Last Updated on September 23, 2022 by
Yes, WD 40 can remove stains from wood furniture. It is one of the strongest and the level best stain removing chemicals when it comes to removing stains on wooden furniture. When properly used, it does a great job and is also furniture friendly, eliminating the risks of furniture damage.
Depending on the level of stain on the furniture and how you use the WD 40, it will be simple to use it. However, it is worth noting that WD 40 is not designed for this purpose. Those who have tried using it for stain cleansing on wood furniture have given it a heads up, therefore, making it very famous and at the same time helpful.
This article looks at other benefits and applications of WD 40. As mentioned above, removing stains is not what it’s meant for, but it gives impressive results. Read on!
What is WD 40?
To be precise, it is a lubricant that has been dissolved in a solvent. It is mainly composed of fish oil. WD 40 is part of the many products produced by the Wd company located in San Diego, California. It was invented in the early 1950s by a Rocket Chemical Company and has to date, never disappointed its users. At the time of its production around seventy years ago, its main functions were to perform three main tasks. It was to act as a degreaser, a lubricant, and most importantly, a rust removal product.
Although the exact ingredients and concentration are unknown, WD-40 is mainly a petroleum-based product. Some sources claim that it contains baby oil, Vaseline, and goop found in lava lamps. Its viscosity is slightly low as it is a solvent and a lubricant.
Is it toxic or dangerous to humans?
Being a chemical, it is ideally logical that it is not as friendly as some of its functions. When swallowed, it mainly affects the respiratory tract by causing diseases such as pneumonia, lung infection, or death. Apart from that, it can also cause skin irritation when used on bare skin over time, and it is advisable that when one is using it, they should use protective clothing such as gloves to be on the safer side, as it can be highly corrosive.
It should be noted that I neither contain silicone, fish oil, kerosene, or water as assumed by many individuals.
Some side effects of inhaling this chemical include nausea, infections, especially in the respiratory area, and dizziness when inhaled in significant concentrations. It should therefore be stored in a well-ventilated area or room to avoid the mentioned and other side effects. The side effects may differ from one person to another.
Is WD 40 flammable?
Yes and No. As you may have noticed, the composition or constituents of WD 40 are volatile. This means that they are not flammable. However, when WD 40 is in its spray form, it can be quite hazardous as it is flammable and has been the cause of several fire accidents worldwide.
How to use WD 40 to remove rust?
To use this chemical, you are asked to use protective clothing such as gloves, as mentioned earlier, as contact with bare skin can have side effects such as irritation or rash.
It is easier to spray the chemical very well on the rusted area. After spraying it, please do not rush to wipe it off. Leave it for about ten minutes for the best results. Doing this gives the chemical ample time to get rid of the rust. After leaving it for ten minutes, you can wipe it off with a cleaning cloth. One of the advantages of this chemical is that it can also act as a protector against rust. It can be applied to an area that individual wishes to keep free from rust.
How to use WD 40to remove stains on wooden furniture
Removing WD 40 on furniture is easy as A-B-C; all you need to do is apply the WD 40 on a cloth; two to three sprays are average. You are then to scrub the stain on the furniture. You are required to scrub either lightly or vigorously, depending on the stain attachment on the furniture. We recommend this method to remove crayon stains, nail polish stains, and marker stains. It works best on those stains.
Areas that you should never use WD 40 on
WD 40 can be used in very many products and materials. However, some areas should never have contact with WD 40.
Door hinges
You may be tempted to use WD 40 on your hinges to lubricate or prevent rust, but we advise against it. This method may seem helpful and even work, but the hinges will start discoloring, losing their beauty and functionality as you continue using it.
Using it for Arthritis Relief
Having stiff joints can be pretty painful. However, doctors greatly discourage using WD 40 on the joints to ease the pain, as claimed by some patients. It is discouraged by the manufacturers of WD 40 as well. Once any part of your body comes into contact with WD 40, you must wash the area with enough soap and water to clear it from your skin. This eliminates any chances of side effects. Patients battling Arthritis are also advised to seek other medication methods to ease their pain.
Plastics
Plastics come in different types. Polycarbonate and transparent polystyrene plastics are the main types that are not to at any chance have contact with WD 40. Polycarbonate is used in greenhouses, while polystyrene is used to make soft drink lids and Styrofoam.
Electronics
Many people go ahead and try to fix their phones with this chemical. This leads to severe damage, or if you are lucky, the destruction cannot be that much. However, the use of WD 40 is disastrous and discouraged.
Bike chains
WD 40 is used for lubrication on things used immediately. Therefore, it is not helpful for machines or items that require longer lubrication, such as bike chains. To be on the safer side, the use of the WD40 Bike is so much helpful for longer time lubrication.
Other common uses of WD 40
Apart from removing stains from wood furniture and also getting rid of rust, WD 40 can also be used to:
- Keeping bugs from your car’s grille
- Renewing faded plastic furniture
Over time plastic furniture tends to fade. This makes them less attractive and pleasing to the eye. However, with WD 40, you can have this plastic furniture in its initial color, and no fading traces will be recorded.
- Cleaning carpet stains
Stains on carpets can be challenging or maybe cleaned but still not removed. However, spraying WD40 on the rug, waiting for a few seconds then scrubbing the area can be very helpful as it eradicates the stains.
- Preventing snow buildup on the windows
If you are expecting it to snow, this is the time to prevent the snow from accumulating on your windows even before it starts falling. Indeed, you cannot stop it from snowing, but spraying great WD 40 on your windows on the outer sides or parts prevents snow from sticking.
- Removing chewing gum from hair or surfaces
Once in a while, you may get gum stuck in various places or even furniture. You can use WD 40 and get it out quickly. If you accidentally get gum stuck on your hair, you can also spray WD40 on the area, which gets it out immediately. After this, you must wash your hair properly due to the contact with the toxic chemical.
- Removing tight jewelry
At times removing jewelry can be very strenuous. However, applying a small WD 40 to the area can make it easier. Contact with the chemical may have some side effects, but with time, the side effects, rash, will disappear.
- Loosening zippers
Final word
As seen above, WD 40 has more functions than the ones it was manufactured to perform. This is a beneficial and essential chemical. As stated earlier, it is toxic and can become hazardous, and it is advised that it is used under strict precautions to have minimal or no side effects at all. We hope you are better informed the next time you choose to use WD40.
References:
https://woodworking.stackexchange.com/questions/5465/is-it-ok-to-use-wd-40-to-clean-wood
