Getting ready to clean out your car or do a little maintenance? Turns out there are a ton of uses for WD-40 on cars. You can use it for everything from decal removal to cleaning your spark plugs! Read on to learn 25 weird uses for WD-40 on the interior and exterior of your vehicle.
What is WD-40 used for on cars?
WD-40 was invented for use in the aerospace industry and took 40 attempts to perfect starting in 1953.
WD-40 stands for Water Displacement, 40th formula. That's the name straight out of the lab book used by the chemist who developed the product. The first company to use WD-40 Multi-Use Product commercially was Convair, an aerospace contractor, to protect the outer skin of the Atlas Missile from rust and corrosion
After its creation and production employees working at the plant found uses for the product at home, thus in 1958 it was released and sold in stores to the general public. Over time there have been numerous products and plenty of strange stories of how it’s been used.
With the growing list of uses for this product the possibilities are endless! Let’s take a look for some alternative uses of WD-40 both inside and outside of your car.
WD-40 on Paint and Outside of Vehicle Uses
Decal removal
Removing stuck on decals or bumper stickers can be a pain! Sitting there and scraping every little piece off without scratching your car, messing with a blow dryer to try and make it come off nicely, none of it is fun. Instead try taking WD-40 and letting it sit on the decal for a while, peel a bit up and spray some along the edges if you can. It will help separate the sticker and come off much easier!
License plate cleaning
Dirt, grime, maybe even some rust? Try cleaning your license plate with WD-40 and watch it come back to life! Okay, maybe not come back to life but it will look a lot better!
Is WD40 safe on car paint?
Scuff mark removal
If you or someone else scuffed your paint job on your car and there is residue of another color, spray some on the area and let it sit for a few minutes, then go over it as you normally would to get it out. It should be easier and less time consuming. Be careful what you use for ‘scrubbing’ your vehicle over the existing paint job, don’t use anything too abrasive or you will have an even harder problem to solve afterwards.
Remove stuck on bugs
It happens every time you wash your car, the next time you are on the highway it gets covered in bugs! It’s especially difficult to remove them from the grille of your vehicle. Spray WD-40 over the bug filled areas and watch them wash away when you spray it with the hose! I will admit, some of them might need a light scrubbing depending on how long they have been sitting on/in your car, but generally speaking this works quick and easy!
Eliminate oxidation, clean and polish tires
Your wheels are important, after all that’s what helps make the car go in the first place. But why should you spend tons of money on cleaners and polish? Keep them in order and clean with WD-40! It will help eliminate any oxidation, clean the wheel wells, and works excellent as a tire and rim polish.
Loosening up stuck parts (locks, nuts and bolts, tires)
If you have parts of your vehicle that have begun sticking, try WD-40. Locks that are stuck on doors, hinges making noise, bolts that are rusted on such as on a tire. Spray it down and let it sit a while!
Prevent mud from sticking
If you are planning on going mudding or off-roading any time soon, polish up your car with WD-40 to prevent the mud from sticking. It might still be on your vehicle, but it will come off by spraying it with the hose versus having to scrub or pressure wash it.
Rust spots
Rust spots can be a concern for most car owners. If you happen to have a rust spot, spray WD40 on the area and let it soak in, it will protect it from getting worse over time.
Protect windshield wipers: The rubber on wipers breaks down over time, which is why you have to get new ones occasionally. They just stop working as well. Using WD40 as a lubricant on them will help them last much longer!
Can you use WD 40 to clean your car?
Engine/Part Uses
Cleaning spark plugs
If something is wrong with your car or seems off, it very well could be a spark plug not working properly. They can get dirty over time and need cleaning. WD-40 is one of the best options as it will help clean grime off and protect it going forward.
Protecting weather stripping
Similar to the windshield wipers, weather stripping along your doors is made of the same material to prevent water and the outside air from getting in. Over time it breaks down and may need to be replaced. Using WD-40 can extend the life of weather stripping by years!
Clean away dirt and grime on any part
Just like the spark plugs, the same trick will work for almost any part of your engine. Try it on rubber gaskets, screws, nuts and bolts, anything that needs extra protection to make it last a bit longer.
Clean oil off your hands
After messing around with car parts you might have oil on your hands and that is no easy task to get it off. WD-40 to the rescue once again. Spray it on your hands and it will help lift the oil off.
Inside of the vehicle uses
Cleaning upholstery
If you have dogs, or kids, or anyone else messy that you often have in your vehicle, stains have happened. Or at least general messy seats. Aside from genuine leather and wood, WD-40 will help to lift stains off almost any upholstery, especially gum! It will also polish while you are at it. Always be sure to test a small area to be sure that it’s not going to stain the fabrics.
Polish and shine coverings
Almost all vehicles have plastic everywhere on the inside, the dashboard, between the seats, the steering wheel, and doors. It’s all a hard surface. Use WD-40 to polish those areas and prevent dust from sticking as easily. Similar to polishing wooden furniture, it will make it look much better than all of that gathering dust and dirt. This way the next time it needs to be cleaned the dust should just wipe away with ease.
Does WD-40 clean car windows?
WD-40 is great when it comes to mirror cleaning and water spot removal. It is easy to use and all you have to do is spray the liquid on to the affected area and wipe it clean with a clean cloth. It will leave your glass windows and mirrors sparkling clean and as good as new.
Have you ever used WD-40 on your car? Let me know your favorite weird use for it!
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Bonnie Hewitt says
This should help a lot, Thank You
JeanieQ says
It also works for cleaning stainless steel. It REMOVEs stubborn finger prints.
adrienne says
Oh good one! i'll have to try that!
adrienne says
You're welcome!