WD-40 was built to protect missiles, not doors from squeaking. Here's the real story of how it ended up under your kitchen sink, plus a few facts you probably didn't know.
Back in 1953, a small chemical company was trying to stop rockets from rusting. It took forty attempts to get the formula right — that's literally why it's called Water Displacement, 40th formula.
Factory workers loved it so much they started smuggling cans home in their lunchboxes. Once the company caught on, they put it in spray cans for everybody.
"Here's a fun fact: WD-40 has never been patented. A patent would've meant publishing the exact ingredients. So instead, the company locked the recipe in a bank vault in San Diego, where it still sits today."
People loved this stuff so much that rumors spread about spraying it on sore knees to cure arthritis. The company had to put out a warning begging people to stop spraying industrial solvent on their skin.
Police once used it to free a burglar who got stuck in an air vent.
And beyond telling squeaky doors to behave, WD-40 erases sticker residue, frees stuck zippers, wipes crayon off walls, and even releases gum from places gum shouldn't be.
Just don't use it on bike chains or locks — real oil does that job better. And I shouldn't have to say this, but for the record, it's not lubricant. Stick to what it's actually made for.
Did I miss a crucial detail?
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