Mastering WD-40: Unleashing Its Winter Wonders Safely

As winter sets in, drivers and motorists encounter several issues unique to the season. In cold seasons, still water can wreak havoc not just on the road but on your car’s door locks, freezing them entirely in place.

To combat this, many results to household product WD-40 to avoid freezing door locks. While WD-40 does help prevent freezing, it should be applied with caution. Otherwise, you risk having more trouble down the road. Here’s everything you need to know about WD-40, what it is, what it does, whether it freeze, and at what temperatures it does.

Does WD-40 Freeze?

Like most other liquids, WD-40 freezes but at extremely low temperatures. At about 20 degrees Fahrenheit, WD-40 consistency begins to solidify, making it have a gummy texture. The lubricant continues to thicken as the temperatures drops and freezes at -81.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Thus, storing this lubricant at temperatures above 20 degrees but not warmer than 120 degrees Fahrenheit is crucial.

WD-40 freezing point is so low, so it’s not likely that the lubricant will freeze. But knowing whether it freezes and at what temperatures can help you store it effectively. Speaking of which, can you store WD-40 in the fridge?

Can You Store WD-40 In The Fridge?

WD-40 can be stored without overheating or freezing at temperatures between -81.4 and 120 degrees Fahrenheit. With this in mind, you can store the lubricant in the fridge. However, avoid keeping it near food items or having it in the same refrigerator as your food.

This lubricant has an extremely strong smell. The foods stored in the same fridge as WD-40 can pick up their smell, especially if they are not covered tightly, leading to the foods having an off-smell and taste. The whole fridge might end up smelling like the lubricant as well. Note that WD-40 has a long-lasting smell. This means your refrigerator and everything inside it will smell like it for a long time.

What Is WD-40, And How Is It Used?

Water Displacement – 40th attempt, or WD-40, is a multi-purpose lubricant spray with a wide variety of applications in any garage or home. The chemical formula of this lubricant is that it contains petroleum distillates and highly refined mineral spirits, providing excellent lubricating and cleaning properties. It was purposely made to displace water, effectively preventing it from pooling or standing on well-coated surfaces. This property is what prevents car door locks from freezing in cold weather conditions.

WD-40 has many uses, they include:

• Stop snow from building on surfaces. You can use WD-40 to prevent snow from building in your car door locks, car windows, or anything you want to, including your house windows.
• Cleaning license plate. Sometimes your license plate may rust, and regular cleaning may not remove it. Applying WD-40 and wiping with a clean cloth can help remove light rust on your license plate surface. It will also prevent corrosion.
• Protecting bird feeders from squirrels. When you apply a generous amount of this lubricant to the bird feeder’s top, squirrels will be unable to grip it, making them fall anytime they try.
• Getting a ring off your finger. You can easily slide the ring off by spraying WD-40 lightly on your ring finger. Ensure you wash your wash afterwards.
• Removing chewing gum from hair. Chewing gum sticking to the hair is a common issue, especially among children. To remove a piece of gum stuck on hair, apply WD-40 on the hair area with the gum. The gum should easily come off when you comb the hair. Remember to wash your hair afterwards.
• Separating glasses that are stuck in one another. Just spray this lubricant on the glasses. A thin film will form between the glasses, separating them. And there you go.
• Killing insects. You can use WD-40 to kill insects like cockroaches by directly spraying them. Spraying the lubricant on doors, frames, and windowsill also kills bugs and other insects. Be cautious not to breathe the spray fumes or spray when children are around.
• Removing tea stains. With WD-40, you can remove tough tea stains on your countertop. Ensure you clean the surface with soap and water afterwards.
• Getting rid of scuff marks. WD-40 can remove all tar and scuff marks from your floor without damaging it. If the scuff marks are a lot, you’ll have to ensure maximum ventilation and wash the surface afterwards.
• Prevents wasps from making nests. Wasps can build their eaves under your house, making it dangerous. To prevent this, simply spray underneath the eaves with WD-40, and the wasps will go.
• Loosening zippers. Sometimes your pants, jackets, or backpack zippers refuse to zip. In such a case, spray the WD-40 on the zipper, and pull it up and down several times to evenly distribute the lubricant on the entire zip. Avoid spraying directly on the cloth. Spray the lubricant on a plastic surface and apply it to the zipper using a small paintbrush. Avoid using WD-40 on children’s zippers.
• Reducing polyurethane shine. Some polyurethane coats can make a wooden shine more than you’re comfortable with. To minimize the sheen, spray WD-40 on a cloth and wipe it on the floor. Remember to remove the excess to avoid the floor from being slippery.
• Lubricating and cleaning guitar strings. After playing the guitar, apply a small amount of WD-40 to lubricate and clean the strings by wiping them using a cloth. Doing so prevents the strings from developing rust and corroding.

Removing strong glue. Sometimes extra-strength glue sticks on your hands when working with it, especially if you aren’t wearing gloves. In such a case, simply apply WD-40 lubricant and rub your hands until they’re back to normal. Remember to wash your hands afterwards thoroughly.

Conclusion

It is a multi-purpose lubricant with several benefits and uses. Having it at home or in your garage can come in handy in helping you fix issues. But does it freeze?

Yes, WD-40 freezes when exposed to extremely low temperatures, -81.4 degrees Fahrenheit. So, remember to store it at temperatures not warmer than 120 and colder than -81.4 degrees Fahrenheit.