In fact, WD-40’s official website lists more than 2000 documented uses. Many of these are small hacks that can help you keep your property and appliances in good condition. After all, you’ve probably put some love and money into your home, and even if you have a great home warranty, it’s better to avoid time-consuming repairs and replacements altogether.
Let’s take a look at 10 unusual WD-40 uses to keep your home and appliances looking and working like new.
1. Cleaning Carpet Stains
Carpet stains can be quick to happen, but very difficult to remove. Most home warranties for homeowners come with some sort of flooring coverage, but this may not cover accidental stains. Fortunately, WD-40 makes it easy to remove most of these.
To remove everything from food and drink to pet stains from your carpet, simply spray a bit of WD-40 onto the affected area. Give it 20-30 seconds to soak in, and then rub it slowly into the carpet with a damp cloth. Once you’ve rubbed the WD-40 into the stain thoroughly, take a paper towel or dry cloth and blot the area dry.
Even sticky residue and things like chewing gum can usually be removed from your carpets after a liberal spray with WD-40, which definitely makes it worth adding to your cleaning toolkit. Note that you may need to repeat the process multiple times for particularly tough stains.
2. Cleaning the Toilet
As you’ll realize, WD-40 is great at breaking down and helping you remove tough stains from a variety of objects. It can even be added to your plumbing-care routine, because it can make your toilet bowl sparkle.
WD-40 was originally designed to prevent and remove rust. Much of the staining inside your toilet will likely be caused by hard water, which forms deposits that are chemically quite similar to rust. Because of this, even a quick spray will help to break down tough stains inside your toilet bowl, which can then be removed with some scrubbing.
3. Removing Crayon From Walls
Have kids who just love drawing on the wall? Or maybe a rental house with old crayon scribbles that you just can’t seem to get rid of?
Once again, WD-40 can help, as it has proven to be one of the most effective ways to remove crayon drawings from your walls. Apply a liberal amount of WD-40 to the dirty area, leave it to soak for a few minutes, and then simply wipe it clean with a dry rag.
Although actions like this may seem small, getting into the habit of regular home maintenance is always a good idea. We’ve put together a list of 10 easy home maintenance skills that every homeowner should master.
4. Cleaning Your Air Conditioner
Some home warranty providers, such as Home Service Club and First American Home Warranty, cover the repair or replacement of major appliances like air conditioners. While this can be useful if something does break, you can take advantage of the power of WD-40 to help ensure your AC unit remains in tip-top condition.
WD-40 can help you remove dust and ensure your AC filters are clean. Start by switching your system off, then remove the top cover to expose the filters. Remove the filters, wash them with soap and water, and leave them to dry.
Next, spray the cooling fins and any other dusty and dirty areas with a generous coating of WD-40. Leave it for a few minutes to penetrate the surface, and then wipe it off with a wet cloth or some paper towel. Replace the filters, and your AC should be primed for optimal performance.
5. Removing Tea & Coffee Stains
One interesting, but very helpful use for WD-40 is removing tea and coffee stains from a variety of items. Have you ever accidentally placed your hot coffee mug on the table, only for it to leave a ring that’s seemingly impossible to get rid of? Or maybe spilled a cup of tea on your favorite shirt?
If so, this hack is for you! Tea and Coffee stains can almost always be removed by applying a liberal amount of WD-40. For example, to use WD-40 to remove coffee rings from a wooden counter or table, simply spray some on the affected area, leave it to sit for a couple of minutes, and then wipe it clean with warm, soapy water. If the stain is particularly stubborn, you may need to repeat the process a few times.
6. Cleaning Oil Spots
Whether you’re mechanically minded or just have an old car with a few oil leaks, you’ve probably experienced the frustration of trying to clean oil stains off of your garage floor or driveway. Sure, you can remove them with soapy water and good old elbow grease, but this certainly isn’t easy.
WD-40 to the rescue. Begin by spraying a generous amount on and around the oil-stained area. Let it sit for at least 20 to 30 minutes to soak in before simply washing it off with water. A little scrubbing may still be required, but you should find WD-40 more effective than almost anything else.
7. Keeping Your Garden Tools in Good Condition
Along with being an exceptional lubricant and useful cleaning product, WD-40 can also be used to maintain garden tools. It prevents rust and corrosion in metal tools, and a generous application to wooden tool handles will help reduce the risk of splinters and other damage.
We’d recommend giving your garden tools a thorough clean with WD-40 at least once every few months or before long periods of storage. Start by washing off excess dirt and debris with water and leaving your tools to dry. Then use steel wool or sandpaper to remove rust and lightly sand any damaged wooden handles.
Next, coat all metal blades and fixings with a liberal amount of WD-40. This will form a protective layer, preventing rust and keeping your tools shiny. Give your wooden handles a quick spray as well to help them remain firm and smooth.
8. Shining Stainless Steel Surfaces
Many modern homes feature a lot of stainless steel fittings and countertops in the kitchen and bathroom areas. These look beautiful when they’re well-maintained, but they can become grubby quite easily.
Here, WD-40 acts as both a cleaning product and a preventative coating. A quick spray over stainless steel surfaces will help you remove grime and built-up dirt, bringing them back to a like-new shine. What’s more, the WD-40 coating will help keep your stainless surfaces cleaner for longer by preventing dirt from adhering to them.
9. Removing Grease From Your Hands
Any mechanic who knows a few tricks will tell you that WD-40 is one of the best products for removing grease from your hands. If you’ve ever spent a hard day working on your favorite project only to spend too long scrubbing grease off your arms and hands, you will understand why this is important.
We’d suggest trying a liberal application of WD-40 next time you have greasy hands. It should loosen the oils on your skin, enabling you to wash them off with simple warm soapy water.
10. Stopping Squeaky Hinges
If you live in an older house, the chances are that you struggle with squeaky door hinges from time to time. This is a common problem, and although this isn’t such an unusual use, WD-40 can help.
Before you start fixing your squeaky door hinges with WD-40, it’s important to ensure the area is clean and free of dust and other build-up. Spray some WD-40 into the top of the hinge, holding a paper towel or cloth underneath to catch any stray drips. Then, swing the door open and closed a few times to help the lubricant work its way into the hinge. This should solve any minor squeaks.
Conclusion
WD-40 is best known as a popular lubricant and rust-prevention spray, but it also has thousands of other undocumented uses, from restoring your old garden tools to getting rid of difficult carpet stains. With a can of WD-40 on top of a good home warranty, you’ve got most of your bases covered.
Here, we’ve focused on home and property maintenance and cleaning, but there are numerous other uses. If you’re stuck with a task, we’d suggest heading to Google and seeing if WD-40 can help. After all, with more than 2000 documented uses, the chances are that it might be able to.
