The "WD-40 trick" refers to using the popular lubricant for numerous surprising household hacks beyond just metal, like removing sticky residue from stickers, cleaning crayon from walls, silencing squeaky hinges, removing rust, loosening stuck zippers, and even making headlights clearer, all by exploiting its water displacement, solvent, and lubricating properties to tackle grime, adhesive, and friction.
SURPRISING USES FOR WD-40
Removes crayon from walls, carpet, toys, shoes, compressed wood furniture, and even your dryer. Cleans garden tools and helps keep them rust-free. Removes ink from carpet, leather, and other fabrics. Protects wrought iron (like outdoor furniture) from rust.
Most people don't know that WD-40 can solve many of their household cleaning needs quickly and easily. When cleaning a toilet bowl, WD-40 works by softening the rust and lime deposits, so they can be easily wiped away. You don't need to use much of it.
Refrigerating WD-40 can improve short-term spray control, reduce immediate odor, and help with thermal-contraction tricks--but it's a workaround, not required. Use only short-term chilling, avoid extremes, manage condensation, and always respect flammability and manufacturer storage recommendations.
Just take a can of WD-40 (preferably one with a long flexible hose) and spray it inside of your faucet. The WD-40 will loosen up the hard water and make the diverter work as smoothly as day one.
You should not use WD-40 on electronics, bike/drive chains, rubber/plastic parts, locks, car paint/belts, and anything in contact with food or that requires a true long-term lubricant like gears, as it's primarily a solvent and water displacer, not a heavy-duty lubricant, and can damage these materials or attract dirt, leading to future problems. It's a great degreaser and rust preventative for metal, but often the wrong choice for sensitive components or heavy lubrication needs.
Mix equal parts white vinegar and water. Soak a cloth in the solution and wrap it around the faucet. Let it sit for an hour, then scrub with a soft brush. Rinse and dry the faucet thoroughly.
White vinegar is one of the most effective household products that can be used to clean rust.
Wipe the inside of the empty refrigerator with hot, soapy water, then wipe with clean water to rinse off soap. Dry with a clean towel. DON'T FORGET TO WIPE INSIDE THE DOORS AND ANY DRAWERS THAT CANNOT BE REMOVED. USE A SOLUTION OF 1 TABLESPOON OF LIQUID BLEACH IN 1 GALLON OF WATER TO SANITIZE YOUR REFRIGERATOR.
While WD-40 may not be a conventional plumbing tool, its versatility and lubricating properties make it a valuable resource for addressing various plumbing problems. From loosening stuck fasteners to preventing rust and even quieting noisy pipes, WD-40 can be a handy addition to your plumbing toolkit.
A clogged toilet is a frustrating problem that any household can encounter. Instead of calling a plumber, you can handle it yourself with a simple, cost-effective, and efficient method: unclogging the toilet with dish soap.
Try this: Swish a cup of vinegar around in the toilet bowl using a toilet brush, then add a cup of baking soda, followed by an additional cup of vinegar. Let the fizzing solution sit for 10 minutes. Use a toilet brush to scrub stains. Let mixture sit for a few more minutes and then flush.
Those brown stains are usually the result of hard water, or water with a high mineral content (usually calcium and magnesium). Over time, hard water leads to mineral buildup, also known as limescale, which is a sort of off-white color.
Just spray WD-40 around the door, along the bricks, and even around the windows, and you'll dramatically reduce the number of ants, spiders, and other small insects making their way inside. It's amazing how a household product can solve such a common problem!
Let's explore 20 ingenious ways you can use WD-40 around the house:
WD-40 doesn't truly remove car scratches but can temporarily hide very light scuffs and paint transfer by filling the grooves, making them less noticeable until the product washes off or evaporates, at which point the scratch reappears. For deeper scratches that go through the clear coat or paint, it won't work and a proper repair with compounds, polish, or touch-up paint is needed.
Tip: Avoid bleach
Is it safe to clean a refrigerator with bleach? Unfortunately, this is not a recommended cleaning solution for refrigerators. Not only can it harm materials in the fridge, but you also risk contaminating your food.
Clean the door with glass cleaner – Spray the glass door with glass cleaner and wipe it down with a cleaning cloth. Be sure to wipe off any excess cleaner to prevent streaking or spots on the glass. Step 7. Wipe down the exterior – Use warm water and a mild detergent to spray on the exterior of the cabinet.
How to Remove Rust from Metal - 5 Quick Ways
To do this, spray some WD-40® Multi-Use Product onto your sample piece. Allow to settle for 5-10 minutes before lightly scrubbing. In the rare event that this rust removal method causes damage to your sample piece, choose a different rust remover that works with your object.
CLR (Calcium, Lime, & Rust Remover) is generally stronger and faster for tough mineral deposits, but vinegar is safer, cheaper, and better for lighter jobs or surfaces where CLR is too harsh, like some chrome or certain machine parts, though both require caution on sensitive surfaces; think of CLR for heavy-duty tasks and vinegar for everyday maintenance, always checking product instructions for specific surfaces.
DIY Cleaning Method