WD-40 was created in 1953 as a rust remover and degreaser. The name stands for “water displacing compound” and “40” indicates the successful formula was found after 39 failed experiments. Today, it is widely available in various delivery systems and has many uses, including automotive repair and household cleaning. Its exact formula is a trade secret, but it contains white spirit, liquefied petroleum gas, and mineral oil.
WD-40® was created in 1953 by three engineers at the Rocket Chemical Company of San Diego. They were working on a way to protect the missile parts by making a rust remover and degreaser. The “WD” in the product name indicates that it is a water displacing compound. The “40” was chosen to indicate that the successful formula for the product was found after 39 failed experiments.
In 1958, Rocket Chemical Company realized that selling WD-40® for public use as a lubricant spray could be a very profitable venture. Today, WD-40® is widely available in hardware and discount stores. There are five delivery systems for the product: WD-40® aerosol is the traditional delivery format; the WD-40® Smart Straw is a can with a permanently attached straw; WD-40® No-Mess Pen allows product to be used while running; Bulk/non-aerosol WD-40® is offered in gallon and 55-gallon containers for large jobs; and the WD-40® Big Blast offers a wider spray pattern and larger can size.
Although WD-40® has a very distinctive odor, there is nothing dangerous in the product. The smell is simply the result of a fragrance added during the manufacturing process. The main ingredients of the product are white spirit, liquefied petroleum gas and mineral oil. However, the exact formula of WD-40® is a highly guarded trade secret.
For automotive repair, WD-40® has many uses. It can cause moisture to escape from the high and low voltage electrical components of an engine and loosen nuts or screws. If you’re looking to keep your car in top shape, WD-40® is also useful for restoring and cleaning vehicle leather upholstered dashboards.
Throughout your home, WD-40® can fix noisy door hinges, make scissors run smoothly, loosen rusted screws, stop electric fans from squeaking, and lubricate window tracks to make them easier to open. Many people also report that spraying WD-40® on hand tools is a good way to prevent rust damage.
While it may seem hard to believe, WD-40® is also a great household cleaning product. It is useful for removing lipstick or tomato stains from laundry. You can use it to remove stubborn duct tape residue, clean splattered grease from the stove, keep glass shower doors free of water spots, clean stainless steel sinks, and camouflage scratches on ceramic or marble floors. WD-40® will also remove oil stains from concrete driveways.
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