If you’re like most RVers, you probably have a can or two of WD-40 in your toolbox.
This familiar water-displacing spray is widely used for preventing rust and corrosion, loosening rusty screws, and lubricating squeaky moving parts. But they get a lot crazier than that.
Some of the more interesting stories include the bus driver in Asia who used WD-40 to remove a python snake, which had coiled itself around the undercarriage of his bus, or when police officers used WD-40 to remove a naked burglar trapped in an air conditioning vent.
A few of the many ways you can use WD-40 in your RV include:
- Clean lime scale stains from sinks and toilet bowls
- Lift berry stains from countertops
- Removes coffee stains from floor tiles
- Remove ink and coffee stains from leather
- Clean sticker residue from glass
- Remove tree sap and bugs from windshields
- Keep rubber door gaskets soft and pliable
- Use a full can as a bookend, where it will always be handy
- Keeps hitch locks rust-free
- Removes adhesive tape without damaging factory paint
- Lubricates linkages on emergency brake releases
- Removes crayon from dashboard and other vinyl surfaces
- Helps remove broken keys from locks
- Lubricates hood release cables and latches
- Removes labels from medicine bottles
- Removes VELCRO stickers
- Lubricates microwave oven doors
- Penetrates and loosens locking levers on windows
- Eliminates squeaking from hinges
- Lubricates fuse box hinges
- Lubricates rusted screws
- Removes rust from files and other tools
- Removes stains from coffee cups
- Cleans dirty power cords
- Removes duct tape residue
- Lubricates socket wrench
- Removes road debris from license plate
- Keeps car locks from freezing during winter
- Removes grit from windshield wipers
- Prevents oxidation on battery connections
- Cleans and protects seat belt buckles
- Dissolves grease
- Cleans dead insects from windshields
- Lubricates license plate bolts and screws
- Stops squeaks on car doors
- Removes decals from windows and bumper
- Cleans and protects chrome
- Keeps car battery terminals clean
- Cleans and protects cowboy boots
- Keeps camping gear free of rust
- Lubricates moving parts of Swiss army knife
- Lubricates leather gasket of Coleman stove
- Spray on trailer hitch to prevent squeaks while towing
- Keeps trailer hitch receiver and insert looking new
- Cleans gunk from travel trailer siding
- Removes rubber cement
- Removes duct tape
- Cleans ostrich eggs
- Dissolves glues
- Lubricates hinges of eyeglasses
- Removes old cellophane tape
Details
WD-40 Company, Inc.
In 1953, a fledgling company called Rocket Chemical Company and its staff of three set out to create a line of rust-prevention solvents and degreasers for use in the aerospace industry, in a small lab in San Diego, California.
It took them 40 attempts to get the water displacing formula worked out. But they must have been really good, because the original secret formula for WD-40—which stands for Water Displacement perfected on the 40th try—is still in use today.
Convair, an aerospace contractor, first used WD-40 to protect the outer skin of the Atlas Missile from rust and corrosion. The product made its first appearance on store shelves in San Diego in 1958.
In 1969 the company was renamed after its only product, WD-40 Company, Inc.
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 80607, San Diego, CA 92138-0607
Phone: (888) 324-7596
Website: wd40.com
Worth Pondering…
One only needs two tools in life: WD-40 to make things go, and duct tape to make them stop.
—G. Weilacher