Chances are you already have some WD-40 sitting in the garage. You probably use it to stop squeaks. Maggie of Family Frugal Fun is sharing 30 frugal ways you can use WD-40 around your home.
WD-40 is a great product. For those of you who don’t know, WD-40 is a lubricant which comes in many different size cans. WD-40 is also frequently used to prevent rust. Although WD-40 is primarily used as a lubricant it can be effectively used for so much more. You will find 30 ways you can use WD-40 below.
30 Frugal Ways to Use WD-40:
- Bike Lubricant: Drop it on a rusty old chain to give it new life and get it moving
- Door Hinge: You can silence a squeaky door hinge, cabinet or any other hinge by dripping it directly onto the hinge
- Fishing Reel: You can make the inside of a fishing reel smooth again with a few drips from your trusty wd-40 can
- Sleigh Riding Speed: Just use it on the bottom of a snow sled to go faster
- Tools: Drip and rub to loosen up rusted tools
- Bolts & Screws: Loosen rusty bolts, screws with a few drips of WD40
- Gates & Locks: Lubricates locker and gate locks with a few drips – extends the life of the lock or gate
- Scuff Mark Remover: Do you have black scuff marks from shoes on your ceramic floors? A few drops of WD 40 on a rag and black scuff marks from tile floors (ceramic) will be gone with a little “elbow grease”
- Crayon Remover: Use a few drops on a rag and you have instant crayon remover after kids have colored on walls (works on all types of crayon)
- Rust Preventative: Prevent rust on tools-pliers, adjustable wrenches. Drip a few drips and rub all over. It’ll keep your tools not only from rusting but will extend the life of the tool too,
- Wind Chimes: Use on wind chimes (metal only) to prevent rust and keep them in good shape (rusty chimes are ugly)
- Wax Remover: Drip a few drips vinyl surfaces to remove wax
- Corrosion Preventative: Use on copper to prevent corrosion and extend the life of your copper
- Leather Stain Remover: Drip a few drops on a rag and rub on your ink stain to remove it from leather
- Squeaks: Have a squeaky door that drives you crazy? Just a drop or 2 right on the hinge will cure the sounds of a rusted squeaky door
- Soften leather sandals: Rub on sandals to loosen up tight or stiff sandals to avoid blisters.
- Bathroom Silicone: Use a little to break down silicone when coating a toilet or tub
- Boats: Use a little to coat rubber ties on boats to keep rubber from drying out in the harsh sun
- Home Locks: Spray a little into key holes to lubricate and keep working (locks can rust and freeze up from harsh outside winds, rain etc
- Garage Doors: Spray on to Lubricates garage door runners to extend the life of your garage door
- Saw: Rub it onto saws to keep from rusting and extend the life of the saw
- Credit Cards: Rub a little on sticky residue from stickers on credit cards when they arrive in the mail
- Remove Paint from Windows: Removes paint from windows – just use on a rag and apply “elbow grease”
- Remove marks on Dry Erase Boards: Just use on a rag and apply “elbow grease” (even removes permanent marker)
- Mirrors: A little on a rag with removes mascara from tile floors and mirrors (be sure to wipe floor clean after using WD-40)
- Medicine Bottles: Removes labels from medicine bottles for reuse.
- Luggage: Drip a few drops on luggage zippers to lubricate well before travel
- Nail Polish Remover from Floors: Use a little on a rag and it removes nail polish from hardwood floors (be sure to wipe floor clean after using WD-40)
- Clothes Dryer: Ever had a child accidentally leave a crayon in their pocket and it melt in your dryer? Add some to a rag and it removes crayon from inside clothes dryers (make sure to unplug dryer fi rst)
- Wallpaper: Use a drop on a rag and some old fashioned “elbow grease” and wipe off crayon from your wallpaper
More Thrifty Household Hacks:
- 20 Ways to Use Honey
- 20 Frugal Uses for Salt
- 20 Ways to Use Lemons
- 7 Ways to Use Avocados
- 20 Frugal Uses for Borax
- 20 Frugal Uses for Vinegar
- 20 Ways to Use Tea Tree Oil
- 10 Ways to Recycle Eggshells
- 20 Frugal Uses for Baking Soda
- 30 Frugal Uses for Witch Hazel
- 10 Household Uses for Soda Pop
- 20 Frugal Ways to Use Coconut Oil
- 20 Unusual and Frugal Uses for Mayo
- 20 Awesome Ways to Use Peppermint Oil
Maggie is a stay at home mom. She runs Family Frugal Fun with her best friend Beth. She’s addicted to savings, s’mores and ice cream! You can also find them on Facebook.
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Cheryl Warren says
I was told NOT to use WD40 on the garage door rails. You are supposed to use silicone spray.
Pat says
WD40 makes a silicone spray. I always keep both the original and the silicone spray at hsnd.
Anne Tisdell says
WD-40 did not work on the hard water mineral deposits in my toilet bowl. I was very disappointed after I tried it.
Roy says
The very first use for WD40 is the one from which it’s name was derived: Water Dispersant! Sprayed in wet electrical contacts, it disperses the water and restores conductivity (such as in an ignition coil or a distributor that might inadvertently get wet while washing your car engine at the car wash).
Kelly says
While offshore fishing I stepped on a cigarette, it stuck to my foot. It was burned and hurt so bad! This guy sprayed WD-40 on it and I never felt it after that. Love the stuff!!!
Mark says
Cleans and shines stainless appliances refrigerator,dishwasher.
If you live by the ocean as we do stainless develops surface rust from the salt air.
Polishing with Wd 40 eliminates that.
Tony says
I used to fix bikes for a living. I buy WD-40 by the gallon. I use WD-40 almost daily.
That being said, WD-40 is not a true lubricant. It’s fine for loosening rusty stuff- so if you do use it on a rusty chain, I recommend you immediately apply a proper lubricant afterwards.
WD-40 is perfect for removing stickers and sticker residue, as well as wax pencil/crayon. It’s also great for cleaning old grease off of stuff… which is exactly why it makes a poor lubricant- it actually breaks down grease- and it only lubricates while it is wet.
You’re better off using a light machine oil to lubricate things- Wal-mart sells a decent oil in the sewing section for about $2.50. A lot of cyclists swear by proper bicycle chain lubricant, and for avid cyclists, I’m sure that makes sense- but for casual riders, light machine oil will do fine.
I’m just trying to save people from damaging their bikes, there’s no need to take my word for it, feel free to google it for yourself. On the other hand, WD-40 has begun to produce a bicycle-specific lubricant. Not to be confused with regular WD-40.