WD-40 is the third leg of what I call the stool that households can stand on. The other two are duct tape and vinegar.

The WD-40 name stands for “Water Displacement 40th Attempt” and is testimony to the perseverance of chemist Norm Larsen, who after 39 tries hit the jackpot. Larsen, founder of the Rocket Chemical Company in San Diego, turned his 1953 invention over to, who else but, the rocket industry where it was used to protect the outer skin of the Atlas missile

But impressed workers there sneaked it home for their own use, and it got loose in the public. Uses for WD-40 have soared since then. More than 2,000 uses have been collected and are on display at the website www.wd40.com, and in books such as “The WD-40 Book,” by Jim and Tim the Duct Tape Guys. The formula, however, remains a secret, according to the WD-40 company.

I’ve collected a few uses:

• Clean grease off kitchen exhaust hood.

• Take the squeak out of door hinges.

• Remove glue residue left behind when removing stickers, labels and contact paper.

• Remove permanent marker from hard surfaces.

• Remove crayon from lots of things: wallpaper, chalk boards, brick and dryer drums (when crayons go through the wash).

• Clean and lubricate garden cutting and digging tools, including the snow shovel.

• Keep ice fishing equipment from freezing.

 

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