9 Incredible WD-40 Hacks For Your Garage
If you've got that trusty blue and yellow can sitting on your workbench, you're holding more than just a lubricant. It's practically a mechanic in a pressurized bottle. Most people know it stops squeaks, but its chemical properties make it a versatile solvent and protectant too. We've gathered nine smart ways to use this classic staple to keep your garage organized and your projects moving along without any unnecessary frustration.
Clean Grease Off Hands
Sometimes the toughest engine grease won't budge with regular soap, and if you've spent the afternoon under the hood, your knuckles are probably stained black. Spray a little bit of WD-40 onto your hands and rub them together. It acts as a solvent to break down the heavy oils. Once the grease is loosened, wash your hands with soap and water to remove the oily remains. It's much more effective than scrubbing until your skin is raw.
Prevent Tool Rust
Garages aren't always the most climate controlled environments. The right conditions, namely high humidity, can cause any metal tool to develop surface rust overnight. After you finish a job, give your metal hand tools a quick wipe down with a cloth dampened with WD-40. It displaces moisture and leaves a protective film that blocks oxidation.
Erase Scuff Marks
If you've ever accidentally brushed your car door against a plastic trash can or a painted pole, you might see an ugly scuff mark. Often, that's just a transfer of material rather than a deep scratch. You can spray the area and rub it gently with a soft microfiber cloth. The lubricant lifts the transferred paint or plastic without damaging your vehicle's clear coat. It's a fast way to fix those annoying little mishaps.
Silence A Noisy Garage Door
A screeching garage door is enough to wake up the whole neighborhood. While you shouldn't use WD-40 on the heavy duty tracks, it's perfect for the metal hinges and springs. The formula penetrates the tight spaces where metal rubs against metal, stopping the friction that causes those high pitched grinding noises. A quick application once a season ensures that your door operates in a way that's quiet and smooth rather than loud and jarring.
Loosen Rusted Bolts
We've all dealt with a bolt that's so rusted it feels like it's welded shut. Before you snap the head off with a breaker bar, try soaking the threads in WD-40. The liquid's low viscosity allows it to creep into the tiny gaps between the threads. It lubricates the path and even dissolves some of the corrosion. Give it five minutes to work its magic, and you'll find that the stubborn bolt turns much more easily.
Keep Your Shovel Clean
When you're digging through heavy clay or wet soil, the mud sticks to your shovel like glue, making every lift twice as heavy and slowing you down. Before you start your next landscaping project, spray a light coat of WD-40 onto the metal blade. It creates a slick barrier that prevents dirt from bonding. You'll find that the soil slides right off, which keeps your tools light and your back happy.
Protect Spark Plug Wires
Condensation inside an engine bay can cause spark plugs to misfire or prevent a car from starting on a damp morning. Since WD stands for water displacement, it's the perfect tool for this job. If you spray the exterior of the spark plug wires, it'll keep moisture from settling on them. This prevents electricity from arcing where it shouldn't. It's a great trick for older vehicles or lawn mowers that sit out in a shed.
Remove Sticky Adhesive Residue
Pricing stickers, duct tape, or anything else with an adhesive can sometimes leave behind a nasty, gummy mess that seems impossible to wipe away. If you try to scrape it off dry, you'll likely scratch the surface of your storage bins or toolboxes. Instead, spray WD-40 the residue and let it sit for a minute. The formula will break down the adhesive's bond to the surface and you'll then be able to wipe it away with a rag.
Winterize Your Snow Blower
Before the first snow hits, you should prep your equipment. If you spray the inside of the discharge chute on your snow blower, it prevents wet snow from clogging the exit. Just like with the shovel, the slick coating keeps things moving quickly. You won't have to stop every five minutes to dig out a frozen block of ice. It makes a cold, difficult chore go by much faster so you can get back inside.
Taking care of a garage is a lot of work, but having the right tricks makes it feel less like a burden. These hacks show that you don't always need a specialized chemical for every single task. A single can of WD-40 can handle everything from rust prevention to cleaning up after a messy job.