# Let's talk about WD-40 **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 6, 2007, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-wd-40/428985 "2007-12-06T01:56:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-wd-40/428985/1 "2007-12-06T01:56:41Z")
Seems like everyone has a few cans of this stuff in the garage or basement. Do you think WD-40 lives up to its hype? Seems people either love it or hate it. - I’ve heard it’s a good lubricant. I’ve also heard it’s a lousy lubricant. - I’ve heard it helps prevent corrosion. I’ve also heard it does nothing to prevent corrosion. - I’ve heard it’s a good penetrant for loosening rusty bolts. I’ve heard Liquid Wrench works much better. One thing you can’t deny: it smells kinda good. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-wd-40/428985/2 "2007-12-06T02:12:39Z")
Its carpet equivalent, Spot Shot, is the best thing I’ve ever found for getting stains out of carpets. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-wd-40/428985/3 "2007-12-06T02:20:07Z")
Personally, I’ll take CRC 5-56 or Tri-Flow over WD-40 any day. ---
**Author:** ![Yumblie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/76d3ee/32.png) [@Yumblie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yumblie)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-wd-40/428985/4 "2007-12-06T02:20:53Z")
I only use it for squeaky doors, and it seems to fix those okay. ---
**Author:** ![SylverOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@SylverOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SylverOne)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-wd-40/428985/5 "2007-12-06T02:25:49Z")
My grandmother swore it helped with the arthritis in her knees. Don’t ask… I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-wd-40/428985/6 "2007-12-06T02:36:57Z")
I swear by the stuff. But you have to know its limitations. It can’t replace oil, but it can break stuck parts free. Use it where it is appropriate, and it’s a miracle worker. ---
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-wd-40/428985/7 "2007-12-06T02:44:16Z")
**WD** stands for **W** ater **D** isplacement, and the **-40** indicates that it is the 40th attempt at formulation. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-wd-40/428985/8 "2007-12-06T02:59:31Z")
It gets silly putty out of carpeting. ---
**Author:** ![Ms.Pumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@Ms.Pumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms.Pumpkin)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-wd-40/428985/9 "2007-12-06T03:19:39Z")
If you spray some on your shovel, the snow won’t stick and form a giant clump. Then again, cooking spray can be used for the same purpose. ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-wd-40/428985/10 "2007-12-06T03:21:48Z")
[QUOTE=Raguleader] It gets silly putty out of carpeting. [/QUOTE] and crayon… ---
**Author:** ![Hakuna\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hakuna\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hakuna_Matata)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-wd-40/428985/11 "2007-12-06T03:53:07Z")
And to preserve you carved pumpkin. I personally haven’t tried this, but the guy who does extreme pumpkins swears by it. ---
**Author:** ![Shamozzle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shamozzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shamozzle)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-wd-40/428985/12 "2007-12-06T04:07:55Z")
It makes great mosquito repellent. Poisonous, sure, but worth it when being attacked en masse in Canada’s north with no other option… ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-wd-40/428985/13 "2007-12-06T04:29:59Z")
It also does a decent job of getting roof patching tar off your hands. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-wd-40/428985/14 "2007-12-06T06:35:44Z")
[QUOTE=SylverOne] My grandmother swore it helped with the arthritis in her knees. Don’t ask… I don’t know. [/QUOTE] [Cecil weighs in.](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4_129.html) ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-wd-40/428985/15 "2007-12-06T07:03:28Z")
love it, but yeah, as noted, know it’s limitations ---
**Author:** ![SylverOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@SylverOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SylverOne)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-wd-40/428985/16 "2007-12-06T07:09:09Z")
[QUOTE=Contrapuntal] [Cecil weighs in.](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4_129.html) [/QUOTE] Yeah, I never figured it did much, but she was convinced. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-wd-40/428985/17 "2007-12-06T15:13:57Z")
Add in a lighter, and it’s great for taking out spiders. ---
**Author:** ![Jimson\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/838e76/32.png) [@Jimson\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimson_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-wd-40/428985/18 "2007-12-06T15:16:23Z")
[QUOTE=Hal Briston] Add in a lighter, and it’s great for taking out spiders. [/QUOTE] And curtains as I recall… ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-wd-40/428985/19 "2007-12-06T15:22:20Z")
Twice a year I’ll walk around the garage spraying everything in sight with it… garage door track wheels and hinges, car door hinges and locks, yard tools, the cat, door locks in the house, bicycle parts (along with Tri-Flow), saw blades, etc. ---
**Author:** ![brad\_d](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@brad\_d](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brad_d)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-wd-40/428985/20 "2007-12-06T16:24:26Z")
I’ve been wondering about the stuff recently, too. I am reasonably handy around the house, and do almost all of my own vehicle maintenance/repairs. But despite this I’ve never in my life owned a can of WD-40 - and have never run into a situation where I felt this absence. When others speak of its wonders, I begin to question my own practices. It’s kind of like my Dremel. Really cool to have, yeah, but why do I actually _use_ it so rarely? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-wd-40/428985.md?page=2)