with 10 percent acetone is more effective at freeing seized bolts than WD-40, it's as effective as ATF and acetone, and it is more widely available in rural developing areas and kinder to the planet both in manufacture and disposal.
The Best Penetrating Oils Today
Kroil Original Penetrant is made to penetrante small crevices between metal parts to make disassembly easier. Kroil Penetrant with Silicone is formulated similar to Kroil Original Penetrant with the added benefit of longer lasting lubrication.
A few drops of olive oil will easily lubricate your squeaking hinges. We'd recommend using a pipette or oil can to make the process as easy and clean as possible. Simply apply a few drops of olive oil to the hinges and your hinge should soon be squeak-free.
Any food-grade vegetable oil or food-grade silicone grease can be used to lubricate the o-ring. No petroleum products can be used.
Before the development of modern MWFs, vegetable oils were one of the most common lubricants used for metalworking tools. The use of vegetable oils can be traced back to ancient civilizations such as Egypt, Greece, and Rome, where olive oil was commonly used to lubricate metal tools and weapons.
Cleaned and painted shovels Once the tools are cleaned they are ready for lubrication. I've found that the vegetable oil works fine to keep the tools lubricated and rust-free during the year but it does need more frequent applications than the WD-40.
Some vegetable oils (i.e. canola and mustard) and egg whites have been shown to be sperm-friendly. And just around the corner in the bathroom, it appears that baby oil is also safe. But not all oils gel well with sperm: olive oil is not great choice for sperm. And saliva is a terrible lubricant, as are skin lotions.
Oil-based Lubricants:
Oil-based lubricants are a great choice if you are looking for something more natural and with less ingredients. Examples of oils that can be used for personal lubricants include coconut oil, and almond oil. You should choose a pure organic oil with no additives.
#1 Silicone Spray Lubricants
Silicone spray is the best WD-40 alternative out there. They are super popular because they leave a clean and slick coating that does not collect dust.
Cooking oil
Whether it's olive, canola, or vegetable oil, its uses can extend past the kitchen as a cheap WD-40 alternative. The greasy texture of cooking oil makes it a great lubricant, and it's a good multipurpose oil, too.
WD-40 isn't a true or long-term lubricant because it's primarily a water displacer, solvent, and penetrating oil, designed to clean and free up stuck parts by dissolving grime, not provide lasting lubrication for moving mechanisms like hinges or chains. Its formula contains solvents that evaporate quickly, leaving behind only a thin film of light oil that doesn't stay put or protect against wear and tear like dedicated greases or oils, often requiring reapplication or a proper lubricant afterward.
When exposed to vegetable oils, rubber can become brittle due to the high levels of saturated fat. The vegetable oil can also cause swelling, reducing elasticity and leading to eventual failure.
Silicone grease is commonly used in plumbing due to its compatibility with plastics and rubber. It's the go-to option for elements in contact with potable water systems. Silicone greases are nontoxic, nonhazardous, and can withstand various temperatures. They're perfect for faucet valves, rubber washers, and O-rings.
Don't use oil.
Oil might assist the moving parts of the motor in your car, but it is never a good idea to squirt it in a stiff lock.
Our first lubrication option is olive oil, which most people have sitting in their kitchen cabinets. Olive oil is a substance that's more than able to take care of creaky or squeaky hinges due to its viscous nature.
You should not use WD-40 on things that require proper lubrication (like bike/drive chains, gears, locks), anything with rubber or plastic (it degrades them), electronics (attracts dust, damages components), car parts like O2 sensors or dashboards (causes damage/silica buildup), or anything food-contact related (not food safe). It's a water displacer and degreaser, not a long-term lubricant, and its petroleum base damages many materials.
Use penetrating oil
The oil will penetrate the rust and lubricate the threads of the screw. This will make it easier to remove the screw with a screwdriver. If the screw doesn't budge, it may be necessary to repeat the application.
Tests reveal that a mixture of vegetable oil with 10 percent acetone, found in nail polish remover and paint thinners, works as well to free rusted bolts as WD 40. And it costs about one-tenth of the price.
Commonly caused by over-tightening or rust, stuck bolts and nuts present a time-consuming and irritating challenge. WD-40 Specialist® Penetrant is an excellent loosener and can assist with even the most stubborn of stuck bolts and nuts.