# Ahhh. WD-40. You smell so **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 6, 2026, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahhh-wd-40-you-smell-so/1029071 "2026-04-06T18:28:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Yosh99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ccd318/32.png) [@Yosh99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yosh99)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2026, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahhh-wd-40-you-smell-so/1029071/21 "2026-04-08T14:57:36Z")
Wouldn’t baking soda reduce the acidity and effectiveness of the vinegar? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2026, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahhh-wd-40-you-smell-so/1029071/22 "2026-04-08T15:23:35Z")
Maybe, that sounds reasonable. I only used vinegar. But I noticed many online suggestions to use it with vinegar. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2026, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahhh-wd-40-you-smell-so/1029071/23 "2026-04-08T15:46:57Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I had to check, you just need 2-4 cups of white vinegar to do the job, you could add some baking soda but optional. Baking soda is good for some things, vinegar is good for other things, but mixing them together neutralizes both of them. It looks fizzy and dramatic, but you’ve basically made CO2 and a salt solution. Figure out which one is applicable for your purpose, and stick with it. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2026, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahhh-wd-40-you-smell-so/1029071/24 "2026-04-08T18:16:42Z")
I keep white vinegar and a very large box of baking soda in the laundry room. They are useful for a variety of stains. As @nearwildheaven said Dawn is the best stain remover, bar none. The problem is Mid-dau washed without knowing(I don’t know how she didn’t smell it 🤔) the clothes had WD40 on them. I was more concerned about the washer. The vinegar alone worked thru the washer. I had some of the Affresh stuff and she ran that thru a cycle just for extra. No smell lingers. The boys jeans maybe trash tho’. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2026, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahhh-wd-40-you-smell-so/1029071/25 "2026-04-08T18:19:52Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > The boys jeans maybe trash tho’. That oil smell should dissipate by hanging them out to air. You could also have someone try to handwash them with vinegar or Dawn if you like. Then hang them outside. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2026, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahhh-wd-40-you-smell-so/1029071/26 "2026-04-08T18:38:41Z")
Mom is working on it. It’s near the end of the school year so all the boys jeans are looking raggedy. She may can cut off the offensive leg and make a pair of shorts. If all else fails. The rest of the load was rewashed adding vinegar and some smelly crystals. All good. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahhh-wd-40-you-smell-so/1029071.md?page=1)