Dusting with WD-40… and the other 1,999 other things you can do with it.

WD-40 is an amazing product.

According to the company it was developed by some outer space types whom were researching a formulation for a type of lubrication that would displace

WD-40 with the new "Smart Straw," an attached folding straw.

water.

Water, as you may know, actually supports oil – which is why we see oil floating on the surface of water, rather than sinking down below the surface.

The initials “WD” stand for “Water Displacement,” while the “40” is the 40th formula that was tried. Thus, WD-40.

Here’s what the company’s website says about their premiere product.

“In 1953, a fledgling company called Rocket Chemical Company and its staff of three set out to create a line of rust-prevention solvents and degreasers for use in the aerospace industry, in a small lab in San Diego, California.

“It took them 40 attempts to get the water displacing formula worked out. But they must have been really good, because the original secret formula for WD-40_®—which stands for Water Displacement perfected on the 40th try—is still in use today.

“Convair, an aerospace contractor, first used WD-40 to protect the outer skin of the Atlas Missile from rust and corrosion. The product actually worked so well that several employees snuck some WD-40 cans out of the plant to use at home.

“A few years following WD-40’s first industrial use, Rocket Chemical Company founder Norm Larsen experimented with putting WD-40 into aerosol cans, reasoning that consumers might find a use for the product at home as some of the employees had. The product made its first appearance on store shelves in San Diego in 1958.”

The company lists over 2000 uses for this product, which may be found here: http://www.wd40.com/uses-tips/

In fact, if you have a new, or unique use for WD-40, the company encourages you to share it with them, so they may also share it with others! Here’s where to do that: http://www.wd40.com/submit-use/

I used it to clean grease pencil markings off metal, dusting it in the process. It also removes grease pencil markings from wood!

And so… now you know it!

(This is an uncompensated endorsement.)