WD-40: The Blue Can of Magic You Never Knew You Needed

Let’s face it—every household has that trusty blue-and-yellow can of WD-40 lurking somewhere. You may not see it every day, but the moment a keyhole jams or a door hinge protests with an ear-piercing squeak, you suddenly find yourself on a scavenger hunt through your garage, toolbox, or random kitchen drawer, desperate to locate it. It’s that elusive, yet indispensable, can of liquid magic.

This little blue can is practically a Swiss Army knife in liquid form. It’s packed with unexpected superpowers you’ve likely never considered and for instance, got crayon marks on the wall courtesy of your mini Picasso. A spritz of WD-40 wipes them away with ease. Sick of snow sticking to your shovel? Coat it with WD-40 and watch the flakes slide right off. It even works wonders to clean scuff marks off floors, lubricate stubborn zippers, and remove adhesive residue from pesky price tags. Who knew?

But here’s the real kicker—despite its legendary status, WD-40 isn’t some ancient invention. It made its debut in the 1950s. That surprised me. I always assumed it had been around forever, passed down through generations like some kind of magical elixir. Instead, it was cooked up by a small team of chemists at the Rocket Chemical Company in San Diego, California. Their mission? To create a water displacement formula that could prevent rust and corrosion on aerospace equipment. Talk about aiming for the stars—literally.

After 39 failed attempts, they finally nailed it on their 40th try. And just like that, Water Displacement, the 40th formula—or WD-40—was born. That’s right, the name isn’t some cryptic code; it’s just good old-fashioned persistence paying off.

Beyond the Basics: Surprising Uses for WD-40

• Preventing Snow Buildup on Shovels: In the winter, spray a light coat on your snow shovel. The snow will slide right off, making your shoveling chore far easier.
• Polishing Silver Jewelry: Forget expensive polish—WD-40 can restore the shine to tarnished silver, making it look as good as new.
• Deterring Wasps: A little spritz under eaves or around outdoor light fixtures can discourage wasps from building nests.
• Unsticking Gum from Hair or Carpet: If you’ve ever had the misfortune of gum in your hair, you’ll be grateful to know that WD-40 can help break down the sticky mess without resorting to scissors.

The Strangest Use of WD-40

Perhaps the most peculiar (and oddly brilliant) use of WD-40 is keeping squirrels away from bird feeders. Yes, you read that right. Bird lovers have discovered that spraying a small amount on the metal pole of a bird feeder makes it too slippery for pesky squirrels to climb. The result? A comical (and humane) slip-and-slide show as the rodents struggle to gain any grip, leaving the birdseed to its intended recipients.

WD-40 on the Big Screen and TV

• MythBusters (Discovery Channel) – The hosts frequently turned to WD-40 during their outrageous experiments. In one episode, they tested whether WD-40 could actually prevent rust on steel submerged in water—it could.
• The Red Green Show (CBC) – This Canadian comedy, which celebrated DIY fixes and handyman humor, regularly referenced WD-40 as an all-purpose solution, often in the same breath as duct tape. In Red’s world, “if it moves and it shouldn’t—duct tape it. If it doesn’t move and it should—WD-40 it.”
• The X-Files (Fox) – In the season 10 episode Home Again, Fox Mulder uses WD-40 to silence a squeaky door during a tense investigation—a subtle nod to the product’s ubiquity, even in paranormal investigations.
• Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006) – The NASCAR-themed comedy featured a fake WD-40 sponsorship on one of the race cars, blending real-world branding into the fictional racing universe.
• The Punisher (Netflix) – Frank Castle, the grizzled anti-hero, uses WD-40 to clean and maintain his firearms, highlighting its role as a practical tool for gun care.

So, the next time you reach for that familiar blue can remember: you’re holding a piece of space-age history. Whether you’re a weekend DIY warrior, a tinkerer, or just someone who appreciates a well-oiled machine, WD-40 is the trusty sidekick you’ll always want by your side. And who knows? You might even discover a few more surprising uses along the way.